Comments:
Let's remember Marc Brogsitter watches
Marc Brogsitter was a German lawyer and watch collector who was passionate about shaped wristwatches from the 1940s and 50s, those from Patek Philippe in particular.
credit: Phillips
Below: Karsten Fräßdorf wearing the watch
credit: équation du temps & Tim Jackson on Independent in Time (last photo only)
Below: Marc Brogsitter wearing the watch
credit: The Eclecticum (1-4), Tim Jackson on Independent Time (5-6) & montre24.com
credit: The Eclecticum
credit: Tim Jackson on Independent Time
credit: Bonhams
a/ Rose gold case
b/ White gold case
credit: Time Zone (1), SuitbertW (2-3), & montre24.com
BONUS: GERMAN BOOKLET
credit: @4172crowley on eBay
In the early 2000s, he decided to create his own brand and started a collaboration with a talented young watchmaker working at Gübelin at the time, Karsten Fräßdorf (who eventually started his own brand, "Montres KF", in 2016).
Their collaboration didn't last very long, unfortunately, but they nevertheless created, with the additional help of Urs Gottscheu, around ten watches, powered by two different "in-house" calibers which were each cased in two different "in-house" cases.
1) The two calibers:
- Cal. 793 (or 794) Tourbillon
- Cal. 793 (or 794) Constant force
2) The cases:
- Rectangular with straight lugs
- Rectangular with fancy lugs & faceted crystal
Let's have a look!
A/ TOURBILLON
1/ STRAIGHT LUGS, REF. 2181
Dimensions: 32 x 55 mm
a/ Movement no. 6003 & White gold case
credit: Phillips
b/ Movement no. 6002 & White gold case
Below: Karsten Fräßdorf wearing the watch
credit: équation du temps & Tim Jackson on Independent in Time (last photo only)
2/ FANCY LUGS & FACETED CRYSTAL, REF. 2179
Rose gold case
Below: Marc Brogsitter wearing the watch
credit: The Eclecticum (1-4), Tim Jackson on Independent Time (5-6) & montre24.com
B/ CONSTANT FORCE
1/ STRAIGHT LUGS, REF. 2167
a/ White gold - Arabic numerals
credit: The Eclecticum
b/ Rose gold & Arabic numerals
credit: Tim Jackson on Independent Time
c/ Rose Gold & Roman numerals
credit: Bonhams
2/ FANCY LUGS & FACETED CRYSTAL, REF. 2166
b/ White gold case
credit: Time Zone (1), SuitbertW (2-3), & montre24.com
BONUS: GERMAN BOOKLET
credit: @4172crowley on eBay
Do you like these watches?
I personally like the idea a lot and I prefer the straight lugs case, but these timepieces seem to be a bit oversized: thickness and lug-to-lug are too big. I would much prefer a smaller case.
Thanks for reading.
Best, Emmanuel
Yes I like them a lot.
Despite or in spite of their resemblance to Patek 5101 and 5105. Wish more watches were like these. Thank you for the write up, chk
I like them for the exact same reason as you.
But I wish they weren't as thick and tall.
Best, Emmanuel
Best, Emmanuel
I don't know if I could pull it off with my 16 cm wrist.
But what I know is that I like a lot you RB monopusher Bulletin d'Observatoire! Wonderful timepiece, about which, funny coincidence, I started looking for photos to make a thread about it someday in the future!
Thank you!
If you'll want pictures etc., i should try to accommodate: just DM. Rgds, chk
Thank you! I've found nice photos, but I'll keep your kind proposition in mind!
Have a great week-end.
Beautiful watches. Love the Roman Numeral one.
Some of the first pictures look like the hands can disappear into the markers making it a bit hard to read. I guess blued or black hands would have cured that but it is what it is.
The markers on the first pictures are a bit thick, indeed.
I usually like Roman numerals but these ones seem to me a bit too regular in their vertical position. Just the way I feel about them of course.
Best, Emmanuel
Best, Emmanuel
LOVE the movements...
...the cases are a bit large, and the markers on the first one are too thick. They need refining. And the kerning of the type is slightly off to be really picky : ) But overall, I really like the effort here...
I agree concerning the imperfections you point out.
Imperfect, but, as you say, the effort is definitely going in a direction I like a lot.
So obvious, yes. And I really like this inspiration.
Unfortunately, they made the watches too big and thick, imo (or at least for my smallish wrist).
These Marc Brogsitter watches are very interesting.
I also think they look to be a bit on the large size and would look more refined slimmed down a bit but the case shapes are very nice as are the movements. That is all except for the one with the faceted crystal as I don't see the point and would not wear one of those as it would drive me nuts. This reminds me of a famous quote though " How do you make a small fortune starting a watch company? Start with a large fortune"
Marc
Aha! Nice humorous quote!
As for the faceted crystal, I find it very interesting on some references, like the Patek "Hour Glass", ref. 1593.
The WG watches are much to my liking, especially the sector dial with Arabic numerals.
The fancy lugs are too angular and oversized for my tastes.
Thanks for sharing these rare watches.
M4
I completely agree concerning the fancy lugs case.
The sector Arabic is attractive indeed, but it is paired with the Constant Force caliber, which I like less than the Tourbillon.
Best, Emmanuel
Best, Emmanuel
Another terrific post, Emmanuel.
I have to agree with everyone-smaller and slimmer would be ideal.
Thank you so much.
Yes, the size isn’t ideal, but apart from that there’s a lot to love.
Best, Emmanuel
Best, Emmanuel
What I really appreciate is the movement. I love the way it was designed to fit within the case parameters.
Yes, like the caliber of the Patek 5101, it matches the case perfectly.
And a “hidden” tourbillon is such a great complication.
Best, Emmanuel
Best, Emmanuel
I remember them from my beginning as a collector.
But what happened to the Man (dont care about the watches)?