SalonQP, in partnership with the Fondation de le Haute Horlogerie, is presenting a new exhibition at this year's show. ‘Inside A Second’ recounts the history, development and state of the art versions of the chronograph. The exhibition will take place in a dedicated space within the Saatchi Gallery on the second floor.
Chronographs feature in the catalogues of almost every exhibitor at SalonQP and are the most familiar and simple to use ‘complication’ in wristwatches. Their development, use and impact have been vital to the history of watchmaking, whether as tools to measure performance or challenges to test designers.
The exhibition, curated by James Gurney, founder of SalonQP, will explore the history of the chronograph through design, technical development and use, demonstrating how to show recorded time in the limited space of a wristwatch, illustrating the technical elements behind the chronograph, from early stop-watches to 1/100th of a second chronographs, and highlighting the wide reaching use of the chronograph, which have been utilised by professionals involved in science, industry, the military and sports.
Highlights include mechanical creations such as the 1820's inking timer invented by Nicholas Rieussec for timing race horses, pocket-watch chronographs from Vacheron Constantin, and some of the 20th Century's most important wristwatches, including the newly unveiled Montblanc 1858 Chronograph Tachymeter Limited Edition, Zenith's El Primero and the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona.
"As a curated exhibition focussed on a key aspect of watchmaking, ‘Inside A Second’ adds a new dimension to SalonQP. As with Gems of Time, the aim is to present a narrative that resonates across the brand universe and will enhance the SalonQP experience." expressed James Gurney – SalonQP founder.
