LIST: 10 watches I’ll never forget from my first Baselworld
Andy GreenEditor’s Note: Andy Green has pretty much been part of the Time+Tide team since day one. But it wasn’t until 2017 that the stars aligned and he was able to attend Baselworld. And I think it’s fair to say that Andy had a quintessential first Basel. He was blown away, occasionally overwhelmed, but most of all I think he loved discovering new things and meeting the watchmakers he’s admired and the people he’s DM’d from afar IRL. Andy’s personal Top 10 list really reflects this. Sure, it’s about the watches, but the people behind the scenes are just as important. Hope to see you at Basel 2018 Andy.
H. Moser & Cie Pioneer Centre Seconds in Steel
I’ve always been a big fan of H. Moser & Cie, and have been especially fond of their recent marketing campaigns. So, when I turned up to their stall and was told that for the first time, they had a new release in steel, I got pretty excited. This was my pick of the fair (which will come as no surprise to my IG followers). I just love everything about this watch: the stunning fumé dial, the curvaceous crystal and the famous Moser ‘less is more’ approach. As a steel watch, the price is also very attractive, opening up the brand to a whole new customer base.
Tudor Heritage Black Bay Chrono
Easy. This was the first Basel release I saw, and it was at the famous Tudor pre-Basel party – something I’d been dying to attend. Being one of the first few dozen ‘outsiders’ to see this watch in person was a special and memorable experience. And you know what they say – you never forget your first.
Romain Gauthier Insight Micro-Rotor
Romain Gauthier is a relatively new brand for me. In my very limited experience with them, I’d only ever seen one of the earlier models on the wrist of a friend. I was excited to book a meeting, and especially keen to try on their new Insight Micro-Rotor in the metal. The finishing and detail on this watch are truly topnotch, making it a great alternative to better known brands.
Urwerk UR-210 Amadeus
If there was one thing I loved seeing after a week of watches, it was innovation – something Urwerk has in spades. The UR-210 Amadeus was like nothing I’d ever seen before. The engraving alone takes over 250 hours to complete – about six or seven weeks full-time work. By the time I had a chance to see the piece, it’d already been sold.
Omega “Speedy Tuesday” Speedmaster Limited Edition
As we met with Omega to see their new releases, I found myself seated in the middle of a long table. On one end was Andrew being presented the new collection, and on the other was Felix filming. I happened upon a watch roll, in it the Omega “Speedy Tuesday” Speedmaster. Not long after, it dawned on me that I was one of a small number of people to actually try on and experience this sold-out but not-yet-released timepiece. That was cool.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Sky-Dweller
There was so much talk about the new Sea-Dweller (and rightly so), that in the early days of Basel, the steel and white gold Sky-Dweller took somewhat of a backseat. But I’m a sucker for a blue dial, and we know by now that Rolex does coloured dials very well. Another thing I love about this watch is that it’s actually a very strong value proposition (an annual calendar for under 20k… c’mon), and potentially a sign of shifting consumer demand.
Blancpain Tribute To Fifty Fathoms Mil-Spec
When you know, you know. Blancpain was my very last appointment at Basel, immediately before I left for the airport. A demonstration of the moisture indicator and run-down of the history of this watch had me over the line. I’ve always been a fan of the Fifty Fathoms, but the extra ‘cool factor’ on this LE really won me over.
Nomos Club Aqua in signal blue
After a week in an apartment with Australia’s biggest Nomos fanboy (AKA Felix), I began to share his love for the brand. The Club has always been great value and nicely sized – and the new dial colourways are really attractive. My pick is (again) the Signal Blue, which in the metal is quite striking, especially when paired with a cream nylon strap. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing quite a few of these comesummer time. (A big thanks to @WatchesOfInstagram for the snap.)
Sarpaneva Korona K0 Daredevil
Sarpaneva is a brand I’ve kept an eye on ever since seeing their collaboration with Black Badger several moons ago. I couldn’t help but love their new Korona K0 Daredevil, which is just a cool-looking watch. Spending some time with founder, Stepan, was also a great experience, and a nice way to get to know the brand a little better.
Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic
Wow. I mean, I just wasn’t expecting this from Bulgari. The weight, the thickness – the comfort! Seriously, they turned the heat up this year and stole the show with this incredibly thin piece of engineering.