Louis Moinet and Rebellion Head South

News reached the North Shore offices of Tempus Fugit that in the ongoing struggle between two egomaniacal show organizations, two more brands have slipped through the rapacious grasp of "The Fair Formerly Known As BaselWorld". Louis Moinet and Rebellion have both decamped to the SIHH.  And yes sports fans, what that really means is that in 2022, you will likely see both brands head south to Geneva.

What began as a rivalry and morphed into a battle of attrition has now devolved into a rather humiliating smackdown. In fairness, Louis Moinet and Rebellion do not a fair make, but add this to the raft of brands that fled prior to lock down - Rolex, Patek and others, and you really begin to understand that there is probably more at work here than simply a desire to speak French as opposed to German.  

Make no mistake, watch fairs will come back after COVID. One historian/economist has mused that post COVID-19 will likely be similar to post Spanish Flu pandemic which ushered in the Roaring 20s. Yes, there was also the end of the Great War, but those two things together had radically changed the world for several years. Peace and a cootie-free environment drove economic growth, and also a strong desire to re-connect to the world at large. But contrary to what the suits in Basel would have you believe, this is still at least 9 months away. That is still very positive news, but the successful control of COVID is not something that can simply be willed into happening. And claiming that "every safety precaution will be taken" does not fill me (and clearly not many others) with confidence. 

But with that being said, if the folks in Basel could wait a beat, take this year to try and actually connect with the brands on a level beyond simply getting their money, they have a real opportunity to create a much better show. And as someone who has been to several of these, let me state clearly - a fashion show, expensive sports cars, and over-priced in-hall restaurants with ridiculous waiting times to be served are not innovative ideas. But here are a few crazy ones that might work, should anyone in Basel be listening:

1.  Provide brands with a fair price.  Period.

2.  Accept the reality that you are no longer viewed as necessary. Quit the strongman tactics. FOMO is no longer a realistic negotiating tool.  

3.  Regain your customer's trust.

4.  Make the show length realistic. In truth, the fair should not go beyond the Monday. Traffic dwindles down to next to nothing. Have the show from Wednesday (press day) through Monday.  Given the much smaller number of brands, journalists and retailers, this will be better for EVERYONE.

5.  Start treating the brands, journalists and retail partners as if you actually care whether or not they attend your event.

6.  Go small now so that you can grow back into being big.

The T-1000 Gotham from REBELLION

This just in from REBELLION -

REBELLION T-1000 GOTHAM

The T-1000 Gotham featuring the world’s longest power reserve; vertical roller-borne
hour and minute indications; and muscular case in natural and blackened titanium

Courtesy of REBELLION

The T-1000 Gotham – with a stamina of superhero proportions

Night has fallen on the city. The only sounds to cut through the incessant hiss of beating rain is a distant police siren, a sudden crack of thunder and the squeaking of rats scurrying along the gutter. It’s not just the grime and decay of the sinister streets that you can smell; the stench of crime and corruption fills the chilly night air just as sharply. There is a sense of foreboding. The end is nigh. Time feels like it’s running out….

But from the shadows, a dark crusader rises – the T-1000 Gotham – a brooding, enigmatic operator with a body so muscular, so imposing, that the bad guys scamper off frightened into the night; and with a stamina of such superhero proportions, it can keep on working day after day after day, night after night, for an incredible 40 days before needing to be wound up again.

Courtesy of REBELLION

The T-1000 Gotham is a tireless ‘time fighter’. With a mind-blowing power reserve of more than 1,000 hours, it doesn't just push back the boundaries of the possible – it blows them away to create a whole new reality.

An amazing six – yes, SIX – mainspring barrels endow the T-1000 Gotham with what is the world’s largest power reserve. This colossal energy is generated by an ingenious, over-sized winding lever cunningly integrated into the back of the robust case.

The case, made from natural and/or blackened titanium, is tank-like in appearance. But this rugged, chiseled exterior belies the complexity of what’s housed within – intricate mechanics more evocative of a high-performance sports car than an armored vehicle.

The T-1000 Gotham is a limited edition of 25 pieces available in two different combinations of natural and blackened titanium, with a choice of black, gold, red, blue or purple movement.

Courtesy of REBELLION

REBELLION T-1000 GOTHAM IN DETAIL

Over 1,000 hours of energy = a true endurance machine

No fewer than six mainspring barrels provide the T-1000 Gotham with its exceptional 1,000-hour power reserve – the world’s largest. In a patented system of energy distribution, the six barrels are wound in parallel by two finely-engineered chains, discharging in series (2 x 3) to optimize the torque and power to the regulator. The latter’s unconventional 39° inclined balance at 6 o’clock – which maximizes timekeeping precision by minimizing flat and vertical positions – can be seen oscillating through the sloping crystal at 6 o’clock.

Feel the power
of the T-1000 Gotham

The T-1000 Gotham’s incredible fuel storage capacity needs to be complemented by an equally impressive power generation system. And what a system it is. The over-sized winding lever enables approximately 10 times as much winding force to be applied than a normal winding mechanism.

Stealthily housed within the case back, the mask-shaped lever can be unclipped from between the lugs, then lifted up and out, above the Rebellion logo emblazoned on the case back. Now primed for action, the lever provides a unique kinesthetic pleasure for the owner for whom the terms ‘fuel pump’ and ‘filling up the tank’ will take on a whole new meaning.

An engine that purrs sweetly – a body that means business

The innovative lever is neatly harnessed on either side of the case to robust plates, which are fixed to the chassis via sturdy hex-head bolts. Concealed behind these plates are the six mainspring barrels, three either side. Rebellion’s automotive pedigree – the Rebellion Racing team won the 2012 FIA Endurance Trophy (LMP1 class) – is evidenced by the patented time-setting clutch activated by a push button in the virile, grooved crown that makes setting the time as easy as shifting gears.

The vertical, roller-borne hour and minute indications plus large portions of the eye-catching three-dimensional movement – available in a choice of black, gold, red, blue, purple – stand out in all their glory through the upper, anti-reflective sapphire crystal. This T-shaped crystal is surrounded by a solid grill panel fixed by screws featuring the brand’s signature Rebellion logo screw heads, as is a second geometrically-angled panel towards 6 o’clock that affords a superb view of the balance wheel beating away – as well as more of the movement – through another sapphire crystal that slopes neatly with the balance’s incline.

Completing the T-1000 Gotham is the black alligator leather strap and Rebellion buckle featuring patented folding clasp with micrometric push button regulation.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

The T-1000 Gotham is a limited edition of 25 pieces available in two different combinations of natural and blackened titanium, with a choice of black, gold, red, blue or purple movement.

Case

Material: available in titanium/titanium DLC

Dimensions: 52.2 mm x 47,9 mm x 18,2 mm

Glass: anti-reflective sapphire crystals

Movement: REB T-1000

Proprietary movement manual winding with integrated winding lever

Material: Avional

Color: Choice of black, gold, red, blue, purple

Jewels: 14 ceramic & 22 rubies

Balance: Double hairspring inclined at 39°

Winding system: Patented system of six mainsprings wound in parallel by two chains

Power reserve: 1,000+ hours provided by six (2 x 3) vertical mainspring barrels

Number of components: 693 for the chassis

Balance frequency: 18,000 vph (2.5 Hz)

Strap and buckle

Black alligator leather with double folding buckle

 www.rebellion-timepieces.com