Master Watchmaker and Luxury-Insider.com's Horology Editor Ron DeCorte gives us his impression of BaselWorld this year, along with just a few of his favorite timepieces this year.
This year's BaselWorld seemed a bit short in terms of special surprises. However it must be said that those companies and individuals we usually expect to be shining stars in their own right were certainly present and represented themselves well.
It was the emerging force of technology in terms of new concepts and materials that caught my eye this year, and forgive my bias but I think it is this area that will have a very important impact on mechanical watchmaking in the future.
I must certainly temper my report by saying that traditional watchmaking skills should not be overlooked, as they are very important, and included are a few of these special pieces of horology that I admired.
So here I bring you a few of the highlights I found this year in my BaselWorld adventures – and one from outside the SIHH in Geneva. As it is impossible to see every watch in a limited time I apologize if I've missed something of importance.
Stay tuned for further "Between the Plates" technical reports on these watches and more in the coming months. For more on my selections at the fairs, please go to Watch Tribune.
Watch Regards,
Ron DeCorte
Seiko
Pure Japanese serenity are the best words I can find to describe the newest Credor Spring Drive ref 7R08. The dial is pure porcelain manufactured by the famous Japanese porcelain company Noritake. Unlike all other porcelain dials that use a copper backing for support, this dial dispenses with that and the results are a stunning luminosity and depth that I've never encountered in a watch. A unique suspension system is used to protect this exquisite dial. Looking closely you will notice the subtle hidden numerals 2, 4, and 7. Three hands and a power reserve indication complete the look.
The case of the 7R08 is 0.950 platinum and measures 35 mm across. The movement is also new, being a slightly smaller version of the original Spring Drive models. But the 7R08 incorporates a very special feature not found in any of the other Spring Drive watches, a "torque return" mechanism. Briefly, the torque-return system returns unneeded power from the mainspring back to the mainspring so as not to waste it during the first 35 hours of operation. The result is a power reserve of 60 hours as compared with all other hand-winding Spring Drive watches with 48.
As for the finishing, oh wow it could not be better! The plates and bridges are of naked German silver. No plating is used as it would smother the intricate detail of their straight line graining. The beveling of the bridges is as perfect as you will see anywhere, as are the jewel and screw sinks that are mirror-polished as well.
Currently the ref 7R08 will be made in a limited series of five pieces per year for the Asian market only. This model has not been given a proper name yet since it is still considered a prototype but I might suggest the name "Serenity". I hope to see a slightly larger model, say 38-40mm, available soon that would be popular in other parts of the world.