Journal

Notes from the bench

Christian writes about the pieces, the people and the ateliers behind them.

Set of thin polishing tools with red tips on a wooden workbench in front of a tourbillon cage
Atelier · Polishing tools at Haldimann Horology Beat Haldimann polishes parts such as the tourbillon cage entirely by hand with these tools, a task that takes more than a week.
Leonidas steel split-seconds chronograph with cream dial, Arabic numerals and sub-dials on a green canvas strap
Auctions · Sotheby’s, 13 May 2015 – Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Eberhard and Leonidas Picks for Sotheby’s sale of 13 May 2015: a 1945 Leonidas split seconds, a 1945 Eberhard, a 1946 Audemars Piguet and a 1927 Patek Philippe chronograph.
People · The Single Men – a film on the AHCI The Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants turns 30 in 2015, and the documentary The Single Men profiles its 32 independent watch and clockmakers.
Audemars Piguet yellow gold dress watch, silver dial with applied Arabic numerals, dark strap, small seconds
Auctions · Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe and Longines at Christie’s, 11 May 2015 From Christie’s 11 May 2015 sale: an Audemars Piguet minute repeater from 1951, a platinum Patek Philippe 3428 and two Longines.
Two views of a Benzinger watch with painted landscape dial and skeletonised openwork caseback on a white background
Watch Collector · Newsletter I of 2015 The first 2015 newsletter introduced the H11 with small seconds by Haldimann, the Tempus Terrae by Andersen Genève and the Benzinger by Zanella project.
Omega Speedmaster 2998-1 dial in chocolate brown with orange-tinted indexes and lollipop seconds hand
Collecting · Omega Speedmaster 2998-1 with chocolate dial A rare Omega Speedmaster 2998-1 with a chocolate brown dial and lollipop seconds hand.
Andersen Genève Eros with a painted dial showing a gondola in front of the Doge’s Palace in Venice
Collecting · Andersen Genève Eros – a range of dial designs A look at the range of dial designs possible on the Andersen Genève Eros, from classic white dials to painted scenes.
Vintage steel chronograph with blue hands and small dial text on a brown strap, on a wooden table
Auctions · Phillips Watches, 10 May 2015 – my picks Picks from the first Phillips Watches catalogue under Aurel Bacs, 10 May 2015: Patek Philippe 130, 1518 and 1506, plus Heuer, Omega, Longines and Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Andersen Genève Eros 69 on a wrist, steel case with blue dial and striped shirt cuff
Collecting · Andersen Genève Eros 69 The Andersen Genève Eros 69 has an inner case that turns over so the back becomes the dial, with a hand-painted erotic automaton scene on the reverse.
Andersen Genève Kamar on a wrist, blue dial with moon disc, black strap and striped shirt cuff
Collecting · Andersen Genève Kamar The Andersen Genève Kamar has a 22-carat blue gold dial, a moon disc with one dark and one white moon, and a Piguet 1150 movement.
Andersen Genève perpetual secular calendar on a wrist, silver dial with calendar windows
Collecting · Andersen Genève Perpetuel Secular Calender The Andersen Genève Perpetuel Secular Calender is programmed to the year 2400, with leap and secular years, so the date never needs correcting.
Andersen Genève minute repeater perpetual calendar, dark dial with coloured hands on a black cushion
Collecting · Andersen Genève – unique minute repeater with perpetual calendar A unique Andersen Genève with a 1920s LeCoultre minute repeater movement, a perpetual calendar and a repeater triggered by the bezel.