BaselWorld 2017 – My impressions and pictures Part 1

Friday, 24.March 2017 was a great day for me. I decided at the last minute to go to Baselworld, with some help from my wife, that supports my horological hobby very much – Thank you, dear!

To make everything simpler, or more complicated, depending on the point of view, I planned only one day there and decided it will be the 24th of March.

I waited that day as a kid waiting for his birthday or for Christmas, I woke up at 4 o’clock in the morning, very excited and at 6 o’clock I hit the road. I drove almost three hours and I parked at Bahnhof B+B Parkhause in Lörrach (only 11 Euro for 24 hours), bought a Triregio day ticket and travelled with the S6 to Basel. The ticket is 9.5Euro for a day pass with all local transport – Ticket TriRegio.

Arrived there, I got my Press badge and looked confused around – it was my first time – the first time in Switzerland, in Basel, at Baselworld – I didn’t know what and how and so on. I pre-installed the Baselworld Android App and it helped me to find easier what I wanted to see: inside maps, brands location and events, information. Even Facebook was useful: with all the shares and pictures I recognised places and I found useful info.

My main wish was to see the independent brands and watchmakers, without any meetings planned or any plan whatsoever. I wanted to be spontaneous and to have fun. And it was nice…

The first one that I met from the people dear to me was Daniel Nebel – the wonderful man behind the NORD Zeitmaschine. I am in love with this brand for years, I wrote about the Variocurve a while ago and I am a big fun of these timepieces. I consider them brilliant: the design, the finishes, the entire idea behind them and the most important – the brand signature.

The Freesdial collection is very good looking: the way the minute’s hand is moving using a crank mechanism is hypnotic, makes you to almost forget the free butterfly dial moving his wings according to the hand’s position.

Overall are high finishes and technical details. These details completely absorb you and make you forget about anything else.

 

 

The watches are very good priced for this type of complexity and complication. The Freesdial V3 is on my wishlist, top priority. I would like to thank Mr Nebel for his time, information and chocolate. (You had right Daniel, it was really helpful to have that chocolate with me).
Please visit Nord Zeitmachine Website for more information.

After the feast offered by the Nord Zeitmachine timepieces, I wondered a while in the search for the next “victim” of my curiosity and appreciation. During this, I admit that I was a “little” lost, I encountered beasts from other worlds: – the wonder worlds of MB&F.

 

 

 

 

 

 

These warm and inoffensive human helpers, together with the deep sea creatures are, in equal measure, art pieces and tools of time. I was missing better objectives, filters and a better light to make extraordinary pictures and I had to settle for pictures made behind the glass. Maybe next time I will book a meeting for better pictures.

 

 

 

The MB&F organised a M.A.D. Gallery pop-up store with other lovely designs. There is still time till 30th March for a visit. Please visit the MB&F Website and the MAD Gallery Website for more information.

The next lovely creatures I’ve met was the heart and brain behind the Fiona Krüger Timepieces – the inimitable Fiona Krüger itself and her lovely Michael.

The Skull collection always intrigued me even if I am not a general fan of skull watches, but the Petite Skull Bleu, together with the entire Skull Collection, are the most beautiful Skull watches out there. I was touched by the blue of the multiple parts guilloche dial and I was “dying” to see it on my wrist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I exchanged the watches with Michael since he was the wearer of the Petit Bleu and had some fun with the Petit Skull Bleu and Petit “Celebration” Eternity – one of the newest timepieces.

 

 

The Petit Skull (Celebration) “Eternity” has a hand-decorated 3-layer dial finished with hand-polishing, PVD coating and perlage with hand-painted lacquer and Superluminova decorative details. The watch bezel is decorated with 7 colours set in precious stones and diamonds.

 

I had a lot of fun: talked about life and death, skulls and symbolism, laughed about the selfies, watches and other small things. Many, many thanks to Fiona and Michael for their time.
Please visit the Fiona Krüger Timepieces Website for more information.

End of Part 1