The Watch Factory Photo Fest - Part 2: Manufacture Contemporaine du Temps (MTC), MB&F, URWERK, Marc Alfieri, Fabrication de Montres Normandes (FDMN) and Rudis Sylva

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IanS
The Watch Factory Photo Fest - Part 2: Manufacture Contemporaine du Temps (MTC), MB&F, URWERK, Marc Alfieri, Fabrication de Montres Normandes (FDMN) and Rudis Sylva
March 30, 2009 01:27AM

MTC - Manufacture Contemporaine du Temps


MTC - Manufacture Contemporaine du Temps


MTC - Manufacture Contemporaine du Temps


MTC - Manufacture Contemporaine du Temps


MB&F


MB&F


MB&F


MB&F


URWERK


URWERK


URWERK


Marc Alfieri


Marc Alfieri


Marc Alfieri


Marc Alfieri


FDMN - Fabrication de Montres Normandes


FDMN - Fabrication de Montres Normandes (one of the nicest movements I have ever seen)


FDMN - Fabrication de Montres Normandes


FDMN - Fabrication de Montres Normandes


FDMN - Fabrication de Montres Normandes


Rudis Sylva


Rudis Sylva


Rudis Sylva

Ian Skellern -Revolution Online moderator

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/01/2009 02:20AM by IanS.
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Curtis
Re: The Watch Factory Photo Fest - Part 2
March 30, 2009 07:29AM
Hi Ian,

Thanks for the continued coverage. Some of the watches are quite unique and new to me - such as MTC, Marc Alfieri, Rudis Sylva... what is your general impression of these brands and their watches? I like the look of FDMN's remontoire and tourbillon in general. I look forward to seeing the more refined finished watches.

Cheers,

Curtis
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IanS
Some thoughts of the brands above:
March 30, 2009 07:52AM
MTC I liked as the indications are quite a special complication that appears to work well.

Rudis Sylva has an elegantly styled dial and an interesting double-balance single-escapement oscillator, but the overall size is far too big and chunky for my taste.

Marc Alfieri, while still large is relatively flat, which makes it more wearable. The brands doesn't appear to take itself too seriously which I liked.

But the star for me was the Fabrication de Montres Normandes movement. They will be entering the Chronometrie 2009 timing competition, though as they have just finished the movement and the watch has to be delivered in a couple of months, they are not expecting anymore than a learning experience this year.

FDMN is really hopes to be a movement manufacture and the watch brand is really just a showcase for their movements.

Speaking of Chronometrie 2009, Kari Voutilainen, Greubel Forsey, Journe and Urban Jurgensen - fantastic new movement, but would you trust Kari to regulate it winking smiley - will also be taking part

Ian Skellern -Revolution Online moderator

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/30/2009 07:57AM by IanS.
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Fratellowatches
Mind blowing!
March 30, 2009 10:19AM
Hi Ian,

Terrific photographs, and I have seen how hard it is to get decent pictures at BaselWorld. I am intrigued by the Fabrication de Montres Normandes watches.

All the best,

RJ

www.fratellowatches.com
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Sixties
FDMN looks very interesting
March 30, 2009 11:17AM
Thanks, Ian for your blog and for the great photographs. While the novelties of the big brands were mostly a bit boring, IMHO, the small independent factories seem to offer very creative and interesting stuff. FDMN attracts me most, too. First of all, they are not going to Switzerland but are revitalising (on a small scale) the French movement production and have already the courage to enter in a competition for accuracy! My kudos. I like the layout of the movement with the large balance and the visible wheels. The escapement looks very innovative: Their seem to be two anchors and a double escapement wheel equipped with a hairspring! Perhaps, you can tell us more about the construction some time later.

Cheers,
Christoph
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IanS
Thanks for your comments Christoph.
March 30, 2009 12:13PM
I feel the same way regarding the big brands versus the niche brands. The small ones have the added benefit on making it easy to speak to the founder and finding out their real motivation, rather having to go through the spin of a marketing department.

I could not spend as much time with FDMN as I would have liked but I will do a write up on them as soon as time allows.

In a nutshell the aim is to focus on efficiency, reliability and accuracy with a traditional slow frequency/big balance wheel movement.

They have two movements at present, both 37mm with tourbillon. The simpler 3 hand movement is basically used to train young watchmakers and the more complicated tourbillon has a constant force mechanism.

The website has recently gone online and you can see more image at www.fdmn.fr. But good luck as it is the worst website I have visited in years - impossible navigation, useless Flash and maddening music. I know that the website was rushed to be on line for Basel, but why not make it simple! I hope that they revert to a website more in line with their movement as soon as possible!

Ian Skellern -Revolution Online moderator

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Sixties
Re: Thanks for your comments Christoph.
March 30, 2009 01:11PM
Thanks for your answer, Ian. I have just found a thread on the new inhouse-movement of Chronosswiss to be cased in the new model Sauterelle with junping seconds. The Chronoswiss-caliber has also a 16mm-balance with a total diameter of 37 mm Chronoswiss movement and looks apart from the escapement pretty much the same as caliber 777 of FDMN.

Cheers,
Christoph
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small-luxury-world
Re: Thanks for your comments Christoph.
March 30, 2009 03:48PM
Bingo, fdmn constructed the new movement of Chronoswiss winking smiley

FDMN's remontoire was on of my personal highlights at the fair.

My three top favourites are all from small brands thumbs up

Oliver
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marc
Re: The Watch Factory Photo Fest - Part 2: Manufacture Contemporaine du Temps (MTC), MB&F, URWERK, Marc Alfieri, Fabrication de Montres Normandes (FDMN) and Rudis Sylva
April 21, 2009 11:52AM
Thank you for your visit , and for those nice pictures , can I use them for my facebook group ? best regards, marc
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IanS
I would be honoured Marc
April 21, 2009 12:57PM
I will see what I have and email them to you.

Ian Skellern -Revolution Online moderator

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