MeisterSinger X Alain Silberstein

More specifically -

MeisterSinger X Alain Silberstein Edition Kaenos Grand Date, from MeisterSinger.

Courtesy of MeisterSinger

This is a new release from MeisterSinger in partnership with Alain Silberstein.

Courtesy of MeisterSinger

If the engraving on the case back is anything to go by, it appears to be limited to 225 pieces.

Courtesy of MeisterSinger

I believe the price is approximately $4,399. 

The case is of stainless steel and measures 40 mm in diameter. The movement is Sellita's SW400.

Possibly just under the radar, but that makes it fun!

Courtesy of TheTimeChanger

This is a new collaboration piece from TheTimeChanger and Alain Silberstein.

Per TheTimeChanger -

THETIMECHANGER X ALAIN SILBERSTEIN

€1,890.00

• Professional retrograde chronograph watch
• Flyback and Rattrapante (split-seconds) functions
• Chronometric precision

2 numbered limited series:

• Black dial watch: 150 watches
• Blue dial watch: 150 watches

It's important to understand that this is not some ordinary quartz chronograph. Again, per TheTimeChanger -

A UNIQUE MOVEMENT

This quartz movement is powered by two silicon MEMS micromotors. Fully programmable, this movement enables the creation of complex horological complications, such as retrograde hands with flyback and retrograde (split-seconds) functions for chronograph mode.

Mechanism: Programmable MEMS micromotor, made in Besançon
Mode: Retrograde Hour + Minutes
Functions: Flyback and rattrapante (split-seconds)
Water Resistance: 5 ATM
Casing: stainless steel with PVD treatment*
Crystal: anti-reflective sapphire for excellent readability
Diameter:** 42mm and Thickness : 11mm
Weight: 64g

And a pretty cool video -

Closing The Circle - The Pitko

A bit more about me...

In the late 90s Wendy and I were living and working in Finland. My job had evolved and I was traveling to London a few times a year. And one time coming through Heathrow, I laid eyes on an Alain Silberstein watch. For the youngsters out there, it is important to impart the fact that the internet was not yet the highly evolved information/communication conduit that it has become. Around this time I had a Nokia Communicator -

Image: Arne Dedert/dpa/picture alliance

Suffice it to say, this was not the age where you could simply Google something, jump on a forum, or go to a "trusted" online watch news outlet (yes, that last one was a bit of sarcasm).

So from 1998 through 2011 Alain Silberstein and his watches were more of a construct for me than an actual thing I had seen in person. In 2011 I went to my first BaselWorld as a journalist. And on my last day there, who should be sitting at the bar next to me in the Palace than Mr. Silberstein himself! I introduced myself, asked him if an interview might be possible, he said sure. We exchanged cards, I reached out, and got the first of several "I am busy, but soon" replies. This went on for about a year, and then it would appear that Alain Silberstein, as a brand, was no longer.

Fast forward to 2015, and I found myself in Besançon, France -

This was something that I never expected to see, but it hit the reset button on my now full-blown Alain Silberstein obsession.

Fast forward again, nearly 10 years later and a friend reached out, letting me know that his Alain Silberstein Pitko was available. Decisions were quickly made, a trade was agreed, and a little over a week later it was on my wrist -

It came as just the watch head only, so I made a temporary swap from my stockpile of straps, while I look for a more long-term solution.

To be sure, this is a watch that has clearly had a few owners. It has some minor scratches, no box or papers. But to me it is perfect. And in many ways it sums up over 25 years of an unrequited crush.

I have had 2 Omega Speedmasters, 2 Seamasters, a Rolex Explorer and Date, even a Panerai B series. But this? This is most absolutely top of the heap.

Life is a long time, and I have been through several ups and downs since that stopover in London. But there is something to be said for that visceral feeling that just the right watch can give you!

The YEMA x Alain Silberstein Limited Edition

This just in -

Courtesy of YEMA

YEMA has teamed up with Alain Silberstein for his latest collaboration.

Limited to 500 pieces, this diver is priced at $3,900.

Courtesy of YEMA

The case is of titanium (DLC with a micro blasted finish), and measures 40 mm in diameter.

