Baselworld 2012, Day 2, rush day
The first day of Bâle is for the press only; it is crowded, it is a rush, a tornado, a cyclone, a bloodshed.
Day two is even worse.
On day 1, all the journalists and bloggers attend (the bloggers are like the journalists, but with more freedom and less money).
On day 2, the event also welcomes the retailers, the forumers, the watch lovers, the tourists and the "hostesses".
But it is a turmoil; in order to see what?
After 11 Opuses, each of them more spectacular than the other, Harry Winston presented the revolutionary Opus XII, powered by Emmanuel Bouchet.
It is also an opportunity to meet Rodolphe Cattin, the designer of MRC, "Manufacture Rodolphe Cattin".
A brand proud to be totally independent, which developed a remarkable neo-baroque style, with a strong visual identity.
Next is the presentation of the fascinating Firmamentum by Karsten Fraesdorff, the creator of this piece.
The watch features a totally new complication: a celestial hour, with minute and second (based on the Earth globe's 360°). Since the watch is designed for navigation, its 44mm case is waterproof up to 100 meters.
It was also the occasion to discover another very complicated watch: the Antykithera from….
Hublot!!!
The brand from Nyon as gotten us used to sports pieces, show-off complications and more emotional than intellectual horologic contents.
If one can criticize the watch's exterior, the complication is to die for, impressive though its fitting as well as through its finishes.
The Antykithera is an historical bronze artifact, fished offshore from Greece; this complication from antiquity was a type of calendar's Rosetta stone, which allowed juxtaposing the diverse calendars from the Mediterranean area.
In a completely different but as revolutionary a style, one has the opportunity to meet Benoît Mintiens from Ressence, who presents his new watch.
The young Belgian designer proposes his satellite complication without hands, which sits in an oil-bath, like a compass needle or the Hydromax of B&R
Next, Blancpain. This year, they present very original pieces, like the Chinese perpetual calendar or the
spider web "stained glass".
