Salon QP London 14th Nov

[Swearengen]

Hi Paul,
Yes see you for drinks on Saturday afternoon

Originally Posted by BH13GMT

Hi Gents

Michael

I have asked for 12 for dinner initially, my numbers are as follows, let me know if this fits as I may have to up the numbers to 14.

Myself
Dan (Spuds)
Geert
Paul (wears his watch the wrong way around)
Paul's friend
Kevin
Afterwork project
Micheal Plus 6??

Dropping in for drinks in the afternoon

Adam (cannot wait to check his statement on sunday morning)
Gabriel
Nathan has a postponed until the summer so he can get his pink shorts on again


If I have missed anyone or if anyone is not able to make dinner, please chime in so we can adjust accordingly.


see you saturday Chaps

[spuds]

Originally Posted by ayecarumba

Gents,

Bags are packed and we're headed your way! We plan to do the Friday night QP show then head out for cigars if anyone's interested. We will stop by the Phoenix saturday afternoon for a pint(s) and should be players for dinner as well.

Looking forward to seeing some old friends and making new ones!



--Paul "Ayecarumba"

Superb news, it'll be great to see you Paul mate!! :

Originally Posted by Xenophon

Actually Paul, they are "light salmon" and the last word in style. Shame I can't make it but I'm sure you'll all have a great time.

No Nathan mate, they're definitely pink they really really are!!

Originally Posted by BH13GMT

I stand corrected Geoffrey Banks!!!

Superb!!

Originally Posted by DiamondJack

Hi Paul,

I was seriously hoping to make this bash but have been forced to fly out to Warsaw tonight for the weekend.......

Hope you all have a great time and I will make an extra effort to make the summer GTG.

Paul (Ayecarumba) and Geert - Sorry to have missed you on this visit.

That's a bummer Steve mate, hopefully see you in the Summer!




This could be a bigger bash than the Summer one!!

[red.earth]

Looks pretty unlikely that I'll be able to make the show or the GTG now, unfortunately. My partner is catching up with someone she's not seen in years and they've had that date in the diary for ages, apparently. Bah!

Might be best for my wallet, on the plus side. I fear once I've tried on one of Christopher Ward's new moon phase pieces, I'm going to struggle to resist.

I'm sure you'll all have a ball anyway! Photo's please, gents

[BH13GMT]

Originally Posted by red.earth

Looks pretty unlikely that I'll be able to make the show or the GTG now, unfortunately. My partner is catching up with someone she's not seen in years and they've had that date in the diary for ages, apparently. Bah!

Might be best for my wallet, on the plus side. I fear once I've tried on one of Christopher Ward's new moon phase pieces, I'm going to struggle to resist.

I'm sure you'll all have a ball anyway! Photo's please, gents

Adam

We can always get together in the summer mate.

[BH13GMT]

Originally Posted by Swearengen

Hi Paul,
Yes see you for drinks on Saturday afternoon

Good man, I can feel a Patek discussion coming my way.

[red.earth]

Originally Posted by BH13GMT

Adam

We can always get together in the summer mate.

I look forward to it, Paul!!

[Swearengen]

PP or Tudor BB, all get respect in my book

Originally Posted by BH13GMT

Good man, I can feel a Patek discussion coming my way.

[Lanfor]

Count me in for the evening (I finish at 5 so I should be in town around 6)

[Swearengen]

I think you guys are going to enjoy QP
Dino's favourite watch is there

[red.earth]

Originally Posted by Swearengen

I think you guys are going to enjoy QP
Dino's favourite watch is there

What did you think of Christopher Ward's Moonphase?

[BH13GMT]

Originally Posted by Swearengen

I think you guys are going to enjoy QP
Dino's favourite watch is there

Does it resemble a divers helmet from a Jules Verne Novel?

[Swearengen]

It probably weighs the same

Originally Posted by BH13GMT

Does it resemble a divers helmet from a Jules Verne Novel?

[afterworkproject]

Hey All! Was a pleasure meeting everyone tonight and putting names to faces! Lots of fun! Thanks again to Paul, Dan and Michael for arranging the meet up!!! Look forward to the next one!!!

[Auerr]

It was so nice meeting all of you, lovely evening.

Nick - Belgium Watch Club

[Storky]

Yep! Fabulous time.... thanks to all, great to meet you.

[steveclocks]

It was lovely to meet familiar and new faces
Had such a fun time, thanks a lot guys

[spuds]

Thanks again to everyone who attended, it was great to see some old friends and to make some new ones too!

[BH13GMT]

Guys

A big thanks to all who attended. The turn out was quite staggering, we will close off the whole pub next time.
It was great to meet new friends and catch up with the London regulars.
Next time I will not be driving home that evening!!!

[111forza]

Thanks for a great night guys was nice meeting up again with old and new faces and thanks Paul for taking the time to arrange it all 🍻 and yes Paul I think we'll need to reserve the whole of the pub next time 😅 Here's a couple of pics I took along the way 🍻

Me checking out spuds Hulk 👍


Got to try Pauls (ayercarumba) lovely Aquanaut 👌


Until next time 👊

[ayecarumba]

All,

Ladies & Gents: What can we say except GOOD TIMES! PAUL(BHT) a BIG THANKS for arranging and another fabulous "man-cation" for me and another friend.

