Basel

t20569cald · Post by **t20569cald** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 3:49 pm

OK, day one pics are coming, but i am too tired, and strangely enough, too pissed to sort that out.
Day two, is about meeting people and making them see things my way, so no pics and sorry i cant be the reporter.

Its a day of meeting, pushing, and whatever it takes, to see it MY way,

So while pictures are coming, and not much going on, i can say i have maybe found THE company, that sorts all my problems.
Adam, that steel , rubber bracelet thing you have ( which is way cool ) yep, i mean those dudes.
I was surprised they are hidden, they make for ALL the big boys.
Had a sit down, and reasonable chaps they are!
We talked about straps, bracelets, OH, and yeah, they make the AP crowns. So bezels were interesting.
Its all coming, provided i can stay the course.

aikiman44 · Post by **aikiman44** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:40 pm

Stay the course, stay the course!

Don't drink too much schnapps

Post by **SCM64** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:44 pm

Thanks for the update, and looking forward to pics.

homathetes · Post by **homathetes** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:44 pm

Love the intrigue

So while pictures are coming, and not much going on, i can say i have maybe found THE company, that sorts all my problems.
Adam, that steel , rubber bracelet thing you have ( which is way cool ) yep, i mean those dudes.
I was surprised they are hidden, they make for ALL the big boys.
Had a sit down, and reasonable chaps they are!
We talked about straps, bracelets, OH, and yeah, they make the AP crowns. So bezels were interesting

jimyritz · Post by **jimyritz** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 6:06 pm

Can't wait to see the final product...

Mike

tmw · Post by **tmw** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 6:35 pm

t20569cald · Post by **t20569cald** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 3:06 pm

Will make a post tonight, just arrived in Australia and a few hours sleep are in order first

demer03 · Post by **demer03** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 4:09 pm

I think it's cool to actually see the "behind the scenes" work that goes into this venture. Seriously, thanks for taking the time to share.

Post by **BSears** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 4:29 pm

Oh, we'll be here, waiting and ready, Todd. Get some much needed rest, then please do indulge us.

t20569cald · Post by **t20569cald** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 10:01 am

Well, since i am not at Basel to look at watches, my time there is over, and now arrived in Australia.
Didn't get many photos, as i only had 2 days, and the second was all taken up with meeting people.
Met Manuela, and Mr Fricker. It appears the cases are almost complete, with milling of the case centre still being done as engraving too still not completed.
The bezel and case back they bought along were perfect.

Had a sit down with a brand too, about making cases for me. They could possibly be involved in making the CD-1, i dont know.
I like to have options and also to trade on reputations already made, as this good be helpful in the future for venture capital and brand awareness.

Met with Mhvj about a little misunderstanding we had, and all seems be resolved and moving forward, back on track.
Can be difficult with the language too, as they are all French speaking, and i am not. Thomas Prescher was kind enough to accompany me to sort that out. They showed us the finished movement and i must say, on the way to see them i was thinking of alternative movements to use, but after seeing it, was no longer thinking that. It looks great!

Picked up the CD-2 prototype from Thomas Prescher.

Found a few interesting companies, for rubber straps and other cool stuff, but failed in finding a bracelet maker.
It would appear there was only one at Basel, and min order is 500 pieces plus tooling.
Saw Richard Branson, thought about hitting him up for it, but thought better of it.

Arrived with my daughter on the 25th, she liked the fish tank at the Breitling stand, the pen Soprod gave her, and other than that she was ready to go before we even got there

Soprod were a nice bunch and have some nice complications coming out later this year and the beginning of next.
I spoke with them for an hour or so, and they could not have been nicer, even though my order is one of the smallest they likely have!

My daughter did her share of the talking too!

Showed her the car Papa will never own.

