WEMPE "Chronometerwerke"

Usually when a watch has the name and logo of the Jeweler I look away. It was very common once for Jewelers to commission important pieces to Patek or Audemars with their brand on them. That was a long time ago. Then came the dark ages... and they commissioned crap generally put together in the far east. That was until now. The first to retake the idea and commission high-end stuff and brand it personally (not forgetting who did the piece) was Harry Winston. Particularly interesting where pieces like the Opus V by URWERK. However the damage made during decades of selling cheap branded products is done. It will take prestigious Jewelers the same years that they have spent selling these horrors to recuperate the image of their watch section.

Same is true about Cartier's "Private Collection". They are quite some extraordinary pieces yet the brand is not very appealing to the general proficient watch lover. Their "special" pieces are not to be taken lightly. Unfortunately, they will need many years to put this "spacial branch" back to where if used to be a long, long time ago. Even though I like several of these pieces I just can't bring myself to buy a Cartier.

Recently Wempe has just introduced and opened their own "little" watch manufacture. Their first models are quite impressive, in spite of the fact that they have just started. Hell, there many old boys out there that to this day don't get such good results. Particularly interesting is their "Tonneau" shaped model. If you like the shape but could do without the risk of getting a Poljot movement even if the dial says "swiss made" the the new Wempe is the way to go. The finishing is impeccable and the movement is a beauty. What would be interesting is to see their next model with an 8-day power reserve and a slightly larger case.


Whether Wempe will become an appealing brand, that remains to be seen. What is certain is that they have a lot of work ahead of them. Let's wait and see...

WEMPE Manufacture...