Journal

Notes from the bench

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

Yellow gold Patek Philippe pocket watch with white dial, blue star-chart moon phase and several sub-dials
Auctions · Sotheby’s Geneva, 11 November 2014 – the Henry Graves Supercomplication Made by Patek Philippe in 1933, the Henry Graves Supercomplication is the most complicated watch ever made by hand and returns at Sotheby’s Geneva.
Rose gold Benzinger IWC Tourbillon Mystère with silver dial, tourbillon at the top and power reserve at the right, on a black strap
Atelier · Benzinger – IWC Tourbillon Mystère, a unique timepiece A unique IWC Portugieser Tourbillon Mystère Squelette finished by Jochen Benzinger with a new dial, hand-guilloché bezel and a rose gold case.
Patek Philippe 1518 perpetual calendar chronograph with moon phase on a black alligator strap
Auctions · Christie’s June 11 – Patek Philippe Our Patek Philippe picks for Christie’s auction of 11 June 2014, among them a 1518 stamped for the US market and a rare late-series 1526 in pink gold.
A. Lange & Söhne Datograph with a black dial in its presentation box beside a spare link
Auctions · Christie’s June 11 – A. Lange & Söhne, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, Omega and pocket watches Our picks for Christie’s auction of 11 June: A. Lange & Söhne chronographs, a 1946 Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin chronographs and a 1936 Omega.
Close-up of the A. Lange & Söhne Richard Lange Tourbillon pour le Mérite dial with tourbillon opening and red minute numerals
Auctions · Christie’s, 28 May – our picks Our picks for Christie’s auction of 28 May 2014: A. Lange & Söhne in pink gold and platinum, a Patek Philippe Observatory tourbillon and a 1518 from 1944.
3D CAD rendering of a grey watch movement plate with wheel train recesses on a light blue background
Atelier · Marc Jenni – the way to his new in-house movement, part 3 Part 3 of Marc Jenni’s movement project: converting 3D drawings into 2D DXF files that his CNC machine uses to shape the main plate.
Four Marc Jenni Prologue WDT watches in a row on black straps in front of a carved stone block, left to right P06, P03, P04, P05
Novelties · Marc Jenni – two new Prologue WDT models, P05 and P06 At Basel Marc Jenni added the white-dial P05 and copper-toned P06 to the Prologue WDT, both 44 mm in stainless steel with crownless setting.
Workshop of Jochen Benzinger with antique engine-turning machines along tall windows
Atelier · The art of guilloché – a day at Jochen Benzinger’s atelier A visit to the atelier of Jochen Benzinger, a master guillocheur who works with machines more than a hundred years old, to practise rose engine turning.
Breguet marine chronometer in a mahogany box with a silver dial, and its brass movement shown below
Auctions · Christie’s Geneva, 12 May – the Abraham-Louis Breguet sale Abraham-Louis Breguet pocket watches and a marine chronometer offered at Christie’s in Geneva on 12 May 2014, with lot numbers and estimates.
A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 in steel with a silver dial, large date and black strap on a grey folder
Auctions · Christie’s Geneva, 12 May – the A. Lange & Söhne and Patek Philippe highlights Rare A. Lange & Söhne and Patek Philippe watches in Christie’s Geneva sale of 12 May 2014, including a white gold Tourbillon pour le Mérite with black dial.
Patek Philippe reference 130 chronograph in yellow gold with cream dial, Breguet numerals and a Base 1000 scale on a black strap
Auctions · Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 8 April – five interesting watches Five lots at Sotheby’s Hong Kong on 8 April: a Patek Philippe 130 chronograph, a Breguet quarter repeater and three limited A. Lange & Söhne.
Benzinger Subskription Ebony VII with black and silver dial rings, Roman numerals and black strap
Collecting · Benzinger Subskription Ebony VII The Benzinger Subskription Ebony VII has a black dial with applied Breguet-frosted indexes, hand guilloché on an old machine, and a black PVD movement.