Tip: visit SalonQP in London next month

From November 8 – 10 the Saatchi Gallery will be the place to be for everyone interested in watches. That’s where the fourth edition of SalonQP, UK’s only fine watches exhibition, and hosted by QP magazine’s James Gurney, will be held. 

After the many great stories from fellow watch enthusiast, who visited SalonQP in previous years, I’m very much looking forward to my first SalonQP. Monochrome has already showed you several new models that you can first see ‘live’ at SalonQP, like the Resilience and Classic HMS from Peter Speake-Marin and Sarpaneva’s K0 Wuoksi.

SalonQP has an impressive line-up of exhibitors, like Jaeger-LeCoultre, Girard-Perregaux, Piaget and Vacheron Constantin. And also smaller (independent) brands will be exhibiting their collections and that on itself is a pretty rare occasion, because these brands usually don’t have too many dealers.

A perfect chance to see and meet independent watchmakers like fore-mentioned Peter Speake-Marin and Stepan Sarpaneva. If you like to see Tim and Bart Grönefeld, who won the Timezone watch of the year award 2011 with the One Hertz, or Andreas Strehler who created the Cocon and co-created the newest Maitre du Temps Chapter Three masterpiece together with Kari Voutilainen. Who will also be there with his Vingt-8 that he released last year and the 2-Eight.

Also Laurent Ferrier (see below) will be there with his absolutely stunning timepieces and the ever charming Nick and Giles English with their British watch brand Bremont. Here’s a list of all exhibitors.

But there’s more… much more:

SalonQP is the only UK stop of the latest exhibition from the prestigious Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie. Titled The Mastery of Time, it is based on the book by esteemed historian Dominique Fléchon and will feature significant artefacts and timepieces that trace man’s ingenuity in marking time.

SalonQP will host a number of intimate roundtable talks, allowing visitors the chance to put questions to watchmakers, the brands and top industry experts.

And maybe the best of all treats: Jaeger-LeCoultre will be there with their popular watchmaking Masterclass, allowing visitors to see and experience the intricate art of constructing a timepiece. This is an perfect experience for anyone seriously interested in watches!

I could go on and on, however it’s better to clear your schedule on either Friday 9th or Saturday 10th of November and head over to the Saatchi Gallery, to visit SalonQP.

SalonQP opens with a VIP reception on Thursday 8 November, with the exhibition open to ticket holders on 9 and 10 November, including a cocktail reception on the Friday evening. Here’s a link to the SalonQP website, where you see more details and also can buy tickets.

PS. While you’re in London and in for some more watch-love, visit Marcus Watches in New Bond Street. Their collection is like an exhibition that on itself is worth going to London for.

This article is written by Frank Geelen, executive editor for Monochrome Watches.