Description
Jochen Benzinger, has gained a reputation for his skills as a Master Watch Ennobler by applying his talent to the fine aesthetics of horology.
Jochen’s signature treatments of hand-engraving, guilloching and skeletonising represent the epitome of watchmaking customisation. True to tradition, Jochen replaces the tools of high turnover, used in modern production methods, with historical machines and tools that are more than 100 years old. Each Benzinger timepiece is manually crafted with intricate attention-to-detail giving it a unique character and highly prized finish.
Jochen Benzinger’s timepieces are highly prized the world over and, as such, are not only a joy to wear but also represent a solid investment in watchmaking tradition.
Frosted Barley II
Benzinger’s Frosted Barley pieces feature a beautifully guilloched silver dial showcasing the barley/corn pattern with Breguet frost finish. Although the movement within is completely ennobled, the wearer is afforded only a glimpse through the circular opening at 6 o’clock. This slight reveal affords a hint of the beauty and craftsmanship that lies within while the eye is calmed by the refined, symmetrical pattern of the dial. The overall effect is an exceptionally elegant timepiece whose style will never date.
Dial
Sterling silver, hand-guilloched & hand-skeletonised
Base sheet: barley/corn pattern guilloche
Breguet-Frost finish
Window to view base plate at 6 o’clock
Movement
Unitas 6498 Manual windingmovement
hand-engraved
hand-skeletonized
hand-guilloched
Hands
Flame-blued “Breguet” style hands
Band
Hand sewn leather strap
Double-folding deployment clasp
Screw-in strap lugs
Case
high-grade steel case made in Pforzheim
Flat crown
Diameter of 42mm
Sapphire crystal on both sides
What is the art of Guilloche?
Guilloché (or guilloche) is a decorative technique whereby a very precise, intricate and repetitive pattern is mechanically engraved into an underlying material. It was developed between the 1600-1700s as part of the “royal craft” of art-reversing. From these princely beginnings, the watchmakers of the 18th and 19th century developed the beautiful Guilloche machines, with which, for example, Breguet cut its unique dials. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the court jeweller of the Russian Tsar, Fabergé, brought the art of Guilloche to its fullest perfection. He used the guilloche technique as a base for his famous enamel work, which culminated in the renowned Fabergé eggs. Today, thanks to the renaissance of mechanical clocks and watches, a limited number of high-quality manufacturers are still offering their products with hand-guilloched dials, which are still unmatched in their classic appearance. Jochen Benzinger is a master in this field.
What is the art of engraving?
Engraving is as old as mankind itself. People used cutting tools at all times to decorate jewellery and utensils. The engraving art in Europe in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries reached its climax when armour and weapons were artfully engraved. In the sixteenth century, Albrecht Dürer brought this work to a new heyday when, using the same tools as Jochen Benzinger uses in his studio today, he cut the copper-printing blocks for his famous prints. Nowadays there are very few specialists who know the techniques of this craft. Hand-engraving in horology is a highly valued attribute on any timepiece. Benzinger watches feature this finish with flourish and skill.
What is the art of skeletonising?
Skeletonising is a refinement method for giving a new, individual character to closed movements. Parts of the movement are removed by a goldsmith’s saw to reveal the direct view into and through the mechanical movement. The view of the movement is made possible by a sapphire crystal, exhibition case back in all models. The imbued creative energy of Jochen Benzinger is brought to the fore in his bespoke skeletonising creations. Each piece is skilfully crafted to highlight the beauty of the mechanical movement beating within – a pleasure to observe and a privilege to wear.
