The first independent watchmakers I visited where Thomas Prescher, Peter Speake-Marin and Greubel Forsey. I think you don’t have to be an admirer of independent haute horlogerie to appreciate their watches. Any watch aficionado will probably enjoy the amazing timepieces and horological art these watchmakers created.

Thomas Prescher’s atelier is in Twann, a small village down the road of Biel-Bienne toward Neuchatel, next to Lake Biel-Bienne. This is where he creates the incredible triple axis tourbillon, a masterpiece no other watchmaker has successfully produced to this day. The Triple Axis Tourbillon was initially presented together with a Single Axis and Double Axis Tourbillon, as the Trilogy. In following reports I’ll tell more about Prescher‘s Trilogy, Tempus Vivendi, Scultura Una and maybe some news…?

At Baselworld 2009 Peter Speake-Marin launched caliber SM2, which he designed with sturdiness, reliability and ease of maintenance in mind. Being a (very good) watchmaker, he knows the importance of these principles and now integrated them with some typical British watchmaking elements.

It’s no secret anymore that Speake-Marin will launch another new, entirely self developed, movement pretty soon. Although caliber SM2 was designed to be the basis for several future movements, quite a bit of significant changes had to be made for the new caliber. It won’t be long and for now all i can say is that I am very exited about Speake-Marin’s new movement and everything that will surround it.

Now it won’t be fair to compare anything I have seen (and probably will see) to the following manufacture I visited. Every watch Greubel Forsey create is incredibly impressive. It really is another league and I think it’s best described as a league of their own. I know this sounds like big words, but if you are every in the position to see and touch one of the Greubel Forsey timepieces i’m sure you’ll feel the same.

Gruebel Forsey‘s design is bold and so everything about the watches. They are not for the faint of heart… The most recent release is the Double Tourbillon 30 degrees Historique. Limited to 11 pieces in red gold and 11 pieces in platinum, they will be the last of in total 186 pieces of the Double Tourbillon 30 Degrees to be produced.

The first day of Baselworld is always a big rush of meeting people and seeing lots and lots of interesting new watches. Here are already a few first impressions.

Last year Baselworld was a rush of only 3 days, absolutely not enough to see everything i’d like to see. This year i’m taking a few days extra to see the many beautiful new watches and speak to the watchmakers.

This morning i already got a closer look at the movement of the new MB&F Horological Machine 4 (HM4). The movement is developed by Laurent Besse and Bernard Reynard. An incredible movement with two barrels… and two crowns. However MB&F does not want to say (yet) what the function of the crowns is…. The big secret of how the new HM4 will look and which functions it has is yet to be revealed, probably mid 2010.

Usually you can see a watch ‘in the metal’, however this does not apply to the another beauty from MB&F, the Horological Machine 2 in sapphire. Making this sapphire edition of the HM2 was not an easy thing to do. The sapphire is 3.6 mm thick and all holes are drilled. A very delicate work, as 4 out of 5 crystals break during the drilling.

Later this afternoon is the official launch of the book The Hands of Time. Peter Speake-Marin initiated the idea to publish a book for the 25th anniversary of the Académie Horlogère Des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI). Long-time watch connoisseur and aficionado Ian Skellern got the honor (or difficult task) of writing the book.

The Watch Lounge has a report of the book The Hands of Time. I’m goign to buy a copy this afternoon and get it signed by the members of the Académie. The book is available via the special AHCI Book website for only 60 CHF or around 41 Euro.

Today the biggest watch show of the year starts, Baselworld 2010. Many, many watch brands will show their new watches to collectors and the press.

Like last year, Robert-Jan from Fratellowatches and I will go to Baselworld. In less than 2 hours we will drive south for an absolute über-nerd-watch-week. On my wrist is a d.m.h watch from the Dutch watchmaker Fred Dingemans, my d.m.h.

This year we will be there the whole week to meet representatives of watch brands. I’m looking forward to an exiting week of watches, watches and more watches. No, this is no punishment

I will focus on the independent haute horlogerie. And on saturday it’s finally time to receive my new MIH Watch!! I really can’t wait to see it in the metal and strap it on my wrist.

Stay tuned for more news !!

Last weekend was the opening of the new Grönefeld Boutique. Getting the chance to talk with watchmakers Bart an Tim Grönefeld, John McGonigle, Peter Speake-Marin and Kees Engelbarts was of course not something to miss.

It was a rare moment that the Netherlands where covered in snow. Traffic and road administrations where not ready for the snowy and slippery road, so it was long, long ride… Finally after 5 hours driving (usually 2 hours) i arrived at the Grand Opening of the Grönefeld Boutique. I was just in time to join the watchmakers and other guests for the evening program. And what a program it was… Read my report at the AHCI and Independent forum of The PuristS Pro.

The opening’s report was also posted at the PuristS Pro’s front page as the latest blog story. Since the opening was not the usual opening with bubbles and dinner in a restaurant with at least 1 Michelin star. Nothing wrong with such an opening, don’t get me wrong! But this opening… was the most fun opening ever!

To read the report and see the photos, click the image below.

Later i’ll post loads of photos of the watches the Grönefeld Boutique has in the collection… and of course a few wrist shots