King Kong vs. Godzilla? Not exactly, but...

Apr 30, 2012,18:36 PM
 

...how about some group shots of the Simplicity and Observatoire?  In addition to some relatively standard/straight on photos I thought it might be fun to do some crops that suggest one watch pushing the other out of the way...

Enough talk -- let's go!





















On to the movement side...





















Hope you enjoyed!  As always, all comments, suggestions, and criticisms welcomed.  All shots taken with the Leica D-Lux 5 P&S in natural light and post-processed with Photoshop CS5...

Best,

Gary G

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Comments: view entire thread

 

Great photos of two superlative watches.

 
 By: Richard C : April 30th, 2012-19:11
I must say that I'm a Dufor person if forced to choose. It's just so classic.

Each has its appeal

 
 By: Gary G : April 30th, 2012-20:37
It is very easy to fall in love with the Dufour -- as you say, the look is pure classicism and the execution is unparallelled. At the same time, the Observatoire has depth going for it -- both in the detail of the dial and the dimensions of the movement. ... 

I will grab both

 
 By: Quan : April 30th, 2012-19:34
if given the chance Thanks for keeping the flame lit with your superb pix

Good choice, Quan!

 
 By: Gary G : April 30th, 2012-20:38
Hope you have the chance to own both at some point -- in the meantime, i am always happy to share! All the best, Gary

+ 1 (nt)

 
 By: cmclee : May 2nd, 2012-02:31
(nt)

Great shots!!!

 
 By: KIH : April 30th, 2012-19:39
I would like to have such opportunities when I have good camera equipment! I love them both!! Thanks, Gary, as always. Your pics are like good air freshener Ken

I'm very pleased you liked them, Ken!

 
 By: Gary G : April 30th, 2012-20:41
We need a bit of fresh air here in Korea -- warm days have left it hazy. Maybe I'll just stare at the photos -- or better yet, the watches Thanks for your post! Best, Gary

Ah! I have just been there for one day trip...

 
 By: KIH : April 30th, 2012-21:45
... very close to Tokyo, just 2 hours flight (and the airport in Tokyo is the closer Haneda, not too far away Narita). To buy some vintage indy piece there Now in Switzerland to get Spa and will show you here when it returns.... Why don't you come by Toky... 

Darn!

 
 By: Gary G : April 30th, 2012-21:58
Wish I had known, Ken! You probably didn't have time, but it would have been fantastic to meet you. Now I'm curious about what the "vintage indie" piece is I'm headed down to Singapore first weekend of June to see the watch gang there -- a bit farther tha... 

Umnnn. At that time...

 
 By: KIH : April 30th, 2012-22:02
... I will probably in East Coast. Around the last week, I will probably in the West Coast. When the schedule is fixed, I will let you know Ken

Gorgeous pics Gary!

 
 By: foversta : May 1st, 2012-00:27
Of copurse, the watches by themselves are the ultimate 3-hands watches.... but you managed to capture their beauty. Thanks! Fx

You are very kind, FX!

 
 By: Gary G : May 1st, 2012-02:11
I appreciate the kind words coming from such an accomplished watch photographer, FX. I will get back to you on your PM as soon as possible... Best, Gary

I was so happy

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : May 1st, 2012-00:38
when you recently said that you'll post more often on PPro Not sure about that now! Amazing just amazing.... and to tell you the truth more and more you torture me with this two gentlemen more I'm into Kari Best Damjan

We are all subject to sweet torture here!

 
 By: Gary G : May 1st, 2012-02:13
Thanks so much for your note -- I know your feeling exactly, as I have it every time I see the wonderful pictures others post of watches I would dearly love to have for my own! Kari is a special guy, and his watches are extraordinary, in my opinion. A rea... 

Wow, great photos for a P&S!

 
 By: patrick_y : May 1st, 2012-01:56
Kudos to the great photos...

Thank you, Patrick!

 
 By: Gary G : May 1st, 2012-02:09
As usual, my signal-to-noise ratio is very low -- hundreds of shots and bunches of post-processing approaches to get a few decent outputs. That said, the D-Lux 5 does a nice job if the ambient light is good, and during the long weekends away from home I h... 

It does not get better than these two...

 
 By: Ronald Held : May 1st, 2012-04:51
Not certain if I had both, which would I prefer.

Would be a tough call

 
 By: Gary G : May 1st, 2012-07:06
...if I had to cut back to one! I went for the Kari first, but once I met Philippe my quest for one of his pieces began in earnest. The happy news is that at least for now I can have both -- who knows what may happen in years to come, but I'm enjoying it ... 

I'm a Kari guy

 
 By: sidneyc : May 1st, 2012-04:57
.. but the Dufour is not too shabby either I just LOVE that first "movement" photo there... the "glow" doesn't get any better than that and the 2 of them must be lighting the whole place up! Thanks for once again teasing us with pictures like these! ;D Th... 

Would love to see more KV/PD shots on the forum!

 
 By: Gary G : May 1st, 2012-07:04
Particularly the new Vingt-8 as people start taking delivery. I was fortunate to catch both movements in good light to get that "glow" shot -- thanks very much for the kind words on it! Best, Gary

Me too!