All in all it was a success, i met most of the people i wanted to, except i missed Lex as the time was too short.
I found several companies that i want to work with, and learned a secret or three!
Saw the coolest CNC machines i covert, and saw the new WR testers from Roxer. Think i will get one.
I was hoping to have one designed, for several reasons, so will chase that up first, but if not, then the Roxer is a go.
They had a range of them, from vacuum testers to 200 watches a go!

jimyritz · Post by **jimyritz** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 10:04 am

Todd,

Beautiful daughter...

Thanks for the information and cool pics..

Those movements look sweet...

Mike

craniotes · Post by **craniotes** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 10:07 am

Thanks for the write up, Todd; looks like things are really swinging into high gear now. Sorry that you couldn't nail down a bracelet manufacturer, but frankly speaking, the CD-2 looks like a leather/rubber/nylon sorta diver to these eyes.

Anyway, I'm glad that the trip was productive, and of course, good luck with all the eleventh hour BS that you still have to slog through before your watches are heading out the door.

Regards,
Adam

PS - Your daughter is absolutely beautiful.

t20569cald · Post by **t20569cald** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 10:35 am

craniotes wrote:Thanks for the write up, Todd; looks like things are really swinging into high gear now. Sorry that you couldn't nail down a bracelet manufacturer, but frankly speaking, the CD-2 looks like a leather/rubber/nylon sorta diver to these eyes.

Anyway, I'm glad that the trip was productive, and of course, good luck with all the eleventh hour BS that you still have to slog through before your watches are heading out the door.

Regards,
Adam

PS - Your daughter is absolutely beautiful.

Thanks, she will tell you that too!

A bit of the 11th hour thing going on, but nothing drastic.
A few teaser pics.

Post by **ezcheese** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 11:22 am

Awesome shots Todd!

Your daughter is a cutie patootie.

YOHOHO · Post by **YOHOHO** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 11:39 am

great pics of your daughter....I really enjoy seeing the process....

Post by **SCM64** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 11:51 am

Love getting the "inside scoop", truly awesome.

You have a beautiful little girl. Best wishes on great success.

Chauncy7 · Post by **Chauncy7** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 12:26 pm

F*%KIN A this is a hot post..........keep the info comin'

Post by **BSears** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 12:35 pm

Awesome Todd. Those mhvj movements are HOT!

I'll echo Adam's sentiments - the CD-2 looks made for a strap.

Not that I wouldn't like a bracelet, but if it's gonna push the whole project back considerably, I'd go for the strap option in a heartbeat. Didn't you mention something about an articulated bracelet a la JLC?

That might look pretty sweet too.

Good that you got to bring the little princess along.

I'm sure the lack of fun and games wasn't lost on her.

t20569cald · Post by **t20569cald** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 12:43 pm

BSears wrote:Awesome Todd. Those mhvj movements are HOT! I'll echo Adam's sentiments - the CD-2 looks made for a strap. Not that I wouldn't like a bracelet, but if it's gonna push the whole project back considerably, I'd go for the strap option in a heartbeat. Didn't you mention something about an articulated bracelet a la JLC? That might look pretty sweet too.

Good that you got to bring the little princess along. I'm sure the lack of fun and games wasn't lost on her.

I would like the bracelet too, even though i dont wear them, but not all Swiss cheese is Swiss.
But i did find the people who do the rubber part of the JLC bracelet. They just dont make the steel part!
They make other cool things too, and i plan to follow up on a number of possibilities.

homathetes · Post by **homathetes** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 1:53 pm

Very fun thread, I enjoyed every detail. That Mhvj movement is stunning!

aikiman44 · Post by **aikiman44** » Tue Mar 29, 2011 1:59 pm

Solid, pops!
That's one lucky daughter to accompany Big Daddy to Basel.

sharkfin · Post by **sharkfin** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 6:49 pm

Great post of what its like to see you go through your day.

Cute kid.

nice pics.

thx for sharing.
Dave

giosdad · Post by **giosdad** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 7:45 pm

Thanks for the update. Great to have your daughter to share such a big day for you.

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