The german "cabinotier".......
Mar 02 2007,15:28 PM

Hi all,
I'm sure almost all of you've heard of the cabinotiers of old Geneva, those watchmakers working in the small workshops, often located in the garrets of Geneva's town houses.
It was the place with the best availlable daylight, the most time of a day, a natural place for this tiny workpieces, incredibly demanding for the human eye.
When visiting german watchmaker  Christian Klings recently I felt reminded of this old  term, not only because his tiny workshop, also on the top floor under the roof exactly meets this descriptions; also his style of watchmaking comes very, very close. Few has been written about Christian Klings and different from the few "stars"  among the AHCI his name isn't that well known even among those, more focused on the world of independents.

But, I can tell you,IMO he's an absolute  insider tip for all those interested in real traditional watchmaking.  Perhaps I'd better say "horology" here, as the degree and depth of what Christian does is really impressive - and looking at his methods, equippement and machinery will soon reveal he's doing this the most traditional way you'd imagine.
Some fancy CNC machinery here or there with  highly praised precision - no, sorry, not here.Most  basic machinery such like any watchmaker hundred years ago had as well and lot's of real handwork.  It's handmade in the best sense - and in this case it's in  no way a stretch of the term.

When I first met Christian in the 2005 Basel fair, I hadn't heard a lot as well, but at least I remembered some mysterious escapement, called "desmodromic escapement" (this term probably will ring a bell with the motor bike friends among us, think Ducati).   I was really blown away by what I saw - unbelievable to me at that time how a single guy could invest such an amount of painstaking work and energy  in such developements. And quickly learning that this was a small part of his work only!
I'll post some more comprehensive information on Christian and his desmodromic escapement later, but for now:
it's a single impulse, lubrication free pivoted detent escapement - but no  spring for the chronometer  lever and working reliably under wrist watch conditions (i.e.reasonably shock proof) with 28.800 bph!

His cases are very tastefull and classic, as is the overall aesthetic of his watches - not surprising knowing about his admiration of   the great watchmakers like A.L.Breguet and Dr. George Daniels.
Christian's work has an incredible depth - besides almost all vital parts of the movement, he makes his own cases, the guillochage of the dials, engraving the dials....... he's even modifying the crystals with changing/polishing the bevels to enhance the  details of the dial!

His No.5 tourbillon is a real treat  for any horological tech nut - it's a 7.5 seconds tourbillon with a fixed escape wheel (it's fixed to the mainplate). Some will be reminded Albert H.Potters famous tourbillon of similar design. But this one is even more special as the balance is impulsed through the hairspring only !! Also more details on this one later. Normally I'm not that fond of higher beat rate movements - but this one is just spectacular to observe.

As you may have guessed already, all of Christians finished watches are unique pieces - and unique here really means unique
But, before I get lost, here are some pictures of his most recent creation - tourbillon No. 7 - a flying tourbillon with swiss lever escapement,  with flying  third wheel, moon phase and power reserve indication.

Christian is AHCI candidate, but he'll not be  in Basel this yeear :-(
Hope you enjoyed the pictures and as promised, I'll post more on Christians work later!
Best regards
Suitbert

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Beautiful watches!
Mar 02 2007,15:59 PM

I particularly like the No. 7 Tourbillon.  Do you have a more frontal shot of it?
Thanks for showing us the environment that these beauties were born in as well.

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Hi, Allen,....
Mar 02 2007,16:14 PM

...here're two more, but no frontal dial shot - I'll upload one later.

Due to the flying third wheel design, there's an amazing transparency for the tourbillon area.

As you may see both, the flying tourbillon and the third wheel are supported by ball bearings.  For this one Christianused a beautifull bimetallic, cut balance with steel hairspring.

Best
Suitbert

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Thanks Suitbert!
Mar 03 2007,08:32 AM

what an amazing tourbillon cage!

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Here's a more frontal dial shot..
Mar 04 2007,15:58 PM

Hi Allen,
but, they're not that good and I've to go through the pic files again, if there's some better, more doing justice to the work.

