A Double Retrograde Curiosity

Here's a true curiosity: a double retrograde watch with hand-carved/engraved dial and case.

credit: Hambik Tovmasyan aka @hambik_tov

It was made by Belgian watchmaker and clock restorer Jozef Op de Beeck (right), who works with his daughter Elke Op de Beeck (left).

They run together a Clock and Watch Museum and a Clocks Clinic in Bonheiden, Belgium: Horlogeriemuseum.

The double retrograde watch with an elliptical dial comes in two types of cases: with a hand-carved bas-relief or polished.

credit: Jozef Op de Beeck (horlogeriemuseum.be)

In the image above, the hand-carved example is No. 33, which has been sold by Antiquorum in 2013: photo below.

credit: Antiquorum

Now, let's come back to example No. 57, featured on the cover photo: notice how the engravings on the dial differ from No. 33.

The case size is 37 x 9 mm.

The hand wound movement, caliber AS 1130N, has been modified to obtain the decentralizing of the hours and minutes.

This famous caliber was made in Grenchen, Switzerland by A. SCHILD S.A.

credit: Hambik Tovmasyan aka @hambik_tov (Hambik Fedor Watches)

You can see the double retrograde hands in action here: @hambik_tov.

credit: Cadmore Auctions

Below is example No. 24, which features different dial engravings.

credit: 1st dibs

Lastly, here is an example with the same case and elliptic dial, but with regular center hour and minute time display.