 
 By: sidneyc : May 1st, 2012-16:54
I'm surprised there isn't a flood of Vingt 8 ownership reveals coming onto the forums... I thought Kari started delivering them a while ago, or am I mistaken? Some of the photos I've seen from Kari look spectacular! Would love to see them on wrists!

Also a Kari man, by default

 
 By: ztirual : May 1st, 2012-12:12
But wish I could also become a Dufour man one day. Just wishful thinking. Many thanks for posting some comparison shots, Gary. SidneyC, I concur with you and wish more previleged owners (yes we are) were posting fresh pictures of their KV/ Dufour. We seem...  

Thanks Z!

 
 By: sidneyc : May 1st, 2012-16:55
You've set a good example here! What a beautiful KV you've got there! Looks stealthy and stunning at the same time! Congrats!

A lovely piece!

 
 By: Gary G : May 2nd, 2012-05:38
...and a really intriguing photo as well. Perhaps we can get a trend started here with fresh photos! Best, Gary

Brilliant pictures Gary!

 
 By: Tim Jackson : May 1st, 2012-08:55
I've said it before and I'll say it again, your photography skills are masterful. You capture these two gems amazingly well. Thank you for taking the time to share them. I'm a fan of natural light shots, and these are just superb. Of course the subject ma... 

You are very kind, Tim!

 
 By: Gary G : May 2nd, 2012-05:31
As for the quality of the objects, who can disagree! From a photography perspective, it certainly would help if either watch had anti-reflective coating on the crystals -- compared to a Lange, for instance, these watches are very difficult to "catch" corr... 

Gary, best of the best, as usual,

 
 By: tahoeblue : May 1st, 2012-08:56
watches and photos. You are indeed a lucky guy to own both these classics. These watchmakers are masters of our time. In this post, you have captured 2 of my 3 favorite 3-hand watches...,,,,

And I know the third of the three to which you refer...

 
 By: Gary G : May 2nd, 2012-05:33
Thanks, tb! You were the first to give me some practice on Simplicity photography, and now see the trouble you've gotten me into! Best, as always, Gary

Ver nice pictures, thanks a lot ! [nt]

 
 By: mark_third : May 1st, 2012-09:57
No message body

what great shots

 
 By: donizetti : May 1st, 2012-11:51
I am really happy you have these two and are so generous with sharing pictures. The movement shots with these exceptional finishes are amazing, Thanks, Andreas

I had the easy job, of course

 
 By: Gary G : May 2nd, 2012-05:41
Kari and Philippe did all of the hard work! Great fun for me to play around with photography on these gems -- I'm pleased you enjoyed them. Best, Gary

Those are two exceptional watches. . . .

 
 By: eloise : May 1st, 2012-13:23
and you've done an exceptional job photographing them . . . IMHO, the dufour simplicity (that particular one - enamel, small seconds) may be the most beautiful watch I've ever seen. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks, Eloise. I agree

 
 By: Gary G : May 2nd, 2012-05:43
...that the appearance of the Dufour is extremely pure and classical -- and on the much-overlooked dial side, a constant pleasure to look at. Thanks for your post! Best, Gary

dufour

 
 By: poseidon1964 : May 1st, 2012-16:31
there is no watch that has attracted so much attention for the last 12 years of existence .that is what we call classic.Now that i finally have one i can understand why people are so crazy about the simplicity.The aesthetics of the movement are second to ... 

Hard to argue -- and congratulations!

 
 By: Gary G : May 2nd, 2012-05:44
Congrats on your Simplicity! Any chance of luring you to post a photo or two? Would love to see it. Best, Gary G

beautifully simplistic yet so complicated

 
 By: G99 : May 2nd, 2012-08:02
every mechanical watch is massively complicated to understand and make so to achieve such sublime simplicity on the dial side is perfection. best G

Agree!

 
 By: Gary G : May 2nd, 2012-15:19
Movement designers have my utmost respect as well -- as you say, even designing the simplest movement is very hard indeed, and we've all seen enough examples of odd placements of indications on dials to know that designers don't always get it right (or ar... 

photos

 
 By: poseidon1964 : May 2nd, 2012-16:17
Gary thank you so much photos are coming soon. i am working on my skills best poseidon

Awesome Photos!

 
 By: Nicko16 : May 2nd, 2012-19:43
Both watches are magnifique!

Thanks, Nicko!

 
 By: Gary G : May 3rd, 2012-04:46
Lots of fun for me to have the chance to study these in more detail through macro photography. Glad you enjoyed! Best, Gary G

Awesome pictures of stunning watches

 
 By: nitediver : May 3rd, 2012-13:26
Thanks for the great pictures. A dream team..... BTW, the B/W photo is very classy - enhances the beauty of the movements. Stefan

Thank you, nitediver

 
 By: Gary G : May 3rd, 2012-19:45
I have to remember to try more B/W going forward -- that high-contrast look does sometimes really do the trick. I hope you won't think less of me if I confess that I converted that one image to B/W because I couldn't get the color balance right for the li...