What I Like

So recently an anonymous comment came through with the tell-tale poor grammar combined with incredibly sophisticated vocabulary that led me to the inescapable conclusion that it either came from someone working in the marketing/pr department of a well-know watch brand, or from their likely intoxicated CEO.  Behind all of the bluster, rancor and (I can only assume) frustration, there actually was a valid point that I wanted to explore and expand upon.  The anonymous correspondent's critiques could be boiled down to a simple statement -


"You are very good at telling us what you don't like or disagree with, but what do you actually like?"

And to anonymous I would have to say, that is a very fair question.  So for those of you convinced that I am a profoundly contrary person, here are 5 things/people in the watch and luxury industry that I like, a lot!

1.  The Rolex Awards for Enterprise -
There is something profoundly wonderful about the Awards for Enterprise.  In their own words:

H ANNIVERSARY

ANYONE
CAN CHANGE
EVERYTHING

For four decades, the Rolex Awards for Enterprise have supported individuals with original ideas who are determined to make the world a better place. Over 100 men and women have been singled out for their spirit of enterprise.

Check them out here -

http://www.rolexawards.com/40


2.  Gavox
Michael Happe is doing something fantastic from his base in Belgium.  Without a lot of nonsense or bullshit, he has quietly been designing and making wonderful watches.  And he has been doing it in a slow, steady, self-sustaining manner.  His two most recent pieces, the Avidiver -

Courtesy of Gavox

and the Aurora -

Courtesy of Gavox

are different, interesting, and objects of great desire among those who have seen them.  Michael and a handful of other guys and girls out there represent the REAL spirit of the micro brand movement.  Let's hope they keep going!

3.  The Korona K0 from Sarpaneva 

Sometimes pictures speak louder than mere words, so here you go -

Courtesy of Sarpaneva

4.   The Scott Bag from the folks at Bleu de chauffe - 

Courtesy of Bleu de chauffe

Simple, beautiful - and yes, I want this!

5.  Benoît Mintiens -

Courtesy of Ressence

Yes, he is the man behind Ressence, and that in and of itself is a pretty serious calling card.  But having worked in the watch business for 10 years, and having covered it for 6, I can say without fear of contradiction that he is, without a doubt one of the very nicest people I have ever encountered, and I sincerely hope some of his kindness, positivity, and sincere approach rub off on some of his colleagues.

Korona K0 Seasons

From Sarpaneva

Courtesy of Sarpaneva

I hope to clap eyes on these in person in a few weeks, but for now I will rely on the words provided by Sarpaneva -

Finland is a country of brutal honesty. When we say we have four seasons, it means we have four seasons. In autumn Mother Nature explodes in colour, but in winter she totally freezes over. In spring she slowly awakes, and in summer she doesn't sleep at all.

To salute these stark contrasts, Stepan Sarpaneva created four distinct watches that keep glowing through the cycle of seasons. Korona K0 Seasons is Sarpaneva’s second collaboration with James Thompson of Black Badger Advanced Composites.

Courtesy of Sarpaneva

If I were picking favorites, it would be the Summer - which reminds me of long winter nights spent in Turku and Helsinki waiting for Mid Summer's Eve ; )

Courtesy of Sarpaneva

Here are the pertinents:

MOVEMENT

• Modified Soprod A10 calibre, 11.5 lines, 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
• Mechanical automatic self-winding
• 25 jewels
• 42-hour power reserve
• Rhodium-plated with perlage finishing

CASE

• Stainless steel, 46 mm in diameter, 11.2 mm in thickness
• 2.5 mm sapphire crystal with multi anti-reflective coating
• Double secured, water-resistant screw-down crown
• Signature moon face relief on caseback
• Water-resistant to 20 ATM

DIAL

• Two-part stainless steel, DLC, TiN
• Luminous teal, green, violet, blue, in collaboration with James Thompson of Black Badger Advanced Composites
• Rhodium-plated hands, polished, matt blasted. Blued steel seconds hand.

STRAP

• Leather in various colours
• Stainless steel buckle

In Honor of Finnish Independence Day

One of my favorite watches from one of the coolest watchmakers out there!

Courtesy of Sarpaneva

The Korona KO from Stepan Sarpaneva

46 mm in diameter, modified Soprod A10...

Simply put, the Shit that Killed Elvis!

The specs -

Movement

• Modified Soprod A10 calibre, 11.5 lines,
  28800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz)
• Mechanical, automatic winding
• The movement’s mainplate is modified to
  incorporate the diver's timer ring
• The timer ring is manually adjustable by
  the first crown position
• 25 jewels
• 42-hour power reserve
• Rhodium-plated, perlage finishing

Case

• Stainless Steel, 46 mm in diameter, 11.2 mm thick
• 2.5 mm thick sapphire crystal with multi anti-reflection coating inside
• Screw down crown
• Water-resistant to 300 m 

Dial

• DLC coated stainless steel with Superluminova indexis

Timer Ring

• Stainless steel, DLC coated

Hands

• Rhodium-plated with Superluminova

Strap

• Rubber

You Get to Pick 1 of Each - Sarpaneva

Courtesy of Sarpaneva

Now while many people would plump for a watch with the iconic moonphase indications and references, I suspect that if I ever got to own a Sarpaneva I'd want to wear it ALL THE TIME.  Luckily, they'd have me covered with what I believe is the COOLEST dive watch out there -

The Korona K0!

46 mm of stainless steel goodness protects the Soprod A10 self-winding movement.  The diver's ring  (yes ring, not bezel) is adjusted by use of the crown in position 1.  So unlike so many other dive watches out there, it does not require a second crown to fiddle with and "ugly up" the case side, nor does it allow for the possibility of unintentionally moving the ring and therefore miscalculating your dive time.  A pretty important thing to be in control of in the "briny deep".  Water resistant to 300 meters, and secured with a rubber strap. 

So while you're swimming with the sharks at BaselWorld, consider strapping on the Korona K0.  If nothing else, you'll be sure not have your appointment taken by another shark ; )