Courtesy of YEMA

Here are the pertinents -

CALIBER

Micro-Rotor Caliber Manufacture Morteau 20
28 800 A/h
Self winding with ball bearings rotor
70h power reserve
Hours, minutes, seconds
Daily rate of -3 /+7 seconds per day

BEZEL

Bi-directional internal rotating dive bezel

Luminescent 3D minute markers filled with Super-LumiNova

CASE & CRYSTAL

Material: Black DLC Grade 5 Titanium with microblasted finish
Diameter: 40mm
Thickness: 11mm
Lugs: 20mm
 
2.20 mm double domed sapphire crystal

DIAL & HANDS

Matt black dial in galvanic treatment and luminescent 3D hour markers filled with Super-LumiNova

Shiny red hour hand bordered with white Super-LumiNova

Yellow minute hand with satin finish and second hand in blue Berlac powder, both treated with Super-LumiNova 

BRACELET

2 premium FKM rubber straps (black and red burgundy)

Grade 5 titanium deployant clasp with a black DLC microblasted finish

CROWNS

Upper crown finished in blue Cerakote® ceramic coating

Screw-down crown in black DLC with microblasted finish

WATER RESISTANCE

20 BAR / 200 m / 660 feet

Alain Silberstein Returns to Besançon!

 

Courtesy of Utinam

Or perhaps he never really ever left!

I had the opportunity to visit Utinam's workshop and boutique in Besançon back in November 2019 and meet Philippe Lebru as well as a young clock maker from New Jersey! 

I know that Switzerland is where most people travel mentally when thinking of watch making, but for my money there is a certain magic about Besançon that is hard to really get your head around until you spend some time there.

Courtesy of Utinam

This is the latest bit of magic to spring forth and is a wonderful mash-up of the horological whimsy of Alain Silberstein and the structural awesomeness of Philippe Lebru - the Kontwaz Bauhaus 2.

Courtesy of Utinam

There have been some nice watches to come forth from the Silberstein collaboration with Louis Erard, but this clock really speaks, or in this case - sings to me!

Courtesy of Utinam

So welcome back to Besançon Alain Silberstein, or perhaps you never really left ; )

Urban Day Date “Edition Today”

 From Meister Singer -

Courtesy of MeisterSinger

I NEED this watch! Time and how we measure it has taken on some pretty wacky twists this year, and while I will not be so presumptuous as to dictate what it means to you, I can tell you that I tend to relish it more.

Those of you older readers out there will remember a watch offered by Alain Silberstein known as the "Smile Day" which (curious to relate) predated the whole concept of emoticons and modified the date function with different emoticons.

Well, as the old saying goes, TODAY IS THE DAY!

MeisterSinger opted to modify their Ubran Day Date to have the day aperture at 12 o'clock always be "TODAY".  Now as a practicing Buddhist, I'm not going to lie, this speaks to me, and my desk mate  ; )

My understanding is that this is a fairly limited edition of 100 pieces that will be offered in 7 different languages - English, German, French, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, and Esperanto.

Here are the pertinents -

Model Movement Diameter Case

Urban day Date TODAY Edition
Miyota 8285, automatic; 42 hours power reserve
40 mm
Stainless steel, exhibition back, water resistance 5 bar, sapphire crystal

Don't Call It A Comeback! Alain Silberstein Returns with Louis Erard!

There are a few people in the watch business who are truly missed when they leave or take a break.  One of them is Alain Silberstein.

Courtesy of Louis Erard

Regardless of whether you're into old school divers, gold 2 handers or G-Shocks, it is likely that at one time or another, you have clapped eyes on a Silberstein watch and felt something pull you in.

Courtesy of Louis Erard

Well, if you missed out back in the day, and your a little less than certain about buying pre-owned?  Well here's your chance!

This is the Louis Erard x Alain Silberstein -

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Movement Manual winding regulator with power reserve, ETA Peseux 7001 movement with Louis Erard RE9 complication, 10½’’’, Ø23.30 mm (Ø26.00 mm with module), height: 2.5 mm (4.7 mm with module), 17 jewels, 21,600 VpH (3Hz). Around 42 hours of power reserve. Top grade movement, Côtes de Genève decoration, blue screws and Louis Erard engraving

Functions HMS + power reserve
Hour hand on counter at 12 o’clock, central minute hand, seconds hand on counter at 6 o’clock, power reserve hand at 9 o’clock.

Case 

Stainless steel or stainless steel + black PVD, Ø40 mm, 3 parts, sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides, case back with screws, top grade movement visible through the transparent case back, water-resistant up to a pressure of 5 bars (50 m/165 ft). Specially-decorated case back crystal: Alain Silberstein X Louis Erard 1 of 178.

Dial 

Black and white matte or opaline (matte silver)

Hands 

Signature hands designed by Alain Silberstein. Red lacquered hour hand, yellow or blue lacquered minute hand, blue or yellow lacquered seconds hand, white or grey lacquered power reserve hand.