As you say - the tourbillon cage is particulary  beautifull !

Best regards
Suitbert

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Wow.
Mar 04 2007,22:05 PM

Your second picture is as good as it gets.      I love the way the moonphase and the power reserve balance each other out.   Thanks again!

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Just out of curiousity, Suitbert, is this the only . . .
Mar 03 2007,10:33 AM

. . . tourbillon that rotates on ball bearings, or are there others?  Cordially, Art

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I'm not sure who was pioneering ...
Mar 04 2007,05:17 AM

Hi  Art,
I've to admit I'm not sure who was the pioneer in that regard, but something like the (1992?)  IWC Destriero comes to mind with the flying tourbillon also supported in a ball bearing - from an engineering standpoint it's a somehow logical choice. Speaking of IWC it's also no surprise to see Richard Habrings own toubillons also often equipped with ball bearings. 

There may be many others (honestly I'm not sure how many in fact...) perhaps someone else knows what's with Blancpains (Clabrese) torubillon for example, I'd not be surprised if that would be the case as well - I''d never the chance to closely inspect one. 

As you may see from the pictures of Christian's No. 7 also the thrid wheel (that's the one driving the tourbillon) is "flying" and supported by a ball bearing. 
IIRC, with No.  7 it's a ruby ball bearing for the tourbillon cage.

Best
Suitbert

 

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No greater 'elf' factor...
Mar 07 2007,15:37 PM

than this! His creations are wonderful. I read that Farmers in the winter would make movements at home and deliver them to the larger houses in town who would case them. Thanks Suitbert.

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I'm a great admirer of his work, thanks for the update!
Mar 02 2007,17:46 PM

Hi Suitbert,

My understanding is that Mr. Klings was living and working in California about the time I got interested in watchmaking, but unfortunately he had already moved before I had ever heard of him, otherwise I would've loved to have visited his workshop of course.

I heard a funny story about Mr. Klings from a watchmaker in SF.  I can't vouch for the veracity of the story or even that I'm remembering it correctly, but reportedly he was asked to repair/restore a Patek Philippe automatic that had either a badly worn or missing ball bearing.  Rather than trying to source a replacement (or perhaps after attempting to do so unsuccessfully), Mr. Klings simply made one by hand!  For all you watchmakers, machinists, model-makers or otherwise craftsy people out there, you can probably imagine the difficulty of manufacturing something that small and regular (symmetrical in every regard) that requires such extreme precision, but for those of you who have no context: it would be a HUGE challenge, let me assure you.

Another story was about Mr. Klings being commissioned to add a moonphase to an AP ultrathin automatic (2120).  He did so including making the dial for it from scratch, reportedly without adding any height to the case.  Wow, I say.

Of course when I saw the pictures of his semi-flying tourbillon in International Wristwatch a little while later, it was clear to me this was no ordinary watchmaker performing the occasional extraordinary feat.  He's someone to watch for sure.

Suitbert, thanks for the further/updated info and, Mr. Klings, please accept my apologies if I'm misremembering or otherwise misrepresenting either of these stories.

_john

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yes..I read about Klings california past, in a magazine some years ago.
Mar 02 2007,22:17 PM

I think we had some discussion about him way back in 2004.

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indeed, his name was first dropped in this forum in 2001 or so
Mar 03 2007,04:01 AM

And then Curtis posted the IWW (as it was then known) article in 2002:

www.watchprosite.com

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Thank you, now That was a treat !!!............nt
Mar 02 2007,18:47 PM

///

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My pleasure,Steve! -nt-
Mar 04 2007,16:15 PM

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Marvellous pics !
Mar 02 2007,22:40 PM

Thanks Suitbert,

for these fantastic pics, of a real classic looking movement !

The finish seems incredible!

BTW, in this country, the best tasting
ice cream is,..... Klings :-)

Cheers

Doc

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LoL - Doc, I've to tell Christian about that swedish ice cream.....
Mar 04 2007,16:17 PM

And thanks a lot for your kind words!

