At Baselworld it was finally time to receive my new MIH Watch. Probably the most affordable mechanical single button chronograph with an annual calendar. And it’s a beauty!

Last year i emailed Beat Weinmann from The Embassy, a watch store specialized in (independent) haute horlogerie, that I wanted to buy a MIH Watch. Since the MIH Watch has a limited production of only 100 pieces a year, i was happy to hear Beat could reserve one for me. That was because i wanted to pick up the MIH Watch myself. I have a habit in picking up my own watches, even if i have to go all the way to Helsinki.

When the deal was made i planned to pick up the MIH Watch at the Embassy in Luzern. Unfortunately because of back problems i had to cancel the planned trip to Switzerland. A few months later it was already close to Baselworld and Beat Weinmann told me he could meet me there and bring my MIH Watch. Well, that was an offer i couldn’t resist

Like all MIH Watches, it was wrapped in a copy of the Neue Zürcher Zeitung. The choice not to deliver the MIH Watch in a luxurious box but in a newspaper, was Ludwig Oechslin’s. Unconventional, but it somehow suits. And this can be said about the technical aspects as well…

MIH Watch - annual calendar & mono-poussoir chronograph

Ludwig Oechslin designed an annual calendar that is built around just nine moving parts and it’s display is contained within one easy-to-read window. And there’s more ‘unconventional’ about the MIH Watch. Looking at the dial you wouldn’t notice it’s complexity. However besides the annual calendar, there’s also a chronograph… a mono-poussoir chronograph or single button chronograph.

The 9 parts of the annual calendar (photo by Bea Weinmann)

Some specifications:

• Diameter: 42 mm
• Thickness: 15 mm
• Waterproof: 100 meters
• Crystal: Sapphire with double sided AR coating
• Movement: ETA Valjoux 7750
• Functions: annual calendar, day/night indicator, single button chronograph

The titanium case is beautifully finished and feels soft as silk. It wears very comfortable and the attachment of the rubber strap is partially integrated in the case, which looks very nice. This way there’s no opening between the strap and the case.

Paul Gerber, member of the AHCI, chose the basic movement for the watch: an ETA-Valjoux calibre 7750. This reliable workhorse has enough power to drive the calendar’s disks reliably. The calendar mechanism is entirely manufactured at Paul Gerber’s ateliers, which is also where every MIH Watch is assembled and brought to life.

One of the most interesting places at Baselworld was The Dream Factory. Located in the Palace pavillon, URWERK, MB&F, Peter Speake-Marin and Christophe Claret displayed their incredibly beautiful horological machines.

URWERK celebrates the 7th anniversary of its 103 collection the two new 103T models and at the same time says farewell, since the production of the collection will end at the end 2010. After last year’s 103T Tarantula and 103T in grey and red gold it’s time to present the 103T Mexican Fireleg and Shiny-T.

The 103 T Mexican Fireleg will be limited to 60 pieces and the Shiny T to only 33 pieces. And from 2011 on… no 103 models anymore. The Mexican Fireleg is quite a funky design with it’s orange hour and minute markers. The Shiny-T stands out because of it’s sapphire hour disks, a nice detail… or actually more than just a nice detail. It reveals more of the satellite turning inside the orbital cross.

The new Urwerk UR-103T models have the manually wound calibre 3.03 movement, which operates at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour and offers a 43-hour power reserve. The front side indicates hours and minutes. The back side features a control panel with the power reserve display, a 15-minute and seconds setting dial, as well as an hour adjustment screw.

Both models are available in AITiN-treated steel or 18K gold and are 50mm x 36mm and 13.5mm thick. And i must add, it wears very comfortable and looks very elegant/design/funky/different/cool.

Conversation with Martin Frei

During the meeting Martin Frei, co-founder of URWERK joined us and talked about the different ways to display time. He says that on a watch with hour and minute hands, it’s easy to see know the hand’s position for the next meeting. This way you will have a visual picture of ‘the future’. URWERK’s watches display time in a linear way which makes the experience of past and future completely different.

Martin tells about a conversation he once had about the way the ancient Greeks looks at time. They didn’t have the same consciousness of time like we do. We have a reasonably clear picture of the past and many plans for the future. The ancient Greeks much more lived in the present. This is way of experiencing time has more similarities with the way URWERK displays time.

I never thought of it this way, but since the fascinating conversation, it’s on my mind every time i look at my wrist. So now i will have to buy an URWERK? If that only was possible. To me these timepieces are the summum of futuristic looks, daring design and technical apogee.

