Felix Scholz
The dust has settled on SIHH 2015, and we're braving the 24 hour commute back to Australia. The journey gives us some time to reflect and consider (over a few drinks in the lounge) on the watches we saw; what we were surprised by, what got everyone talking, and what we wished was in our hand luggage.So without any further ado here's our moments after the fact take on SIHH 2015…The Biggest SurpriseFS: The Richard Mille Tourbillon FleurLook, I've always been able to appreciate the technicity (is that a word?) of Richard Mille but they never really spoke' to me. That all changed when I saw the Fleur. It's an amazingly technical, and wonderfully poetic complication that needs to be seen to be believed.AM: The Cartier Grande ComplicationCartier do a lot of things, but they don't do this. This is the most complicated watch Cartier have ever made, and in a year when a new line is being introduced it runs the risk of being overlooked.KD: The Montblanc?Tourbillon Cylindrique Geospheres Vasco da GamaWhen I saw this watch through my lens I couldn't believe it was a Montblanc. There's just so much to it. Totally unexpected.The Biggest BuzzAM: The Vacheron Constantin Harmony collectionVacheron turn 260 this year and they’ve kicked into high gear to make sure everybody notices. Their brand new Harmony collection was among the most popular wristshots on Instagram every day of the fair, and was the leading cushion shape of the many presented.FS: The Montblanc collectionI expected Montblanc to ramp up its game after the strong showing they put on last year, but I didn't quite expect Montblanc to deliver such an impressively strong collection on commercial and technical fronts. Everyone was talking about it.KD: The Panerai CarbotechSay what you will about Panerai, they know how to get people talking. We chatted to a lot of people about the Carbotech, and while not everyone loved it, everyone had an opinion on it.The One We WantKD: The A Lange & S?hne Datograph Up/DownBrands talk a lot about the feeling you get when you look at a watch. The only word that could describe my response to the modified dial colour of this rich, indulgent Datograph was ‘phwooarrr’. Grail potential.AM: The A Lange & S?hne Datograph Up/DownFS: The Piaget Emperador CussionI associate Piaget with the Altiplano. Thin and simple. The new Empredor Cuisson is still thin, but it's far from simple. A beautiful skeletonized dial in a cushion case, and with an amazingly high level of finishing. Guess I'll have to start saving now.
23.01.15