Best
Suitbert 

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Klings !
Mar 05 2007,22:39 PM

This is their real killer.

An ice cream cake, with vanilla ice cream, chocolate, butter toasted nougat, marzipan and a touch of arrack !

Always on the table when someone in the family is having birthday :-)

A family owned, local, quite small company.

Mmmm....

Cheers

Doc

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Thank you Sir, great pictures, great report, fascinating watches!(nt)
Mar 03 2007,00:03 AM

e

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Also love the tourbillion #7
Mar 03 2007,00:32 AM

Thanks for a great story Suitbert can't wait for the follow up.

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What a great example of real watchmaking!
Mar 03 2007,03:13 AM

It clearly shows his talent and savoir faire, and also makes the manual process and execution visible. For me, this is much more desirable than a 100% perfectly finished end-product, which may look a bit sterile.

I shall not forget to say that his technical solutions are far off the main paths and represent the fruits of out-of-the-box, individual thinking. As far as i understand, Mr Klings is also a down to earth personality.

Great work, a real treat! I just wonder how these watches sound...

Thanks Suitbert for bringing this to us!

Best,
Magnus

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Magnus, you're right on all accounts...
Mar 06 2007,15:04 PM

....and as you speak about finish - you'd have to see the last two watches and his considerable improvements in overall finish.  As I said - he's probably his own strongest  critic .

Best regards
Suitbert

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We eagerly await more news on this most talented watchmaker. nt
Mar 03 2007,06:25 AM

nt

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Thanks, Mike, I'll do my best to keep you updated :-) -nt-
Mar 06 2007,15:05 PM

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Oh my god. . .
Mar 03 2007,07:23 AM

. . .Suitbert.  Tourbillon no. 5.  Ohhh, my goodness

Love to hear more about that one. . . pleeeeeeeease???

Jack

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I'm with you for number 5 Jack
Mar 03 2007,13:41 PM

Thanks a lot Suitbert.

Amazing work, fascinating to teh extrreme.

I'd love to knpw more about his "no-tourbiilon" watches!!

Cheers

Dje

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Gotta hear more about it. Haven't been so excited since. . .
Mar 03 2007,16:50 PM

. . .I first became familiar with Kari Voutilainen's work.  This is HOT stuff

Jack

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Hi Jack, Jerome....
Mar 04 2007,16:49 PM

.... No. 5 is a most fascinating piece, your pick isn't surprising to me

It's a long story and perhaps much better to go into Christian Klings desmodromic escapement first as it's part of this very special piece as well.

And, I should also point out that No. 5 somehow will remain Christians "unfinished opus".
As you already may have seen on the pictures  - it doesn't look really finished and it isn't - Christian invested an incredible amount of time and energy into this piece but at the end it was a "glorious fail" (like it's historic predecessor)- but an very intriguing one!

The basic principle behind was created by Himmelheber, I'll scan some of the drawings I can find for better understanding later on.

Here's a larger view of the tourbillon so that you'll have some puzzling late sunday fun

As said - it's a 7.5 seconds tourbillon and as you may see driven by the fourth wheel (thus turning cw) - but more later


Best
Suitbert 

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OK, thanks Suitbert, what the heck. . .
Mar 05 2007,07:45 AM

    . . . are those really two pallet forks. . . ?!?

Jack

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The small ratchet wheel close to the tourbillon center...
Mar 05 2007,16:03 PM

Hi Jack,
that's a constant force mechanism!
During his countless hours trying to get it working, i.e. to achieve a little better rate stability, he realized that  this escapement was very sensitive to this  problem and he decided to add a constant force. You may imagine what that means once the base  design is  already done ;-)

The original idea (it's an old dream to somehow achieve a less harsh impulsing, I'm lacking the correct english term,  perhaps it could be called "impact free" impulse?) goes back  to Benoit and Himmelheber - bot designed torubillon escapements where the impulse is supplied through the hairspring (i.e. not directly to the balance).
As nice as it works in terms of smoothness of impulse, it's extremely problematic and complex to work precisely.
The exact timing for unlocking/impulse is most crucial and that's one of the weak parts of those designs.
BTW, Rieflers version with balance wheel (the pictures of Paul Gerbers table clock ) is similar and I'd say  belongs to the same group.

