The top picks of my eighth consecutive visit to Baselworld were purely emotional, down to the design and aesthetics. These would be watches that I would want to wear and own. So armed with a bottle of water, my trusty Leica Q and tones of enthusiasm, this is #mybaselworld.
This year I attended my third SIHH. With the introduction of an independents’ lounge called Carré des Horlogers, it was certainly a changed place, energized with new blood added to the existing Richemont and other brands that comprise the exhibitors at the SIHH. Here I’d like to share with you a selection of wristshots I took with the Leica Q during the 2016 edition of SIHH. Enjoy!
A straight-talking watchmaker and engineer, since 1998 Andreas Strehler has been creating mesmerizing timepieces for his eponymous brand as well as complications and movements for a number of other brands. The cool Papillon, which gets its French name for butterfly from the shape of the very unusual bridge located on the dial side of the movement, is my favorite Strehler timepiece.
The Urwerk EMC Pistol, an extremely limited edition of just five pieces, features a very intricate mix of hand-engraved artistry and groundbreaking technology. The EMC Pistol is an edition of the watch that closes the EMC line, which is really a test bed for the hybrid technology inside rather than a fully finished wristwatch.
My highly anticipated McLaren experience started one Thursday morning in late June . . . and ended on a sunny afternoon in mid-October, when as soon as I climbed into the contoured green Alcantara stitched seat, pulled down the Mantis-green door, and adjusted the seat and mirrors, I set off down the A22 toward Portimao and the Algarve Race Circuit. The noise of the 3.8-liter V8 would be my soundtrack for this journey.
The Saatchi Gallery on Kings Road in trendy Chelsea has played host to SalonQP in London for the past four years. It is a fantastic venue and a great place for the brands attending to showcase their wares.
What an eclectic mix of brands and watches on show this year, too! Come with me on a virtual tour.
I have been an admirer of Panerai since the late 1990s, so getting a chance to go out to the Isle of Wight for the British Classic Week in Cowes, where Panerai is the time partner for the Classic Yachts Challenge, was a fantastic experience. I had the chance to see and photograph a number of recent Panerai releases in their natural habitat over the race weekend.
Burrells in Tunbridge Wells, Kent (UK) recently showcased the new Tudor releases from Baselworld 2015. However, a particularly pleasurable element of the event was the invited speaker: none other than Sir Ranulph Fiennes, a man the ‘Guinness Book of World Records’ has called “the greatest living explorer.” Fiennes spoke articulately, humorously, and humbly for an hour, both wowing and at times shocking the one hundred plus invited guests gathered at Burrells, to hear him tell, almost playfully, his stories about life at the extreme limits.
Harrods has opened its doors and indeed windows to Richard Mille for the month of July.
The pop-up store within the Brompton Road Exhibition Window celebrates “icons” by Richard Mille, including rare collection wristwatches and recent releases, including the stunning RM 19-02 Tourbillon Fleur lavished in diamonds.
Visitors to the store and passersby alike have the chance to view some amazing watches through the decorated windows as if they were works of art.
Fiona Krüger is a young Scottish artist and designer. She utilizes her love of art to make fantastic timepieces inspired by both the seventeenth-century skull watch of Mary, Queen of Scots and the Mexican celebration of Dia de Los Muertos. She has further developed her initial skull designs to now include the brightly colored Celebration Skull, which she launched to coincide with Baselworld 2015. This is limited to just 24 pieces.