Without further ado, for your perusal:


Airport purgatory...nothing like $15 beers....


Settling into biz class...the french say "There are 2 times to drink champagne: when you are happy, and when you are not!" On our way to QP, we were happy so really just following orders....


PP Aquanaut travel time and Rolex BLNR prepare for takeoff from New York around 830pm. My friend, Jamon, sets his 5 mins fast to assist being early. Does this really work and does anyone else find this helpful?


OK! We made it! Now we just gotta keep moving until our rooms are ready...strolling past the horse guards crib we're still doing ok....


Perhaps running out of steam by the time we reached Churchill's War Rooms (Obligatory pilgrimage for us)...but we pressed on!


A quick refresh back at the hotel then off for a mind blowingly great dinner at
Randall and Aubin(!). Highly recommend for dining...just come early or have a reservation....


Sloane Square looking nice for the holidays...getting closer....


Finally at the Saatchi and QP! I really enjoy the Friday night reception as being able to stroll and gaze with a cold refreshing beverage make it all the more an experience.


Jamon had to admit, there was something nice about that Sinn...


Another reason to love QP: the interaction with the brands and their personalities...A lovely visit with Ms. Monika and tour of the latest offerings from Junghans...very interesting....



With Tilo, who can trace his direct lineage back to the founders of Nautische Instruments....


And his interesting story regarding their blue dial GMT...which they did not expect to sell all that well, but demand skyrocketed and sold out quickly.


Tudor had an interesting display with a watch encased in ice...



But it was Bell&Ross that got us hankerin' for a cigar!



With the Luca, the cigar sommelier at the Lanesborough hotel cigar lounge. If you haven't been: GO.


A 2013 Hoya del Monterey Ltd Edition...no better way to cap off a day at QP

OK, so after getting a late start on saturday Jamon had never been to the fine watch department at Harrods. We had several stops we wanted to make that day, but decided we'd pop in for a "quick" victory lap around Harrods. For those who have not been, it is quite the collection of brands under 1 roof: everything from Richard Mille to Tag Heuer and everything in between (except Patek?!).


So, lo and behold, they have a LTD ED Breitling Aerospace my friend had actually seen back in the USA..for the exact same price after the VAT refund...hmmmm...


So, I tried it on for him too....nothing like a 2nd opinion when you're contemplating a dropping a small fortune (spoiler alert: I am probably the worst influence and bad for your wallet!).


I did have a look at this interesting LTD ED Panerai 8 day GMT. #001 out of 500(!?)...she almost talked me into it...


You know what will help make up your mind? A quick tipple at the champagne bar...Actually, the deal was already done. Now we just had to wait for them to get all the packaging, etc...So what we found out was, Harrods: a great place to look at watches, but be prepared to wait around to close escrow. We probably looked around about 1 hour, made the deal, then waited another 2 for paperwork, packaging, VAT refund, etc....


We are tardy to the party! Sorry for the delay chaps, but at least it was for a good cause: separating WIS money into memories!




What a turnout! 2 years ago 6 of us 'round a table at the Dickens...This year nearly standing room only! It's ok, BHT Paul sat on Spuds lap so I could squeeze a cheek on the bench down there on the far end.

The drinks flowed and the dinner followed...fun conversation, awesome watches, what more could you ask?


Spuds moves so fast he's like a, well, blur! Photo bomber he is!


Oy oy! He's not gonna let me get a wrist shot with this Daytona!


Jamon & Queso...he got the Daytona and I got to try on his Rolex BLNR down here on the far end...


Chase Fancher, of Oak & Oscar and Adam Craniotes of RedBar...gotta love QP and meeting watch entrepreneurs and fellow enthusiasts...


Oak & Oscar Burnham...


Adam's awesome Breguet Type XX flyback chrono....


Paul & Spuds Looking as nonchalant as possible before the pile of awesomeness aka the Tableshot...did I hear someone call this a "sexpile"?!


Drool...what a great and interesting collection we had this evening...Rolex still had the lionshare of the table but plenty of other maisons represented...


These outside wearers will wear you down! Paul & I taking lessons from one another. He seems to be adapting to inside the wrist wear better than I on the outside...note look of dismay! Paul my friend, you definitely maybe perhaps for sure have a point mate.


Kevin and his exquisite Audemars Piguet Royal Oak? Too good to be true! I offered to hang onto it for safekeeping yet sadly he declined....


Man! They will let anyone in here! It's Geert (SteveClocks), head of the Belgian delegation. What? No JLC cufflinks tonight!

I know that doesn't even begin to crack SalonQP (I'm sure there are plenty of other posts about that), but that's a few from my iPhone. We were impressed with the number of German brands that continue to grow and evolve. As always ,we appreciated the interaction with the brands and their reps as well, something unique to QP that I hope doesn't change.

So, another THANKS to BHT PAUL and our LONDON TRF'ers for allowing us to tag along. Another fine weekend. I know I missed a few due to our late arrival at the Phoenix but I look forward to our next visit and seeing you all soon.

Warm regards,
-Paul
"Ayecarumba"

[steveclocks]

Marvelous report Paul, I miss you already buddy !! Hope we'll meet up next year aswell