Christian Klings combined this basic design with his desmodromic escapement - but as said even investing far more time and energy as expected - it never worked reliably. But looking at the running escapement is incredibly mesmerizing and  one easily forgets about such sterile things as "rate"
If' I'd have had to guess if it could work  before I actually saw it in the flesh - I wouldn't have believed it could.

Best
Suitbert
   

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OK, so let me get this straight. . .
Mar 05 2007,17:02 PM

. . .constant force escapement (!) impulsed through the hairspring, not directly to an impulse jewel on the balance?  That's just wild.  That it was done in a 7.5 second tourbillon just adds to the tastiness, even if it IS tempermental.  I'd just love to hear more about this particular watch, and about the desmodromic escapement, when and if you have time; and I'm just staggered that anyone would try for a constant force escapement at all these days- I was under the impression that constant force escapements had been more or less abandoned by the mid 19th century.

I wonder if some other constant force mechanism would have given the necessary uniform delivery of power- a remontoire or fusee?  I expect there must be something in the design of the escapement itself that made him try for such an exotic design and would love to hear more about it.

Thanks very much- the most interesting post by far I've seen in months .

 

Jack

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You're absolutely right, Jack....
Mar 06 2007,14:52 PM

...only a "horologically obsessed"  one would have started to build something like this

I asked Christian for some drawings and he told me he might have some....let's see ;-)

I'll put together some more about the desmodromic escapement the next days .

Best regards
Suitbert

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Thank you Suitbert. . .
Mar 07 2007,12:15 PM

. . .we eagerly await further intelligence .

Jack

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Thanks Suitbert. Mr Klings' work is beautiful
Mar 03 2007,07:26 AM

Somewhat reminiscent of Urban Jurgensen yet subtly different. His movement work is quietly stunning, I like the careful finish that doesn't focus too much on unnecessary decoration. Kudos to Mr Klings.

- SJX

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Glad you like it, SJX,...
Mar 04 2007,16:08 PM

Hi,
you're right - the very "calm" matte/frosted gold finish of the barrel bridge and plate nicely enhances the  beuatifully finished steel parts. You may have recognized the considerable "step up" of No.7 finish compared to the earlier pieces - that's one part of Christian's personality I like a lot - he's perhaps his strongest critic and constantly tries hard to improve. Considering his creative inventive work at the same time, that must  be incredibly demanding. 

Greetings
Suitbert

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Thanks. Does he have a website? (nt)
Mar 03 2007,07:45 AM

NT

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My pleasure, Ronald,.....
Mar 03 2007,18:40 PM

.....but so far, no web site.

Best regards
Suitbert

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Yowza! Now that´s really something different!
Mar 03 2007,20:42 PM

Independent watchmaking, as much as it can be!
Thanks a lot, that´s truly eye opening!

Can´t wait to see and hear more!

Cheers,

Peter

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My pleasure, Peter....
Mar 06 2007,14:56 PM

....it's one of the downsides of  this sort of "one man show"  that the number of pieces is very limited though.
But that doesn't hurt as long as they're so exciting works
I'll wait patiently with pleasure than...


Best

Suitbert

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Large WOW Factor
Mar 04 2007,05:09 AM

Please do share more pictures and your insightful comments on these pieces.  Great new surprise this morning, and I am very fond of the traditional design.

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Thanks, Douglas,....
Mar 06 2007,14:58 PM

I'll see what I can find, also from his earlier work  - but it might take some more days though.

Best regards
Suitbert

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Suitbert, thank you for a most enjoyable post. No 5 is a beauty, can't wait
Mar 04 2007,15:42 PM

to read/see more about Mr Klings work.

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Glad you liked it, Mark! -nt-
Mar 06 2007,14:58 PM

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For us "slower" people >>
Mar 04 2007,19:44 PM

In the Nr 5 Piece, do I assume that a 7.5s tourbillon does just that? Circulate in 7.5s.

