Journal

Notes from the bench

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

Hand-skeletonised main plate on a workbench next to the technical drawing for the Benzinger ONE
Atelier · Benzinger ONE, Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co.: skeleton and dial Update on the Benzinger ONE project: the main plate is finished with guilloché, all parts are hand-cut into a skeleton, and the dial is done.
Pencil design sketch of a dragon in a circular frame with coloured pencils and handwritten notes on lined paper
Atelier · Benzinger – THE DRAGON THE DRAGON, a Benzinger project for a client, shows a hand-engraved and skeletonised dragon on a sterling silver dial with a black PVD dial beneath.
Polished gold-toned bridge with a central stone and engraved edge, placed on a sketch drawing
Atelier · Benzinger ONE, Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co.: main plate finished with guilloché Update on the Benzinger ONE: the main plate has its hand guilloché, while hand skeletonising and the anthracite coating follow later.
Patek Philippe 3424 tonneau wristwatch in white gold with silver dial and black alligator strap
Auctions · Phillips Geneva, November 2016 – my picks Eight picks from Phillips Geneva, November 2016: Patek Philippe 3424, 565 and 570, Rolex 6352, 6150 and 6350, and a Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic.
Guilloché and engraved bridges, one with a red jewel, laid out on a white tray
Atelier · Benzinger ONE, Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co.: first parts finished by hand Update on the Benzinger ONE: several bridges and the balance cock now have hand-made sun guilloché and engraving, while the original engravings were kept.
Patek Philippe movement over a printed design drawing for Benzinger ONE, with a sketch for guilloché and skeleton work
Atelier · Benzinger ONE, Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co.: the design The Benzinger ONE dial is a sterling silver ring with Breguet frost and hand guilloché, leaving the hand-finished Patek Philippe movement visible.
Unfinished Patek Philippe movement fitted into a steel case, shown in two views over a design drawing
Atelier · Benzinger ONE, Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co.: first fitting of the movement For the Benzinger ONE project, a 1915 Patek Philippe movement made for Tiffany & Co. was first fitted into a stainless steel case before finishing.
Andersen Genève Montre à Tact, blue guilloché dial with a white gold case
Collecting · Andersen Genève Montre à Tact – a modern take on Breguet Andersen Genève’s Montre à Tact, a modern interpretation of Breguet’s watch for reading the time by touch, limited to 33 examples.
Patek Philippe 591 chronograph in pink gold with a salmon dial and Roman numerals on a brown crocodile strap
Auctions · Christie’s Dubai, 19 October – Patek Philippe 591 and Rolex 6542 Bakelite Two highlights of Christie’s Dubai auction of 19 October 2016: a pink on pink Patek Philippe 591 with one previous owner and a Rolex 6542 Bakelite in yellow gold.
Benzinger Zeitsprung with guilloché silver dial, jumping hour window and blue seconds hand
Collecting · Benzinger Zeitsprung, a jumping hour on a Kasper movement The Benzinger Zeitsprung: a jumping hour limited to 25 pieces, built on a 1960s Kasper movement and finished entirely by hand.
Patek Philippe 1526 in pink gold with silvered dial, day and date windows and moon phase, lying against a stone wall
Collecting · Patek Philippe 1526 in pink gold The Patek Philippe 1526 in pink gold, a perpetual calendar with moon phase and, for Christian Bissener, one of Patek’s most important watches.
Square silver dial of the Chronometro Gondolo with Arabic numerals and Patek Philippe signature
Collecting · Patek Philippe Chronometro Gondolo, 1912 – the dial Photographs of the dial of a unique Patek Philippe Chronometro Gondolo from 1912, retailed by Gondolo & Labouriau in a square case with centre seconds.