If you’re considering buying a URWERK 103 T model, than make up your mind fast. The limited production stop at the end of this year.

Next year URWERK will come with something new… but what? All i can say is that it might have a date function.

Another interesting day at Baselworld… and besides several meetings and running into some of the very best watchmakers on planet earth during a book-signing, it was also time to finally get my new MIH Watch!

Today the book 12 Faces of Time was officially released with a book-signing. Elizabeth Doerr, writer, and Ralf Baumgarten, photographer, really did an excellent job. Not only is the book great, later more about that, the book-signing was one of the most interesting events during the Baselworld fair. At least for me as an admirer of independent watchmakers.

12 Faces of Time is actually a piece of art about the art of watchmaking. It’s very stylish, designed beautifully and Ralf Baumgarten’s photography perfectly suit the style of the interviews. This perfect match between the style of interviews and photos is something that absolutely adds to the joy of reading this book.

Another thing i really like, is the personal approach of the interviews. It’s no attempt to let a watchmaker describe his own watchmaking chronology, no it’s about the watchmaker, his vision, his drive and motivation. These are the factors that matter, as they are critical for the timepieces created by these watchmakers.

If you like mechanical watches, whether it be TAG Heuer, Omega, Rolex, Panerai, Patek Philippe or watches made by independent watchmakers, than this book will surely be a bonus to the experience of your passion. The book ’12 Faces of Time’ can be bought online from Amazon or other bookstores.

By the way, I can also recommend the interview Tom Mulraney from The Watch Lounge did with Elizabeth Doerr.

Earlier on day three i had maybe my most interesting conversation at Baselworld. It was with Martin Frei, designer and creative genius, and together with Felix Baumgartner co-founder of URWERK. In a following blog story i’ll share more of this conversation and the newest URWERK 103T Shining T (see photo above) and Mexican Fireleg and the URWERK 203.

Last but not least, the moment to strap my new MIH Watch on my wrist had finally arrived. From the hands of Beat Weinmann, engine behind the birth of the MIH Watch and manager of watch store The Embassy in Luzern, Switzerland. Later more about the MIH Watch, but for now the first wristshot (although it’s a crappy photo).

Last year Linde Werdelin almost completely renewed their collection. This year they build further on that collection and in a surprising way.

There’s the new Oktopus Titanium Black Bezel…. the Oktopus Tattoo…. the Oktopus DLC…. and the Oktopus Moonphase. Now that’s 4 new Oktopus models. And there’s a SpidoLite in rose gold….

The case of the Oktopus Tattoo has a tattoo engraving, designed by Danish tattoo artist Henning Jensen. On the press release photo the engraving looks very ‘in-your-face’, however in the metal it’s rather discrete. The parts of the watch when it’s on your wrist, that are seen (the dial and dive bezel), are not tattooed. Also the tattoo engraving is only 80 nanometers deep which gives it a refined look.

The new Oktopus Tattoo also has new hands, which are designed to resemble the tentacles of an octopus. Because the Oktopus models are 2mm thicker than the rest of the Linde Werdelin collection, the water resistance of this series is now 1.111 meter or 110 ATM. In the side of the case, at the 9 o’clock position, is an integrated helium escape valve. And another highlight of the Oktopus Tattoo…  it’s now powered by a Frederic Piguet caliber 1150.

Another new Linde Werdelin is the Oktopus Moonphase. With a rose gold bezel and rose gold numerals & markers on the dial, it’s a mix of a dress watch and a sports watch. The moonphase complication, made by Svend Anderson who also did the movement of the SpidoLite, adds to that as well.

The moonphase is a just stunning to look at . It has a base of super luminova and on top of that, a photo-realistic moon has been ‘silk-painted’. The Oktopus Moonphase is also powered by an automatic Frederic Piguet caliber 1150 with a power reserve of 72 hours. The moonphase complication can be adjusted manually by the second crown position, normally used for the date.

Last year the SpidoLite was my favorite. I just loved the skelletonized titanium case. This year there’s a SpidoLite in rose gold.

Usually i have a strong preference for white metals. Somehow i feel white metal suits me much better and besides a vintage Glashütte Sixties i only own watches in white metal. For the SpidoLite i would make an exception and i would do this without hesitation. When i put it on for a wrist shot, i immediately fell in love again.

It doesn’t look like most watches in gold. The black screws and crown, the skelletonized case and dial, add something bold and sporty to this watch that makes it anything but a typical gold watch. By the way, it also looks good on a women’s wrist.

I’d love to know what you think of the SpidoLite in rose gold. Please post a comment or let me know by email.