The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I assume you mean the Cabestan - it does tell the time - sort of

Whoa, look at that thing!

Nope, I meant the Day and Night model. Just found this link (hope it's ok to post it):
http://www.gizmag.com/romaine-jeromes-o ... ions/9845/

It has no hands, just two tourbillons. Supposedly when one is turning you know it's daytime, when the other is turning it's nighttime.

I remember noticing it because there seemed to me to be something cool about it, no matter how ridiculous it sounds.

Forgot about the Day and Night - definitely an exercise in technical ability over functionality!

I am really starting to get into some of these lesser know makers, I want to develop a unique collection and have absolutely no problem in going away from what is mainstream - if I could afford it I would buy a Cabestan tomorrow.

That said, I haven't had any acknowledgement of my enquiry yet, so not sure that's a good sign

Let us know if and when you receive a response. I'll be very interested to see what you go for next.

Romain Jerome... has lost the plot*. He makes a watch out of 'non-stabilized' rusty metal from a shipwreck. Only problem is, you can't touch it because it has to stay cocooned in an argon-filled case, otherwise it will crumble! Like the stupid double-tourbillon 'thing'. I say 'thing' because you can't really call something a watch unless you can actually read the time of day from it. Same goes for the crumbly thing in it's argon bubble - how can you keep it running?

*or the people that buy them?

I've got to disagree with you on this one Ike.

Yes, making a non-stabilised rusty steel watch IS totally crazy from a traditional watch-making perpsective. But then it's hardly designed for someone to buy as their one and only watch. To me it's at the cross-over point between a functional watch, and art. It's a display piece in the same way that The Sunflowers is an example of the Van Gogh's art, or The Kiss is an example of Rodin's sculpture.

Of course I'd personally never buy it at my current financial position in life, but for someone who has everything, and is into both art, timepieces, and also history with the Titanic connection, then I can definitely see the attraction. It'd be an ideal over-dinner talking point for the millionaires of this world!

My only problem with the Titanic-DNA series as a whole (as I have said already earlier in this thread) is the use of metal from what is essentially a mass-grave, but purely as a technical exercise I have no problem with it at all.

You just need to think of this non-stabilised piece as artwork, that just happens to look like a watch.

As for the rest of their models - well I think they are different to ANYTHING else out there, and that to me is more than enough to justify their existence.

Would I own one of the Moon-DNA series? I probably would, but it'd be a way down on my list as there are plenty of more "traditional" pieces I fancy first...... and the price is a little high for me, even with the unique source of materials used. But they fill a niche in the watch/art market, and for that I commend them.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Unfortunately, I'm an engineer.

This discussion is exactly why I like them. I cannot stand being like everyone else and I will buck the trend wherever I can, because that's part of how I see myself as an individual - it's one reason why I like LEs, and one reason why I'll never own an SA. I don't want to live in a subdivision, drive a popular car, or wear popular logo clothes. Instead I want to seek out something different, something that allows me to be an inidividual.

Now that my watch collection is at a certain point I can pursue that desire more aggressively because the need for practicality is less important to me, and the fact that not everyone gets the watch is fine with me - if everyone got it then I would think it was a poor choice. I'll never buy an Alain Silberstein because I don't like the style, but I can relate to the desire to ow one for the same reason - same for Urwerk.

That said, I'm not going to buy a watch just to be controversial - it still has to appeal to me at an aesthetic level. I also enjoy seeking out and learning about the technical innovation that goes into these pieces - as someone who is interested in the mechanics of watchmaking that really appeals.

When they two come together, then that's amazing, and that's what happens here. The smae thing happens with Lange and Sohne's new fusee movement - a very different piece, but the same appeal - the difference with Romain Jerome (at least with the Moon Rider) is that it's reasonably accessible.

I always had you pegged as a caravan-living, Trabant driving, rag-wearing odd-ball Roff, so you've done no more than confirm it here!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Yeah, but I've got some nice watches

Granted.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I love JLC watches! They're just a bit on the expensive side....