Earlier today, I discovered what the sweetest five words are in the English language:
"On FedEx Vehicle for Delivery"
I had thought it would take at least till Monday to receive the watch, but as it turned out, the seller was good enough to have shipped the package quickly, and the FedEx international priority service takes just overnight to ship from Singapore to Hong Kong. So, thanks to the wonders of modern logistics, my waiting for the watch is mercifully shortened by a coupe of days!
In order to share the joy asap, I am opting to just snap a few quick pics whilst offering some initial impressions. With a bit more time, I hope I will be able to take some better photos that do the watch greater justice.
In the flesh, the watch is everything I had hoped it would be.
The multiple layers of the dial are magnificent, and an open invitation for endless examination. From the brushed finish of the grey areas; to the "ridges" around the weekday and month display slots; to the 3D-like moonphase; to the guilloche center section with straight vertical lines and subtle horizontal curves; to the mini pyramidal squares on the indices; to the outer minute tracks with slightly angled marks and unique fonts on the numbers 15/45/60; to the different shades of blue on the moonphase background, date hand and month display fonts; and and of course finally, the maltese cross sitting imperious and dignified atop it all. So many different elements at play, and yet never a feeling of chaos or inconsistency; each detail deserving of attention and discovery, but none so loud that it overwhelms.
And then of course ... the case, the case. The watch is nicknamed Cioccolatone because it is supposedly shaped like a square of Swiss chocolate sold in Italy. Honestly ... I'm still having a hard time making the comparison, unless we are talking about a piece of chocolate which by some miracle of physics or hand of God, happens to melt in a way that leaves perfectly proportioned, layered, and sensuous curves. I read from an article on the internet that the ex-CEO of VC was said to have compared the curves of the case to sand on the beach, once the waves have receded. My own thoughts turn to the terraced rice paddies I have seen in Southeast Asia, a sea of green which, depending on one's viewpoint, is either sloping gently down, or climbing majestically up. Regardless of what visual imagery one associates with the shape, one thing is certain - the case is an object of pure fascination. Whilst wearing the watch during the day, I found myself repeatedly looking at the curves at different angles. Finally, having done enough gymnastics with my wrist and elbow twisting this way and that to yield fresh points of view, I would suddenly remember that the option actually exists to take off the watch - whereupon the ritual of examination begins anew.
Enough of my words ... I will let the pictures - quick snaps though they are - do the talking:
One more detail that I would like to mention, which may not have come out well in the photos, is the cambered crystal. Even though I knew I was just smudging it all over the place, I couldn't resist tracing out the curves on the crystal over and over again. The tactile feel of the glass surface is a gentle slope unlike anything I have ever experienced with a watch. As the finger goes over the divide where case and crystal meet, there is only the slightest ever feeling of a break - they are not one and the same piece after all - but if it were not for that tiniest of a ridge, one would be hard pressed to tell where metal ended and glass began. This may not seem a big deal to many, but to me, is the kind of detail and subtlety which sets the watch - and the brand - apart in terms of workmanship and dedication to artistry.
And of course, the obligatory wrist shot, taken using the cellphone whilst in the office. Yes, the watch wears a little big on my small wrist, though in real life it does not look overly so, especially given the slightly curved case. While we are on the subject, it still amazes me that a watch of this size could be designed - much less invested in and produced! - during the '50s. This was "so far out", I doubt it was any attempt to develop a new fad; more likely, the genesis of this watch is of the "we are going to do this and we don't care what everyone else thinks" variety.
So how should I sum up my impressions? It would be easy to use any number of adjectives: beautiful, refined, elegant, balanced, sensual ... all of which would be appropriate. The more interesting question is: how? Is it possible to pinpoint what lends the watch its air of beauty and transcendence?
At this point, I would like to borrow words from a respected friend from TZ, who said to me that this watch "harkens to a day where craft was king". Yes, in a modern age consumed by marketing, spin, skin-deep beauty, and 24-hour news cycles ... it is indeed this attention to workmanship and design, where no detail is too small; where artistry can both be seen by the eyes and felt with the hands; where subtlety quietly reigns supreme ... that is how a timepiece such as this compels us to stop and admire it.
I started my journey with VC, by searching for a timepiece which "reflects its DNA". I had thought DNA is found in motifs, designs and specific references, but on reflection perhaps the real underlying DNA is a tireless commitment to excellence. With this watch, I believe I have found it.
- gutguido