Credits: Article and images by @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2024/06/24/collecting-and-patronage-two-unique-watches-from-independent-watchmaker-christian-klings-2/
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The movement here is considerably simpler in appearance than that of the pocket watch, but still incorporates those broad stripes and some custom touches specified by Chuck, including an arrow-shaped balance cock.
Taking a low angle view of the movement both gives a better look at the hand-beveling applied by Klings and a sense of how he was able to give dimensionality to a movement that is quite thin.
While I had the two watches in hand, I took the opportunity to shoot them side by side. From the movement side, the differences in design and historical era are quite evident, but each has its considerable appeal.
And on the dial side, while the matte eggshell central finish and prominent moon display of the pocket watch are hard to compete with, for me the wristwatch is gorgeous as well.
My understanding is that Christian Klings has called time on his watchmaking career, so unless he can be persuaded otherwise your only chances to own one of his masterworks will be to keep a close eye on forthcoming auctions and to work your own private networks.
If that doesn’t work, the good news is that you too can become a “Chuck” by learning as much as you can about lesser known but still brilliant independents, polishing your own tastes, and becoming a patron of someone who could be tomorrow’s Christian Klings.
I’d love to hear about your favorite lower-profile indies in the comments section. In the meantime, happy hunting!
For more information on Christian Klings, please visit www.christianklings.com.
Quick Facts Christian Klings Tourbillon Pocket Watch No. 2 (unique timepiece)
Case: 46.5 mm yellow gold handmade case; domed front crystal and exhibition back with sapphire crystals
Dial: multipiece silver dial with hand-engraving and filled Roman numerals; handmade moon phase subdial with yellow gold inset moons
Movement: manually wound; 30-hour power reserve; 14,400 vph /2 Hz frequency; based on “Apogee” pocket watch movement with modifications for tourbillon, self-starting detent chronometer, moon phase, power reserve, zero reset
Functions: hours, minutes, subsidiary seconds; power reserve; moon phase
Limitation: unique piece
Production years: production began in 2001, completed 2016
Quick Facts Christian Klings Wristwatch No. 8
Case: 37 mm stainless steel case with polished bezels and case band; domed front crystal and exhibition back with sapphire crystals
Dial: multipiece silver dial with engraved and filled Roman numerals; guilloche central dial and subdial
Movement: manually wound in-house movement; 18,000 vph/2.5 Hz frequency
Functions: hours, minutes, subsidiary seconds
Price: recent comparable auction price for Klings No. 7 wristwatch, Phillips Geneva November 2021, CHF 252,000
Limitation: unique piece
Production year: 2018
* This article was first published 25 June 2022 at Collecting And Patronage: Two Unique Watches From Independent Watchmaker Christian Klings
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Credits: Article and images by @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2024/06/24/collecting-and-patronage-two-unique-watches-from-independent-watchmaker-christian-klings-2/