Independents

I recently had the pleasure of touring the ANDERSEN GENEVE SA shop of legendary watchmaker Svend Andersen located upstairs at 36 Quai du Sujet, Geneve, Switzerland.

Born in 1942 in Denmark, Mr. Andersen graduated from the Danish Watchmaker School of the Royal Technical Institute of Copenhagen and traveled to Switzerland in 1963.  He worked with Gubelin Lucerne and Gubelin Geneva when his skills were recognized in 1969 by joining the Atelier de Complications of Patek Philippe.  In 1979, he created his own workshop.

Here is his 1989 Guinness Book of Records for the smallest mechanical horological calendar watch.  Amazingly small work of art!

Another marvel are the colored gold dials that he is world famous for.  The color is NOT a coating but a proprietary blend of metals to achieve the unique gold metal.  Others have tired but no one else in the world has something this stable and unique!  HOW COOL ARE THESE PURPLE-GOLD AND BLUE-GOLD DIALS

 

In 1969, Mr. Andersen as a hobby created his first "Bottle Clock" and then earned the moniker  "Watchmaker of the Impossible" by the international press at the Montres et Bijoux show.  Just like the ship in a bottle you have to wonder "how does he do that?".  I can stare at this all day!

Svend Andersen showing completed watches.  We all felt like kids in a candy store!

Mr. Andersen is famous for the most sophisticated, complex, and animated automaton wristwatches.  Besides the obvious, even the dog's tail wags!  Such detail makes Svend Anderson unique.

The case flips in a unique outer case housing to conceal the automaton.  Very well engineered and executed case design.

This message has been edited by DRMW on 2008-10-22 15:37:11

 

More dial pics.  You can see how complex and detailed the automaton dials are. 

This message has been edited by DRMW on 2008-10-22 14:00:17

Now, that begins to be interesting!

Seriously, this is Art!

I love these Autonmatons, and not only the erotic ones...

I discovered them with U.N on the Hour striker, the Forgerons, the Circus, Genghis Khan and the Jungle, and I was literraly fascinated.

The good old times, in their whole splendor!

Thanks for this marvellous post, my friend...

You just won some of the nicest Parisian Ice Cream! LOL

Nicolas

LOL.  Just for you Nicolas, I'll see if ED209 can send you the videos.  I never knew how many moving parts that Svend Andersen has put in his pieces until I visited the shop.  Truly incredible.  If you are into automaton wristwatches, Svend is the man to see.  -MW
This message has been edited by DRMW on 2008-10-22 13:51:51

Under the tutelage of the master watchmaker Svend Andersen are Nicolas Commergnat and Sabastien Billieres.  There were many complicated pieces being restored by ANDERSEN GENEVE SA.  The watchmakers are very passionate about their work.

On the bottom you can see how some of the teeth have broken and above is the custom made replacement part.

This message has been edited by DRMW on 2008-10-22 13:47:49

I would like to thank Mr. Andersen and the rest of the staff for allowing us to visit on such short notice and taking the time for us.  We are grateful for your hospitality and appreciate your skills as a watchmaker, innovator, and artisan.  Also another Thank you for "The guy" who made the phone call to make this happen!   -MW

- SJX

If you recognize that guy in the pic watch out!  He's the biggest trouble maker of the bunch! LOL! -MW

Too bad I wasn't able to visit this time.  I was able to see a lot of cool stuff two years ago.  There's just so many goodies in that workshop.  Svend was just digging around in safes and drawers and everything that came out was fascinating.  Thanks for the pics!

Wish we had more time to spend with Svend, such a wonderful person.  And he has so many interesting toys!  Here is another clock he had in the shop:

My wallet said more in addition to the 3 that I have. Hhmmm.... must think of something special to commission....

cen@jkt

So cen@jkt, which wonderful work of Andersen do you have?  Care to share pics with the rest of us? =)   -MW

and hop into a bunny trail . I usually delete the pictures that I posted. I only showed 2, let say the other one is similar to the one you were ogling ....

cen@jkt

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Aside from his brilliant automatons, my favourite is the Montre a tact.

- SJX

It is always good to see a watchmaker like Svend Andersen take on and train the next generation. I've never seen a picture of the movement (top and bottom side) of his eros movement. Do you have some that you can post?

 

DaveB

I'm still organizing the pics that I took from the Switzerland and Paris trip of last week (I took 14GB worth of pictures!) and will hopefully post some soon.

Interesting that you brought up the question about training the next generation.  Svend has a great concept in his shop and owners of his works should know that there will be great watchmakers able to take care of Andersen watches in the future.  His watchmakers spend half the time working for him and the other half freelance.  They have his expertise and guidance while working there.  What was incredible was that all the pieces that they were working on were grand complications and restorations for auction houses!  We were very fortunate to have spent time with Mr. Andersen.

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I really enjoyed your report, the pics and your comments are excellent.

Thanks !

Fr.Xavier

nt

Great post, was wondering on the availabliity of the EROX XL, how big is it and is it LE?

 

 

Thanks

Hello Macca, the Eros XL i 42mm with a case thickness of 14.5mm.   Retail price as of September 2008 is 52,000 SFr for YG, 55,000 SFr for WG.  Andersen makes very few pieces per year .  The best is to contact Svend himself (www.andersen-geneve.ch).

 Which one are you considering?  I might have pics for you.

-MW