As with our other get-togethers, there is always a theme around our gtg. This time around, the two themes are - Microbrand and special dials. Simple enough right?
So what constitutes a microbrand? Any brand that is "independent" that has production of not more than 2,000 pieces per year can fit into this definition. And what a range of timepieces were on display last night!
And what a start for the microbrands... the C by Romain Gauthier, Titanium Edition Three! Wow, what a timepiece! What's so special about this 38 piece limited eidition you might ask? Well, the case and movement is made from Grade 5 Titanium and so is the dial. Now if that does not qualify as special, I don't know what does...
So what do you have after R. Gauthier? No less impressive is the De Bethune DB8 Monopusher Chronograph with a 45 minute counter - so appropriate for the current season while the World Cup is ongoing...
Rumour has it that the founders are soccer fans and that is the reason for the 45 minute counter as opposed to the "traditional" 30 minute counter. For those non-soccer fans, soccer is played over 2 halves and each half lasts 45 minutes.
Those blue hands and the lugs are the signature of early year De Bethune. Unfortunately, they also come (mostly) with closed case back.
On to something more recent with the release of the Baltic Micro Rotor salmon dial. A quick strap change and that transforms the timepiece altogether.
Another microbrand that has caught the eye of the collectors is Ophion Watches and featured here is a piece unique salmon coloured radial dial.
The next one is probably one you have not heard of - Atelier de Rijke also know as De Rijke & Co. They are a Dutch independent watch company that crafts timepieces for the drivers. And you will see why it's for the drivers...
This example is the Miffy Moonphase 1/25. I know, you wanted to check it out right? Sorry but this timepiece has long been sold out. For this timepiece, Miffy was etched out of brass, polished and silver plated. It is filled with blue paint and after that it is hand filled with Superluminova in the correct Dick Bruna colors. And the owner of this timepiece told me the customer engagement and customer service from De Rijke is top rate.
Another microbrand featured is Semper and Adhuc, a French outfit. This example is the l'Instantanée LIP Limited Edition with a slate green dial and a vintage manual winding movement.
Next up, Magrette Timepieces. They are a boutique dive and sport watch brand based in Auckland (City of Sails), New Zealand and the model name proudly says Moana Pacific Waterman Bronze. What I would love is to own one of their engraved Leoncino Creation.
Another brand in focus of late is Unimatic. In this case, it is the Unimatic Modello Uno U1-BTP (below) which is an exclusive collaboration with BIOTOP, the first store to carry the brand in Japan. This was launched on the occasion of the opening of their new store in Fukuoka, after the success in Tokyo and Osaka.
Then there is a homegrown, Singapore brand Movas Watches and this is their dive piece, the Oceaner II. Rated to 300m water resistance, the divers' watch is equally good on land as in the depth of the seas.
To round off the microbrand round up, the up and coming Felipe Pikullik. Already making waves, this is an earlier piece from him and for those who might not know, he has a wait list of about 3 years for his hand finished time pieces.
The young German watchmaker uses ETA and UNITAS base movements, modifies and skeletonises them before finishing by hand.
And he is now working on a moonphase timepiece that (hopefully) will be launched soon.
Microbrand or special dial, dinner at Zing by XiYan was an enjoyable affair. We got to handle timepieces we might never have had the opportunity to lay our hands on and the wide variety certainly gives you an idea of the type of collectors there are within the group. Stay tuned to Part 2 of the gathering as I feature "Special Dials" next.
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