SIHH 2010: Highlights From The First Day
Baume et Mercier XL chronograph 24h moon phase – Image courtesy of Baume et Mercier
With more brands on show than ever, this year’s SIHH was always going to be a huge event. Plus, with the addition of Greubel Forsey and Richard Mille as first time exhibitors there was always going to be some juggling of space and it looks like I’m going to get some extra exercise this year.
The first thing that strikes you when you look at the map of the show is the size of the Cartier stand. It is absolutely huge – looks like there are some major presentations going on and some very nice private display rooms. Tomorrow’s task is to try and get in!!
Baume & Mercier
The Press are given a timetable of brand presentations to follow and first off was Baume & Mercier.
With the departure of then CEO Michel Nieto in September 2009, this could have been just a brand in transition. Luckily a large watch brand is like a super tanker: it takes a long time to turn, with the lead times for development so long that changes can occur very slowly.
The first surprise is that the company has launched a Facebook group and a Twitter account. It is keen to emphasize the history of the brand, using the great-grand-daughter of the founder to promote its entry to cyberspace and encouraging owners to tell the stories of their watches.
Baume et Mercier on Facebook – Image courtesy of Baume et Mercier
An excellent idea as long as your watch doesn’t break – that could lead to some interesting comments being posted.
It’s a busy presentation with lots of people, standing room only, and PR agents crammed against the back wall. With three new styles to present – William Baume, Classima Executives and Magnum, this is one of B&M’s busiest years.
William Baume is its premier range and is dedicated to the founder of the company. The watches are classically styled but another look reveals a surprise: this is a jump-hour watch.
The hours are displayed by Arabic numeral at the 12 o’clock position. Surrounding the hour display is a subsidiary minutes dial, and there is a small seconds dial at the 6 o’clock position. The range is limited to 40 pieces, yet priced at a not outrageous 17,500CHF – where do I sign?
The main quantity of sales will come from the Classima Executives range. The key here is an aggressive price plus a number of differing styles to cater for as wide a spectrum of tastes as possible. The most successfully executed are those with the grain d’orge guilloche dials.
Baume et Mercier XL Baume et Mercier XL GMT chronograph – Image courtesy of Baume et Mercier
The date-only model is 2,400CHF, a calendar model is 3,650CHF and for the “full fat†experience the Moon Phase is 4,200CHF.
In these economically challenging times it is more important than ever to have a complete range of offerings.
If you are a little strapped for cash but would like something with sapphire glass, a good design, aligator strap and a reasonable price then the Ultra Thin could be just the thing. Of course with something this thin we have to say goodbye to a mechanical movement, but this is good quality quartz movement with a minimalist design. You only get hours and minutes with this watch as there’s no room for a complication in the case, but it’s fantastic value at 1,350CHF.
Lunch
One thing that does seem to have been sacrificed is the space in the Press Room. Lunch looked like it was going to be a bit of a squeeze but luckily there was a second area which was much nicer.
Greubel Forsey’s Double Tourbilon Technique – Image courtesy Greubel Forsey
Greubel Forsey
If I thought that B&M was busy, that’s nothing compared with Greubel Forsey. The company is the new kid on the block here at SIHH, so its presentation room is much smaller than many of the others, but this doesn’t mean that there are fewer people. Even in these preliminary stages it looks as if GF is going to be the hit of the show!
Squeezing together a bunch of media hacks is usually a recipe for disaster and rarely an ideal ingredient for a good presentation, but things get off to a good start with the appearance of the chiselled Stephen Forsey himself, speaking very credible French. It sounds as if those years at Renaud & Papi have paid off; these small points often make all the difference. As if to highlight the ethos of the company, rather than a flashy high level marketing plan we are given a much more interesting insight into the R&D process and the development cycle for upcoming products, illustrated by a few slides of its new, and exquisitely designed, manufacturing facility in La Choux de Fonds – a welcome change.
I am sure many readers are familiar with the very high-end offerings of Greubel Forsey, but the reality of the quality and finishing of the products is staggering. I spent several minutes just watching the Tourbillon going round and round – I’ve seen it before but somehow it still looks very special.
Greubel Forsey has released two varients of existing models for the show: the Tourbillon 24 Seconds in
platinum and the Double Tourbillon Technique (shown above). The photos are the best way to describe the beauty of these watches so here you go.
Tourbillon 24 Seconds – Image courtesy Greubel Forsey
The interesting reality of Greubel Forsey being here is that in sales terms the company doesn’t really need to go through all of this – it already sells every watch it makes. However the value of maintaining your profile can’t be underestimated, especially if you want to ensure that your company continues to be perceived as at the forefront of watch technology. Maybe this is what independent horologers need to do to sell more watches.
Montblanc
I should say right out that I am not a huge fan of Montblanc watches; their pens, yes, but the watches, I just don’t think they’re me. So I didn’t have great expectations, but to serve me right there was a surprise: the long rumoured MontblancVilleret Metamorphosis.This is a remarkable device, truly two watches in one.
When you press a button on the left side of the watch the face breaks into two, and disappears into the interior to display a second face underneath. Switching between a chronograph and a more businesslike face the display is nothing less than miraculous, and a lot of fun to watch.
Best not to ask the price!
One Response
to “SIHH 2010: Highlights From The First Day”
|
|
search the watch lounge
enter your email to get updates in your inbox
Latest Comments
- Brenda Lehman: Today is the first I’ve heard about Rafa’s watch being stolen. Give...
- Deonte: where or how can i buy????????????
- Olivier Muller: Dear Phee, I just had Daniel on the phone this morning. He is away now and will...
Great report!