Tag Archives: Pinion Axis

Pinion – future hint

Due to the usual real life commitments common at this time of year I have had little chance to think of anything in particular to feature this week.

Axis Pure – before my holiday

There are however two pieces of news I think is definitely worth mentioning appeared in the latest Pinion newsletter. Firstly, the original Pure range has come to an end but the new model line will feature vintage hand-wound movements in smaller cased watches.

In the same newsletter Piers also announces Pinions’s return to bronze watches with a revamped Axis II.

I am wondering now if these two announcements could be combined into a slightly smaller bronze cased hand wound Pure ?

Salon QP – 2017

The highlight  of this time of year for British watch enthusiasts for several years has is the Salon QP watch exhibition in the Saatchi Gallery.

Despite there being less brands showing this year I am still looking forward to some announcements from British brands.

Nicholas Bowman-Scargill of Fears watches has told me they will be announcing three new watches. Since their launch at last year’s Salon QP, Fears have so far added a grey variant to their existing bue and white faced Redcliffe watch. Nicholas assures me the new launches will be more than just an additional colour.

Then following alphabetical order we come to Garrick who will be announcing two new  watches firstly an addition to the Portsmouth family. This will feature a guilloché dial, offered in two variants, grey (pictured below) or silver.

Portsmouth with guilloché dial

Then, Garrick will unveil a totally new timepiece, the S1. This watch is built by master watchmaker, Craig Baird, and finished entirely by hand. This is Garrick’s most complicated timepiece to date, featuring a skeletonised dial and incorporating a power reserve indicator. Only five S1 timepieces will be made per annum, conferring a high degree of exclusivity.

Moving along the alphabet, after being absent from last year’s show Schofield from Sussex will be back. I am really looking forward to finally seeing the Daymark watch in the metal. We should also get a chance to see the new version of the Bronze Beater, that will be available in raw un-treated metal or chemically aged.

The Bronze Beater 2

From the images I have seen, I assume I am going to prefer the “raw” version. As well as watches we will get to see the new quirky range of straps from the joint endeavour with Simon Cudd – Schofield + Cudd.

Then no longer the alphabet we come to Pinion. I am covering them last as they will not be exhibiting at the Salon. They will however be showing their new Atom model (below) at the Watchmaker’s Club event held on the Wednesday before.

Pinion Atom

So I for one am still looking forward to Salon QP running from November 2nd to 4th at the Saatchi Gallery, King’s Rd, London

 

Last Bronze Axis II from Pinion

Pinion Axis 2 - in bronze

Pinion Axis II – in bronze

The Axis II Bronze has only been available for a few months, but very quickly Pinion are down to the last two available – after these are sold, there will be no more Axis II Bronze.

The final two watches can be bought in either ‘E’ (Exhibition case back) or ’S’ (Steel case back) formats.

If you want one of these last two models, then simply select the model you wish to buy and pay a deposit to reserve the item; Pinion will then hold these watches for you until you wish to complete the purchase.

The watches will be available for delivery from the end of August onwards.

Pinion Apex Meeting

I am finally catching up with my recent watch events. I was fortunate enough to attend my third Pinion Apex event in the Century Club in London. For those of you not familiar with these events, there a great opportunity to chat directly with Piers Berry the founder of Pinion Watches.

The big news of these event was the opportunity to see the latest Pure Pro range.

https://pinionwatches.com/pure/

Pinion Axis Pure Pro range

From talking to Piers these are the watches that best express what

Pinion is all about, robust time only manual watches in straight three straight forward versions. Steel, Black DLC and Bronze which has defined Pinion on Google search for some time.

These evenings are really enjoyable. If you are interested in Pinion watches or just interested in hearing what someone who really works at the “coalface” of the British watch business I thoroughly recommend you try to get along for the next one.

 

Does Size Matter – watch size that is…

I recently ran across this interesting chart showing the “correct” case size for different size wrists.

4-Rules-To-Select-the-right-watch-size

Now you may or may not agree with the recommendations but it did make me think again about how long the current trend for 42mm and larger watches will last. This is pertinent to some of our British Brands that seem to favour the larger cases. I am thinking of the Schofield Signalman, Pinion Axis and Garrick range. Bremont do offer their Solo in 37mm but sort of as a female watch.

I wonder if case sizes will start to get to more practical sizes ? Is the announcement of the Tudor Heritage Black Bay, at 36mm, the start of that trend ? Will British brands, other than Robert Loomes who has always had smaller watches, follow ? Fashion is often cyclical.

Pinion Axis Pro Pure

 

Displaying Displaying Pinion Pro

The Axis Pro Pure collection from Pinion Watches is now complete, available in polished steel, marine bronze or DLC black this new non-limited run features a dial design with ‘professional’ styled applied batons, two-step bezel, anthracite sub seconds and radium or green luminova. Prices will start from £2,300 inc VAT .

If you get a chance try to get along to one of the Apex London meetings to see these great looking watches in the “metal”.

Pinion Watches – Apex London

On March 22nd I was fortunate enough to attend my second Apex evening. These are evenings are events hosted by Piers Berry, the founder of Pinion watches, for Pinion owners and watch enthusiasts for informal watch related discussions . They are held at the Century Club on Shaftsbury Avenue.

The exciting start to the evening was collector Stuart Kelly personally picking up his Revival 1969, reminding him of an important date. As you can see he is  very happy with his latest acquisition.

Stuart

The evening then moved on to a more general chat about Pinion and Piers showed us the current range including two great black DLC versions of the Revival 1969 and the Axis Pure (below).

Black Pure

The Revival

Black Revival

As to future developments Piers clearly is a little guarded. Before writing anything here I have taken to the precaution of checking what has already been reported. The key point is that sensibly Piers wants to consolidate what he has, he is keen to emphasise the business is self-financed. Interestingly, he did repeat the possibility of a GMT model as he had mentioned in an interview in QP magazine last year so that would like it is happening even we do not have any indication of when.

One Pinion event that is worth looking out for latter in the year is the appearance of a Black Axis in the forthcoming film “Patient Zero”. Could be the “Bond Rolex Moment” for Pinion.

These are really thoroughly enjoyable evenings and so highly recommended.

Pinion Axis II – range

unnamed

The latest newsletter from Pinion, that arrived this morning, announced that the Axis II range now consists of a choice of three cases, Steel, Bronze and Black DLC. Each being available either with a closed or exhibition back. One interesting “Pinion Fact”  is that emerged from reading about these watches was that the Bronze Axis was the first bronze watch from a modern British company.

For more news of the range follow this Axis link

I really looking forward to seeing this new range soon.

New Pinion Axis Bronze

I cannot believe I have not posted for 12 days! Sorry. I am also surprised that I have not mentioned the latest news from Pinion, their new Axis Bronze.

This latest bronze model is a fascinating alternative to the existing steel version.I personally think bronze is a great material for a watch given how the patina can develop over time.

The great appearance of this watch is not limited to the front, have a look at the caseback and the special green rotor.

Well done Piers !