DISCOVERY
WEARING A NEW WINNERL
The novel, bowl-shaped
Winnerl balance construction
that allows for an exceptionally
fine regulation of the watch’s
timing, directly inspired by a
Winnerl ship’s chronometer
(No. 80, pictured to the right).
watchmaker’s watchmaker’. As I mentioned, this also
forms another part of my attraction to his timepieces
and inventions.
How will you be introducing these watches to
the public?
I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO WEAR BERNHARD ZWINZ’S PROTOTYPE
OF THE VERY FIRST WINNERL MODEL FOR AN AFTERNOON, AND MY
FIRST CLEAR REACTION IS THAT THIS IS A WRISTWATCH FOR SERIOUS
WATCH COLLECTORS WHERE EVERY DETAIL IS SUBJUGATED TO THE
CLARITY OF READING THE TIME AND EXACT TIMEKEEPING.
YOU SEE THIS IN LITTLE AND UNUSUAL DETAILS LIKE THE FACT
THAT THE HANDS ARE DELIBERATELY POISED VERY CLOSE TO THE
DIAL IN ORDER TO AVOID REFRACTIVE DISCREPANCIES IN THE
READING OF HANDS AND DIAL. EXACTLY LIKE A SHIP’S
CHRONOMETER, THE SECONDS ARE PROMINENTLY LOCATED AT 12:00
FOR ACCURATE OBSERVATIONS.
ON THE BACK OF THE WATCH, THE ¾ PLATE VISUALLY SHOCKS ANY
EYE ACCUSTOMED TO REGULAR SWISS MOVEMENTS - UNTIL YOU
REALIZE THAT THIS MASSIVE STRUCTURE ENSURES TOTAL STABILITY
AND PURITY IN THE TRANSMISSION OF ENERGY IN THE GOING TRAIN.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST IS THE NOVEL, BOWL-SHAPED WINNERL
BALANCE CONSTRUCTION THAT ALLOWS FOR AN EXCEPTIONALLY
FINE REGULATION OF THE WATCH’S TIMING, ALSO DIRECTLY TAKEN
FROM A WINNERL SHIP’S CHRONOMETER. TYPICAL FOR BERNHARD’S
ATTENTION TO DETAILS, THE CLASP OF THE WATCH IS ALSO A UNIQUE
DESIGN THAT LIES PERFECTLY FLAT ON THE WRIST.
A VEGETARIAN, BERNHARD ZWINZ IS OFFERING ALTERNATIVE
MATERIALS FOR THE STRAP AS WELL THAT ARE FULLY IN LINE WITH
ITS CLASSIC CASE PROFILE. (BEING MYSELF A MEAT-LOVER, I
CONSIDERED HIS ATTENTION TO THIS TO BE RATHER OVER THE TOP,
BUT AFTER HE SHOWED ME A FILM HOW THE SKINS FOR STRAPS ARE
OBTAINED, I TOO WAS CONVINCED OF HIS IDEALISTIC CONCEPT!)
WITH BERNHARD ZWINZ’S INCREDIBLE THOROUGHBRED
WATCHMAKING HISTORY, YOU KNOW THIS IS AN EXTREMELY UNIQUE
WATCH WHERE EVERY TINY DETAIL HAS BEEN OBSESSED OVER,
COUPLED TOGETHER WITH AN HISTORICAL PEDIGREE. THEREFORE, I
THINK IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS UNDENIABLY A WATCH DESTINED FOR
THE WRISTS OF WATCH LOVERS WHO WANT TO ENLARGE THEIR
COLLECTION WITH A TIMEPIECE ABLE TO BRING SOMETHING NEW TO
THE TABLE, WITHOUT HAVING TO RESORT TO COLORS, CARBON AND
CRAZY DIAL LAYOUTS IN ORDER TO GET NOTICED.
I will be working online with the introduction as well as
via personal contacts. So far it is amazing as the three
special founder’s watches to start the project, as shown
on the Winnerl website, are all sold and under
construction as we speak. The regular serial production
model, which will only begin after the delivery of these
three unique examples, already is being ordered by
some collectors, so I have every reason to feel
encouraged!
In any case, I plan the regular series production to be
rather small, and already have the technical drawings
almost completed for three future models as well. All of
these things took much time for me plan on my own, so
I am really happy we can start this new stage of slowly
releasing the first watches.
SPRING 2019 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | 121