Strap 

Black calf leather with signature stitching in red or brown calf leather with signature stitching in blue, pin buckle in stainless steel or stainless steel + black PVD.

Collaboration Watches developed in collaboration with Alain Silberstein in two limited editions of 178 pieces.

Turning Right - Again

With the events in Paris last week, I felt somehow drawn to France.  I was coming to Switzerland on business - you will get the full report shortly, but with my one free day, I really wanted to be here to pay my respects, and to visit another "cradle of horology" - Besançon.

So I put on my tourist "beret" and off I went.  And I made myself a promise.  Instead of making a plan and "sticking to it", when I felt the urge, I would "turn right", and see where it would take me.  And on Monday it took me to some truly wonderful places.  France is clearly still mourning, but judging from the spirit of the young people of Besançon this will be a temporary condition.

I was amazed to find a clock by none other than Alain Silberstein!

I spent the afternoon walking the city streets, speaking with anyone that was interested.  And at the MATY store I got to try on a watch that has been haunting me -

From the folks at LIP.  This piece of AWESOMENESS is now firmly on my "save pennies to purchase" list.  It is THE SHIT THAT KILLED ELVIS!

I enjoyed a lunch the likes of which "Papa Hemingway" would have gone beyond his normal, journalistic prose to describe.

I was still reveling in the memory just before 5:00 PM when I stumbled into UTINAM .  It was a Monday, and yes, they were supposed to be closed.  But they very kindly let me in, and I had a quick peek around.  Yes, they have Dodane and other cool items.  But what caught my eye were the watches that the owner - Philippe Labru had created.  To be fair, the mechanical version had pride of place.  And although it is very, very cool, what I was really drawn to was this little bijoux -

It is a beautifully beguiling single-handed watch.  The design elements are SPOT ON!

And at 139 Euros - I could not say no!

So pals and gals, if you haven't considered it, visit Besançon - you will be better for the experience!

A Ghost of Christmas Past...

Happy Holidays!

Courtesy of Alain Silberstein

Waiting for Alain Silberstein

Life, by its very nature, is not a stationary occupation.  As a watch observer it is easy to lose track of people and brands.

I first laid eyes on an Alain Silberstein watch traveling from Helsinki to London.  It was the GMT alarm with the trumpeting angel on the dial.  I still hold out hope that someday I will find that watch and be able to own it.

I have, in many ways, been chasing Alain Silberstein.  First as a potential buyer/customer, and now as someone anxious to write about him and  his watches.  He and his watches have taken on  an almost mythical quality for me.  I have met him once - very briefly - at BaselWorld 2011, and since then I have not seen or heard much.

His website says "see you soon!" so I hope that means just a bit more patience is required.  For now, we are waiting for Alain Silberstein.

The Latest MB&F Collaboration

This just in from MB&F -

Every so often, we like to share our work with someone we admire, in a special co-creation exercise – we do this by asking an external creator to reinterpret one of our Machines. You might remember the HM2.2 “Blackbox” designed with Alain Silberstein; the impressive “JWLRYMACHINE” by Boucheron; or the unique pieces we donated to the “Only Watch” charity auctions, created with artists Sage Vaughn and Huang Hankang. We call these special co-creations “Performance Art”.

Today we present our fifth Performance Art piece, with a new guest star. Another jeweller? A designer? An architect?

No – this time, we teamed up with… a watchmaker! Not your standard watchmaker though – a great talent who worked with the very best in Switzerland for 10 years, before returning to his native Finland :

STEPAN SARPANEVA !

Courtesy of MB&F

Stepan’s horological skills are matched by his amazing sense of design. If you’re familiar with the timepieces he has created since 2003, you’ll know one of his signature design elements: his iconic moon face. So when we gave Stepan our HM3 Frog to play with, he naturally transformed it into :

the MOONMACHINE

Courtesy of MB&F

You’ll find the Sarpaneva DNA in this new series of Machines. The twin hand-finished moons indicate the moon-phase through a Korona-shaped aperture. 

Courtesy of MB&F

The 22k gold and steel northern sky adds a stunning background: the stars are laser-pierced, allowing light to reflect from the movement underneath. And there’s a twist: this star-filled sky is in fact the revolving rotor, bringing not only metaphoric life to the MOONMACHINE, but also literally providing life as it generates power for the movement.

Courtesy of MB&F

MOONMACHINE is 3 Limited Editions of 18 pieces each, in titanium, black titanium and red gold.

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