TimeTexas

Cool feature on the new Holthinrichs website is the ability to configure your timepiece. https://holthinrichswatches.com/customizer/ Very cool.

https://monochrome-watches.com/introducing-lang-and-heyne-friedrich-ii-remontoir-the-lavish-attic-edition-specs-price/

Discussion of Microbrands vs. Independents on the latest The Arcanaut Records Podcast. Episode 6 Podcast Awesome stuff in this episode. Give it a listen.

None of those. Chose this one. Wanted some orange and I love the 3D-ish look of the rings. Seems like it had a lot of depth. Pretty pumped and now that I was able to see them in person I'm even more excited.

Just received a photo of my dial with custom polished indices.

Such a great watch!

So, how did I do? 2022 GPHG Winners Aguille d'Or Grand Prix Winner: MB&F Legacy Machine Sequential Evo Ladies' Winner: Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Automatic Ladies' Complication Winner: Hermès, Arceau Le temps voyageur Men's Winner: Akrivia, Chronomètre Contemporain II Men's Complication Winner: Hermès, Arceau Le temps voyageur Iconic Winner: TAG Heuer, Monaco X Gulf Tourbillon Winner: H. Moser & Cie, Pioneer Cylindrical Tourbillon Skeleton Calendar & Astronomy Winner: Krayon, Anywhere Mechanical Exception Winner: Ferdinand Berthoud, FB 2RSM.2-1 Chronograph Winner: Grönefeld, 1941 Grönograaf Tantalum Divers' Watch Winner: Tudor, Pelagos FXD Jewellery Winner: Bulgari, Serpenti Misteriosi High Jewellery Artistic Crafts Winner: Voutilainen, Ji-Ku Petite Aguille Winner: Trilobe, Nuit Fantastique Dune Edition Challenge Watch Winner: M.A.D. Editions, M.A.D.1 Red Mechanical Clock Winner: Van Cleef & Arpels, Fontaine Aux Oiseaux automaton Innovation Winner: Van Cleef & Arpels, Lady Arpels Heures Florales Cerisier watch Audacity Winner: Bulgari, Octo Finissimo Ultra 10th Anniversary Chronometry Winner: Grand Seiko, Kodo Constant-force Tourbillon Horological Revelation Winner: Sylvain Pinaud, Origine Special Jury Winner: François Junod, automaton-maker and sculptor Congratulations to all the winners. Thoughts on the selections?

Agreed. But that's really more a function of what people see regularly. Someone only somewhat interested in watches is not going to dive any deeper than the watches they see marketed regularly. For cushion-style cases, that's Panerai. I've been extremely impressed with my Fears - truly a great watch and a great value. The attention to detail, the finishing, everything. It's clear that Nicholas takes an enormous amount of pride in ensuring the quality of each timepiece.

Good article on the new Fears Brunswick Pure from Oracle Time. https://oracleoftime.com/fears-brunswick-pure/ My only disagreement is that whence I post photos of my Brunswick I get inevitable Panerai comments, so not sure the case shape is fully identifiable to most people. But I think most people associate cushion-style cases with Panerai, even though they were designed before Panerai used it.

That's gorgeous! I'm waiting on my SB-04 right now. Went with a typical guilloche since that's missing in my collection. But this is great and I love the 4-8-12 numerals. Clean and symmetric.

Love the vertical brushing on the dial and the light blue accents. Beautiful movement. This is a great new release.

Holthinrichs Watches Pre-Liminality Case Material: 3D proved Stainless Steel full Raw finishing Case Diameter: 38mm Case Thickness: 7.4mm Case Thickness (with crystal): 9.9mm Lug to Lug: 47mm Dial: Handmade deconstructed with 14 diamonds 0.1 carat Hands: Handmade, flame treated stainless steel Movement: HW-LIM, base Peseux modified by hand and flame treated, blued screws, black polished crown wheel cuts, and shaking on the ratchet wheel Strap: Handmade, black ostrich leg Retail Price: €8500 exc VAT

One of the real highlights I experienced at WatchTime was the ability to interact directly with the brands. One of the best was Chronoswiss - I spent a lot of time talking with Beat Weinmann and Massimiliano Grotto. First of all, they have some fantastic and extremely creative timepieces. In an increasingly crowded independent watch space, their watches stand out. As they say on their website, Chronoswiss is a brand for visionaries, pioneers and nonconformists. I agree. The watches are certainly not traditionalist, they are for people looking for something more colorful to match their personality. As a non-traditionalist and someone who really appreciates a willingness to express creativity, I've definitely added Chronoswiss to the top of my list. Specifically, the Open Gear ReSec Chameleon. It has an absolutely stunning green-ish dial that is true to its Chameleon name. The guilloche dial changes from a lime green to a dark sea green to an aqua-bluish-green depending on the light. And while not inexpensive, compared to watches from many other brands the prices are extremely reasonable. The OG Resec Chameleon has a price of $10,500. I didn't get too many good photos at WatchTime (I'll blame the lighting, not my photography skills). But here's a few that show the chameleon nature of the dial. Anyways, just one of the brands that really wowed me at the show and is worth checking out.

