From Lip -
So this is truly a fun morning for me. I had not had occasion to visit the Montres Lip website in some time, and as BaselWorld is still four months away, this was a very nice surprise for me.
I am a very, very big fan of Lip. I have visited their HQ in Besançon, met the owners, and would LOVE to see them have actual representation here in the US. And while they make several clever pieces, they have finally come up with one that I would want to wear pretty much every day of the week.
This is the Lip Himalaya 40 mm mechanical - 671552. It is not a chronograph. It does not have a second time zone. No smart features, no flashy extras.
A beautifully simple dial with 12 numerals as opposed to indices. And again, simple does not mean dumb. In fact, simple it this particular instance means incredibly well-informed in terms of design that will stand the test of time. Hours, minutes and seconds.
The date window is enhanced to offer better than normal legibility.
The case measures 40 mm in diameter, and is of stainless steel. And perhaps one of my favorite aspects of this timekeeper - the movement is a hand winding, mechanical movement - the Miyota 821A SPE. And I suppose that this is where I probably differ from many of my friends and colleagues in the industry and covering it. I am not a huge fan of automatic watches. If I am being really honest about it, I really prefer something that is hand-winding. Now there are those who will rhapsodize about the communion between man and time as one winds the life into the watch each morning by hand.
Yeah, maybe.
As for myself, I can just picture myself in that city I fell in love with two years ago - Besançon, getting up early in the morning to walk the city streets as I did back then, winding my watch and heading out of the hotel. Wandering the old streets and taking it all in, with a clear head, an open heart, and the thrill of being in such a wonderful place.
So clearly, my identification with the Lip Himalaya 40 mm mechanical - 671552 may indeed be simply personal, and one that does not relate to everyone. Fair enough. That's what makes a horse race ; )
Enjoy your watches!
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| Courtesy of Lip |
I am a very, very big fan of Lip. I have visited their HQ in Besançon, met the owners, and would LOVE to see them have actual representation here in the US. And while they make several clever pieces, they have finally come up with one that I would want to wear pretty much every day of the week.
This is the Lip Himalaya 40 mm mechanical - 671552. It is not a chronograph. It does not have a second time zone. No smart features, no flashy extras.
A beautifully simple dial with 12 numerals as opposed to indices. And again, simple does not mean dumb. In fact, simple it this particular instance means incredibly well-informed in terms of design that will stand the test of time. Hours, minutes and seconds.
The date window is enhanced to offer better than normal legibility.
The case measures 40 mm in diameter, and is of stainless steel. And perhaps one of my favorite aspects of this timekeeper - the movement is a hand winding, mechanical movement - the Miyota 821A SPE. And I suppose that this is where I probably differ from many of my friends and colleagues in the industry and covering it. I am not a huge fan of automatic watches. If I am being really honest about it, I really prefer something that is hand-winding. Now there are those who will rhapsodize about the communion between man and time as one winds the life into the watch each morning by hand.
Yeah, maybe.
As for myself, I can just picture myself in that city I fell in love with two years ago - Besançon, getting up early in the morning to walk the city streets as I did back then, winding my watch and heading out of the hotel. Wandering the old streets and taking it all in, with a clear head, an open heart, and the thrill of being in such a wonderful place.
So clearly, my identification with the Lip Himalaya 40 mm mechanical - 671552 may indeed be simply personal, and one that does not relate to everyone. Fair enough. That's what makes a horse race ; )
Enjoy your watches!
Be happy, lip will produce a mechanism inspired by its historical caliber the R23. This manual winding movement will be produced by NovoParts. Lip will present, next year, a collection manufactured at less than 2,000 € the watch.
ReplyDeleteWhile this is good news, at just south of 2,000 Euro it is a clear departure from Lip's pricing philosophy. BUT - I agree that it is a welcome development that will speak to the folks out there looking for a truly French watch - so we will keep our eyes and ears open!
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