At the highest level, fine watchmaking turns from a science into pure art, demanding skills, dexterity and mental acuity that remain dazzlingly out of reach for most of us.
As, indeed, do the watches themselves, made in tiny batches and often delivered straight to collectors (once they’ve served their time on waiting lists).
WATCHPRO Salon, however, offers a rare opportunity to see an array of these masterpieces up close as Tim Barber reports.
Voutilainen
Setsu-Getsu-Ka
From the softly-spoken colossus of independent watchmaking comes his latest, wondrous collaboration with the Unryuan studio of the celebrated Japanese lacquer artist Tatsuo Kitamura.
With a vision of Mount Fuji on the dial, the decorative patchwork – months in the making – Âspreads across the movement bridges too.
Bring a loupe to admire not just the unique Japanese handcraft, but the untouchably perfect finishing that’s a hallmark of Voutilainen watches.
Grand Seiko
Kintaro Hattori 160th Anniversary Limited Edition
There’s the Grand Seiko of elegant modern pieces like the GPHG-winning SLGH005; and then there’s the Grand Seiko of the Micro-Artists Studio – an elite team of artisan geniuses building some of the most rarefied and beautiful watches in the world, a number of which will be on show at WATCHPRO Salon.
My pick?
This limpid beauty marking the 160th anniversary of the birth of Seiko founder Kintaro Hattori, which combines majestically pure design, breathtaking finishing and the wonders of Spring Drive Caliber 9R02 – one of the most striking haute horlogerie movements around.
Parmigiani
Tonda PF Split Seconds Chronograph
With its new Tonda PF collection, Parmigiani has presented a more modern and streamlined version of its esoteric – and often overlooked – fine watchmaking approach.
At the pinnacle of the collection, this Split Seconds Chronograph is a reminder of just what the brand is capable of at its most creatively energised.
The grey dial is modishly understated; the high-frequency movement, with its rococo latticework of rose gold bridges, is a GPHG-winning marvel.
Laurent Ferrier
Square Micro-Rotor Retro
Few top-tier brands produce watches with such an innate sense of pure, elegant style, in tandem with perfectly exquisite watchmaking, as Laurent Ferrier.
That’s especially the case with the new Square Micro-Rotor Retro, which fuses the pleasing curvature of the Laurent Ferrier cushion case with a crisply beautiful Art Deco dial design.
Turn it over, and you have the 3D joys of the brand’s famed micro-rotor movement: a symphony of horological ingenuity and hand-finishing technique.
WATCHPRO Salon
WATCHPRO Salon is a showcase of prestige watchmakers and a chance for brands, retailers and press to meet collectors and enthusiasts in 5-star luxury.
The two-day event takes place from November 12 to 13 at The Londoner, a brand new 5-star hotel on London’s Leicester Square.
Confirmed exhibitors and partners include:
ALLEMANO | BALL WATCH | BIANCHET | BONHAMS | BRITISH HOROLOGICAL INSTITUTE | CHARLES GIRARDIER | CHRISTOPHER WARD | CITY A.M. | CYRUS | CZAPEK | DEETIMELOVE | DELMA | DOXA | DUCKWORTH PRESTEX | ENCELADE | GRAHAM | GRAND SEIKO | IKEPOD | JUNGHANS | LAURENT FERRIER | MARATHON | MAURICE LACROIX | MECCHANICHE VELOCI | MICHEL HERBELIN | ORIS | PARKLAND CONCIERGE |Â PARMIGIANI FLEURIER | PEQUIGNET | PERRELET | QLOCKTWO | SCATOLA DEL TEMPO | SCHOFIELD | SCOTTISH WATCHES |Â SIDEREUS | SINN | SPEAKE-MARIN | SWISS CAPSULE | SWISS KUBIK | THE SPLINED HUB | U-BOAT | VICTORINOX | VOUTILAINEN | WOLF | WILLIAM WOOD WATCHES | ZEITWINKEL
