GTE 2011

Geneva Time Exhibition

Geneva Time Exhibition (GTE), the six day long exhibition of 60 watchmaking brands opens in Geneva on January 16, 2011.

Geneva Time Exhibition is pleased to announce the creation of the GTE SUPERWATCH 2011 AWARD, the prize for the independent watch deemed the most distinguished in its conception, avant-gardism and technology.

Reserved exclusively to exhibitors taking part at the GTE, The GTE SUPERWATCH 2011 AWARD will be given to one single watch, after a prestigious and independent jury of six people have judged the nominated watches. Jury members include • Anders Modig (Jury President), editor in Chief Plaza Watch, Elizabeth Doerr, Watch journalist and author, Jean Marc Wiederrecht, independent Watchmaker , Axel Kufus, Professor of Design at Universität der Kunste Berlin , Mohammed Abdulmagied Seddiqi of Seddiqi and Sons, leading  agent/retailer group in the Middle East and Geoffroy Ader, European Head of Watches, Sotheby’s.

 

Watch World

Here are some of my articles in Watch World, May 2010 issue

Little Master

Intro: Though fairly young, 15 years to be precise, Roger Dubuis has to its credit over thirty complicated movements. Hiren Kumar Bose

http://www.watchworldmagazine.com/watchworld/vol11/rogerdubuis.asp

The Zenith Of Adventure

Intro: Though he set out solo in a balloon to the North Pole, physician-explorer Jean-Louis Etienne had the company of Zenith El Primero Striking 10TH chronograph. Hiren Kumar Bose

http://www.watchworldmagazine.com/watchworld/vol11/zenith.asp

The Transformers

Intro: Montblanc’s Metamorphosis transforms the rules of  watchmaking by switching from a wristwatch to chronograph and vice versa within 15 seconds. Hiren Kumar Bose

http://www.watchworldmagazine.com/watchworld/vol11/montblanc.asp

Slice Of Time

The Independent Swiss Watchmakers’ Fair, which set ticking in Geneva, to make Mumbai the next destination. Hiren Kumar Bose

http://www.watchworldmagazine.com/watchworld/vol11/variety.asp

Asteroid on Your Wrist

Atelier Louis Moinet, named after one time associate of Abraham-Louis Breguet, father of tourbillon, unveiled four solar system-inspired tourbillon watches, each with its own genuine meteorite at the maiden Geneva Time Exhibition. The four watches unite to complete one-of-a-kind planetarium display, creating pièce de résistance for the ultimate watch collector.

Together, the four Meteoris watches uniquely unite the most legendary meteorites and depict the solar system in spectacular fashion, with each watch featuring a unique authenticated meteorite and a beautiful design inspired by that meteorite’s history and/or origin. Who said you can’t own a piece of an asteroid?

LOUIS MOINET Tourbillon Mars

The Meteoris Tourbillon Mars proudly displays the first stone from Mars ever used in watch making. That stone is finely inlaid into a hand-engraved dial and adorned with an astrolabe-type appliqué. The case is crafted from 18-carat white gold set with 56 baguette-cut Top Wesselton VVS diamonds totaling 3.46 carats. This meteorite was discovered in the Sultanate of Oman in 2008, and has been authenticated by the Russian Academy of Science, Moscow.

The others in this series are the Meteoris Tourbillon Rosetta Stone featuring the meteorite by the same name; the Meteoris Tourbillon Asteriod with parts from Itqiy, a mysterious asteroid that was formed near the sun; and the first tourbillon to display an authentic lunar meteorite, the Meteoris Tourbillon Moon which is distinguished by its dark structure featuring a number of fine occlusions and its 18-carat rose gold case.

LOUIS MOINET Tourbillon Moon

As with other Louis Moinet tourbillons, the magic of the Meteoris tourbillon movement is intensified by connecting its carriage to the barrel by means of a hand-drawn and beveled vertical bar. Each watch also features an open worked version of the barrel, with a cover that performs an average rotation in six hours. Exclusive to the Meteoris, however, is the hand-wound tourbillon movement that beats at a cadence of 21,600 vibrations per hour. Each watch provides spectacular visibility of the winding mechanism through its case-back. The “octopus” spring plays three roles by acting as pull-out piece spring, lever spring and click spring. Each Meteoris is presented in its own exceptional case composed of 50 different parts, with Louis Moinet’s patent pending crown guard. Each watch also depicts a hand engraving on the dial depicting the meteorite’s trajectory towards the earth, represented by a pietersite gemstone placed beneath the hands.

Geneva Time Exhibition

Entrance of Geneva Time Exhibition

BaselWorld, SIHH and now the Geneva Time Exhibition (GTE) or the Independent Swiss Watchmakers’ Fair which began on January 17 at Geneva’s International Conference Centre. Having done the Parmigiani, the Breguet and other biggie brands one thought that was all about Swiss watches until one came across the 38 watchmakers at GTE. Though not much known like a Vacheron Constantin or an Omega these independent watchmakers not much known outside Switzerland have taken horological ingenuity to new heights unsung and unnoticed.

Sotheby’s, BMW, Laurent Perrier and Arasa Morelli were the official partners of this week-long event held at Geneva.  The Fair’s success has reinforced GTE’s plans not just to repeat the GTE experience in the coming year – but also to export their all-in fairs concept abroad. The first stop will be India, the darling nation of Swiss watch manufactures. The fair will be held in the commercial capital and called, the Mumbai Time Exhibition.

The Manufactures represented were Ateliers Louis Moniet, Peter Tanisman, Saint Honore Paris, Ladoire Geneve, Cecil Purnel, Clerc, Titanium Cargo, Robert & Fils 1630, Swisskubik and others.