One thing is as certain as death and taxes: Rolex will never, ever do what you think it is going to do. The unassuming Oyster Perpetual Datejust Pearlmaster contains something that I didn’t think I would ever see in my lifetime: silicon! To tell you I almost fell off my chair would be an understatement.
Okay, so if you know me, you also know that I am a fan of Nomos. And it’s not hard to define why, including the fact that Nomos watches are the biggest bang for the buck in our industry. I defy any brand anywhere to provide the consumer with more watch for the money than Nomos!
But that still doesn’t answer why I entitled this post, “Bravo, Nomos!”
By now you may have noticed that our post-fair round table discussions will become somewhat of a tradition. So without further ado, we present you the opportunity to hear a few well-known journalists in the world of horology share their impressions of Baselworld 2014.
Jean-Christophe Babin took over as the head of Bulgari in mid-2013. He arrived at the headquarters in Rome directly from LVMH sibling brand TAG Heuer, where he had spent a decade as its CEO.
Stéphane Linder, former product director of TAG Heuer, was appointed CEO mid-2013.
Q&P: Do you have a favorite TAG Heuer complication?
SL: I have two favorites: the Monaco V4, which is a true breakthrough in watchmaking as it contains the first belt-driven movement in the world; it has a fantastic avant-garde design.
Christened Margot, this magnificently complicated timepiece for the feminine wrist allows the wearer to play the whimsical petal-picking game “He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not.”
At Baselworld, Girard-Perregaux presented the Neo-Tourbillon with Three Bridges, a relatively profound re-issue of an old favorite. While it retains the original codes and architecture of Constant Girard’s oeuvre, the major changes that have occurred – but which are not so obvious when taken individually – have to do with the shape of the bridges, the crystal, and the completely redesigned caliber.
Two brand-new chronographs debuting here at Baselworld illustrate extreme sides of the coin: De Bethune’s manually wound DB29 Maxi Chrono Tourbillon and Glashütte Original’s Senator Chronograph Panorama Date.
At Baselworld 2014, Bremont introduced the next incarnation: the MBIII. The new model goes a step further than its predecessor with the addition of a new GMT movement; however it still retains the distinct feel of the original.
Patek Philippe’s booth at Baselworld made for big news at both the 2013 and 2014 fairs: last year for not having been upgraded, and this year for being the only brand in Hall 1.0 to debut a brand-new, chic structure designed by a big-name architect.