London calling ...

IWC's human dynamo, Andrew Thomas flew into London last week ahead of his epic London to Basel cycle ride, via Reims in aid of the Laureus foundation. Greg Chalk and I met up with Andrew to discuss watches, bicycles and life in general. Unfortunately, London does not have an IWC boutique to act as a venue for such meetings but we did get to the Clockmakers' museum in the Guildhall. I would recommend this museum to anybody who has an interest in the history of horology. There are no IWCs on display but there are examples Breguet's work and the work of London's great watch and clockmakers, including Harrison.

Three pictures to mark the occasion. I apologise for the group shot. A helpful waitress took the picture. Although we were not in focus, the coffee shop across the road was in perfect focus.

Looks like fun. In focus, or not. Ralph, I can't tell if your beard survived the summer....

Alas, the beard didn't survive June. I'll try again when I go on vacation later this year.

hey, good to see u Greg C ! and nice seeing the other two very familiar faces again. is it just me or do the 'around the dining table' restaurant shots in London/UK seem to be so refined and genteel !

safe pedaling & travels Andrew.

My first GTG! As a guest or rather interloper of these two I felt it was not my post to make. Ralph, good to meet you at last however my booze shot is out of character! Honestly!
The waitress took some photos with my camera and they were awful to look at on the camera so at the moment they are still not in the PC or Photobucket.
Andrew had been at the office until gone midnight the day before, gets up jumps in a plane, arrives at Heathrow attends meetings and then met Ralph and I at London Bridge and then the following morning commencing 7.30 he was off cycling to Dover from Bexley and then into France and then cycling to home. He had given himself six days so he may be still cycling for all I know, so perhaps it's best not to phone him when he's on his bike!
The clock workers museum as Ralph says is well worth a visit and it was sad to read the demise of the British horologists was already in decline late in the 19th century just after the birth of IWC. It was also surprising to see a beautiful PW made by a woman in the late 1700's. Such enterprise then and such ability must have been rare in the extreme.
Ralph was dressed in his rather special double chrono in plat plus a fine IWC PW, Andrew in his Laureus Pilot chrono and yours truly with my 1850 on one wrist and my Santoni dressed 5001 on the othe plus a couple of other non IWCs in my jacket.
So my first GTG was a pleasant experience with two experienced forumers and collectors such as Andrew and Ralph, it was a relatively short gtg and yet well worth it. Looking forward to the next one!

Good GTG. I wish I were there.
Worry not about being out of focus. At our age "soft focus" hides the wrinkles. :-)

Another nice GTG post! Good to see you had a good time and it's also nice to see new faces joining.

I wish Andrew all the best for his cycling journey and I am looking forward to more of these GTG's and hopefully I will attend a few myself!

Kind regards,

Clemens

Just realised Andrew was looking at my eBay movement I bought for plundering parts for my late fathers watch- non IWC and very much down market since birth of quartz! Anyone know of someone who can build up a 9ct winding crown that is near a perfect flat circle, please email me.

Before the food arrived

Andrew playing with Ralph's camera

Nice - very nice! Great that you Gents could make this happen.

Some nice watches there - and of course that beautiful 1850 (with a visible Cal.8541 inside) - super.

Now of course, we only need to understand which pocket watch Ralph had with him?

Great to see you three in good spirits and enjoying the fine company. These Gathering posts are always so much fun to read!

Another great IWC collectors' forum GTG happened in the other part of the world. Very Nice. You guys look great too.