Thank you to Rob and Jay at Topper for the invite and thank you to Xavier and @TheWatchEnabler for taking the time to make it out to California for the event! Truly some beautiful watches and hearing Xavier's passion is contagious. Having now seen the Antarctique Passage de Drake in person I'm more convinced than ever that the Glacier Blue was the right decision. The dial really shines on the lighter colored dials.

So I had an opportunity to go out to Topper Jewelers for a private Czapek event. It was fantastic to meet Xavier De Roquemaurel and Mike Margolis and get a chance to learn more about Czapek. VN20221030_091028.mp4

One of the most exciting things I experienced in NY was seeing the MEC-1 and getting the opportunity to meet the founders. MEC is a very exciting new high end independent brand from the US. The MEC-1 is 39mm x 9.5mm high. It has a manual winding, manufacture movement with jump hour and sub-seconds. The crystal is a smoked sapphire so you can the front of the movement as well as the back. With a unique design language and beautiful industrial movement this is an extremely exciting timepiece from an up and coming American watchmaker. More info at https://www.mecwatches.com/mec1 One check them out on IG: @mecwatches

Somewhat related to this is King Flum's latest blog post on Screw Down Crown. Check out the entire post here: ScrewDownCrown

I'll have more about the event, but suffice it to say it was extremely eye opening. It was my first trip to WatchTime and it lived up to the hype. Some highlights... Seeiing the Glacier Blue Czapek on a brushed bracelet, just like I have on order. Confirmed I made the absolute right choice. Thanks to @TheWatchEnabler for making that happen! If and the Rattrapante is just incredible in person. Also had an opportunity to chat with Xavier De Roquemaurel for a bit at Watchtime. Chatting with Kari Voutilainen. Very quiet and humble. Incredible timepieces. Helping Beat Weinmann with Chronoswiss try to sell an open Gear Resec Chameleon. The photos above don't do it justice. Just an absolutely gorgeous timepiece with a dial that has to be seen in person. The way it changes colors from lime green to sea green to aqua blue. Truly a chameleon. Thanks to Beat for trusting me with his beautiful watch. It is on my must have list now although funds are tight right now awaiting the Czapek. More to come.

I was lucky enough to attend the WatchTime event in New York last week and was able to set some amazing watches. Apologies for the photos, but the lighting was difficult and my photography skills are lacking.

Hey Mike! It was great to talk with you at both events and happy to have you on board. Not sure I'd call your background "boring." All three brands are fantastic and I was blown away by the Czapeks in person and it definitely reaffirmed my decision on the Glacier Blue! Well, other than the Rattrapante which is otherworldly. Work has been busy after taking a week off for watches, but I'm about to post some photos from both events. Cheers and welcome!

Not sure why it has a repeat at the bottom. I keep deleting it but it doesn't go away. Anyways, continuing. I think the PF is better as a two-hander or GMT Rattrapante. The vintage racing look of the LM is really well done and unique. I think the Czapek is underrated when sitting next to the Grönefeld and the MB&F, but the skeletonized Rattrapante and the sapphire subdials is pretty amazing. If push comes to shove though, I'd go with the MB&F first, Czapek second, then the Grönefeld third. If I was to get a Tudor, it would be a Pelagos, but not this one. The Tag doesn't do much for me, and the GS seems like a submariner homage. I love the Doxa and what Breitling has done with their lineup over the last few years is nothing short of amazing, the SuperOcean being no exception. But is there any way the ArtyA doesn't win this? Cool, unique aesthetic and an extremely cool complication. For a brand I'd never heard of before this, really a fantastic entry. It's my pick here. So those are my picks - what are your thoughts? I'm not going to do the jewelry/artsy watches but I will make special mention of the Voutilainen Ki-Ju. What an absolutely gorgeous watch. Here's a link with higher res photos and more information about each of the finalists - https://gphg-2022.watchonista.com/

Still working with the brands to customize the forums, so they may not be available immediately, but I'm extremely excited to have these brands on board, along with Holthinrichs, Hrotsky, and Statera!

@Piccolo Love that picture of your princess - she's very serious about that pour! Glad to have you on board. We're just getting started here. Meeting with some more brands this week in New York (including Czapek next week) and also going to start actually promoting the site some in the near future and hopefully get more people signing up. Cheers!