My Friend's Watch - And Why It's Great When The Good Guys Win!

One of the really great things about writing this bloggy-wog is the friendships that I have made over the years. And friendship is a funny thing, it can sometimes be more transactional when business is involved. But then other friendships are simply that. Friendship.

I first encountered Armand Billard stalking the halls of BaselWorld in (if my memory hasn't totally pooped out) 2018. He was a real presence, wearing a custom jacket (of which, I believe, he had two).

And the watch he was promoting was the Sartory Billard SB02 -

It is hard to believe that it has been six years! In fairly short order, Armand's brand has evolved.  He is now a highly sought-after independent watch maker, who I am proud to call my friend. And Sartory Billard has grown from a project two friends put together to celebrate a milestone birthday, to one of the hottest independent brands in the world.

Today Armand has a keen focus on bespoke work, but in all honesty I am an even bigger fan of his "ready-to-wear" items. In particular, this blue dialed time machine -

Courtesy of Sartory Billard

This is the SB04 BLUE GUILLOCHÉ.

The case is of stainless steel and measures 40 mm in diameter. The dial, which let's be honest, is amaze-balls, is a beguiling blue guilloché, with applied indices. And most importantly - at least in my opinion, it bears the Sartory Billard name just below 6 o'clock. Of all of the "off the rack" options, this is my favorite.

Courtesy of Sartory Billard

The movement is from La Joux-Perret, the G100.

In this day and age, you don't really need a watch. So if you're going to have one, it should be one that you really want ; )

And even though he is a Watch Town superstar, he still has time to for his friends, as you will read about in a few weeks' time.

Stay tuned!

The Classics Automatic GMT

From Frederique Constant -

Courtesy of Frederique Constant

This is the latest GMT model from the folks in Geneva.  The case measures 42 mm in diameter and of stainless steel.  It is available in a rose gold plated version (above), and a stainless finish (below).

Courtesy of Frederique Constant

Hours, minutes, seconds, date and GMT indication (red tipped hand).  The movement is the FC-350 which provides 38 hours of power reserve.

A silver toned guilloché effect dial is complemented by Breguet - style hands.

Prices are reported to be under the level of 2,000 CHF.

The UTTE Guilloché

From Arnold & Son

Courtesy of Arnold & Son

These two new guilloché dialed pieces represent the two latest references for Arnold & Son and boast  their ultra thin tourbillon.  These two new versions of the UTTE sport dials of hand guillochéd
solid 18-carat gold.

Courtesy of Arnold & Son

The A&S8200's movement spans a mere 2.97 mm thick, with the watch itself measuring 8.34 thick.

Courtesy of Arnold & Son

The UTTE Guilloché I is a hand-winding, one-minute flying tourbillon.  The dial is opaline of solid gold, guillochéd by hand.  The case is 18-carat red gold and measures 42 mm.

Courtesy of Arnold & Son

Like the UTTE Guilloché I, the UTTE Guilloché II is also a hand-wound, ultra-thin, flying tourbillon.      The dial is hand-guilloché, and is of solid 18-carat gold with a silvery, opaline finish.  The case is 42 mm and is of red gold.

Métiers d’Art Florilège

This is the latest offering from the folks at Vacheron Constantin

Courtesy of Vacheron Constantin

The dial starts out as 18K gold.  It is then give over to a separate crafts person.  Guilloché technique is then joined with Grand Feu cloisonné enamel.  Step one is the Guilloché to create an outline of the design.  This is then handed over to a master enamellist who then applies the enamel to bring the total design to life.  

The bezel of the case is then set with diamonds, as is the strap's clasp.

The case is of 18K white gold and measures 37mm in diameter, 8mm in height.  The movement is Vacheron's caliber 4400.  Hand winding with 65 hours of power reserve.

 

Something New from ARCHIMEDE

This is the new Klassik 42 GUILLOCH.

Courtesy of ARCHIMEDE

42 mm stainless steel case, SW 200 self-winding movement.  As the name implies, this ARCHIMEDE model's silver dial features a guilloché  pattern.

The case is Ickler's own stainless steel production from their facility in Pforzheim.  The Klassik 42 GUILLOCH is available with different strap color choices as well as a stainless steel bracelet.

My personal preference is the blue leather strap.

But the customization options don't stop there.  You can chose a solid case back, or an engraved
rotor -

Courtesy of ARCHIMEDE

Courtesy of ARCHIMEDE

And as always, very attractively priced -

For you folks in the EU - € 545.00

For the rest of us - € 457.98

Pharos Al Arab Imperial

This just in from Grieb & Benzinger -

Two-part dial, blue hand-guilloché base dial, manually wound movement, skeletonized, guilloché and engraved by hand. Solid 18K rose gold case, bezel set with 66 high grade Princess cut diamonds, 43 mm in diameter, blue alligator-skin strap with solid 18K rose gold buckle.

Courtesy of Grieb & Benzinger

Following the BLACK TULIP SABUDHA and the GREEN INSPIRATION, the masters of GRIEB & BENZINGER have created another custom-designed timepiece for one watch connoisseur in the Emirates: the PHAROS AL ARAB IMPERIAL, inspired by the Arabian Sea.

Anyone who has ever visited the Arabian Sea has certainly fallen in love with its clear water shimmering in various hues of blue and the sparkling spots of sun beams dancing on the water’s surface. Even the iconic Burj al Arab has painted its various hotel floors in shimmering blue tones, with the tinge of turquoise reflecting the beauty of the water’s sapphire hues.

Paying tribute to this, one customer located in the Emirates wished to acquire a glamorous watch that plays with various shades of azure as well as the sparkling effect the sun provides when it touches the surface of water. And these wishes were the GRIEB& BENZINGER workshop’s command!

The amazing result: the PHAROS AL ARAB IMPERIAL comes in a solid 18K rose gold case with 66 Princess-cut diamonds set in the bezel. This is a timepiece that catches the eye alone by virtue of its amazing appearance: Arabic numerals on the regulator-style upper dial combine with a handcrafted, guilloché, blue-coated base dial that changes color as sun beams touch it. Sparkling royal Princess-cut diamonds cast their reflective beams on the bezel.

The manually wound movement features a three-quarter plate and a blue platinum coated base plate. All parts are decorated in typical GRIEB &BENZINGER manner, which also shows off its beauty from the back: hand-guilloché, hand-skeletonization, and hand-engraving as far as the eye can see.