What tourbillon cages? I "see" no cages - only air; like faerie dancesteps on dandelion seeds

Regards, MTF

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Hi MTF, that's my understanding. . .
Mar 05 2007,17:15 PM

. . . Albert Potter, an American watchmaker, famously designed a twelve second tourbillon with a lever escapement.  There is also a carriage-less tourbillon design by A. H. Benoit.  It's a pretty funky design; the lower pivot of the balance staff in the Benoit design is in a bearing fitted to the upper pivot of the escape wheel (in other words, the escape wheel and balance are co-axial with each other; the balance above and 'scape wheel below.)  The balance vibrates in the usual fashion and as it does so, it also rotates with the escape wheel, revolving once for every revolution of the escape wheel.  According to George Daniels the design has 15 teeth and in an 18k vph movement will turn once every six seconds.  Daniels notes that the design at first blush seems perfect, as there is no cage inertia to overcome.

However (and perhaps this is the problem Mr Klings ran into, or one of them at least) the problem is that the escape wheel is unlocked by the balance spring which can only happen when the balance is oscillating at full amplitude (if I understand that section of the chapter on tourbillons correctly.)  If there is even a tiny reduction in energy of the balance, the escape wheel will fail to unlock and the watch will stop.

It's a very cool idea though .

Jack

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Mr Klings must be a very lucky man
Mar 05 2007,01:40 AM

Isn’t it the dream of all of us to do exactly what we please to do for work? Up there in his garret, far away from the noise of the marketing battles Mr Klings pursues his passion. The result are candid masterpieces.

BTW, all these images are just superb and provide for a beautiful impression of the uniqueness of these watches. 

I look forward to seeing more of these watches.

Thank you, Suitbert, for the highly interesting report.

Cheers, Valentin

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that tourbillon #7 is insanely beautiful [nt]
Mar 05 2007,07:24 AM

No message body

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just beautiful... wow..... thank you...
Mar 07 2007,00:48 AM

cheers
teckmeng
singapore

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Absolutely fascinating ...
Mar 07 2007,05:32 AM

true genius.

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Another tourbillon by Klings
Mar 07 2007,13:30 PM

Great report ! Many thanks!
BTW, another tourbillon (No. 6) by Klings:

click here

photo by "Armband Uhren", 2005

Best regards.

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... and another (photo)...
Mar 07 2007,13:40 PM

... for Lottermann & Soehne (2003 / 4):

click here

Cheers, otho

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Lottermann & Soehne by C. Klings in close-up
Mar 07 2007,23:15 PM

very nice, semiclassical regulateur tourbillon

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Thanks, Otho, for the additional input...
Mar 08 2007,15:08 PM

... unfortunately I don't have pictures of No.6 - :-(

If I'm not mistaken this is the only  tourbillon made by Christian for Lottermann&Söhne - very interesting design.
While it does look like a flying tourbillon, it's in fact  supported on both ends. On the dial side there is a very thin crystal disc carrying the chaton with ruby jewel for this sides carriage bearing.
The crystal disc is only around 3/10 mm thick and the pressed chaton is made of 24K gold to enable a smooth friction fit without "cracking" the crystal. 

As an anecdotal side note, Christian told me that the owner accidentally dropped the watch from well above 1m onto the ground - hard ceramic! Of course everyone would expect serious damage - and at the first moment it looked like this. One of the lugs was visibly deformed! But after closer inspection it revealed not to be that serious. 
The crystal disc with the carriage bearing simply had "popped" out of the friction fit in the mainplate (and of course the movement had stopped) - but after setting the disc in plac everything else worked well again.

According to Christians description and as everyone would easily imagine - making such a crystal disc and adding the chaton with ruby without ruining this thinny disc is some really delicate undertaking.

Best regards
Suitbert  

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Dear SuitbertW,
Mar 09 2007,05:26 AM

truly thanks for your equally important & interesting details !

Additional en face view of Klings's tourbillon for Lottermann:

,


... and very exciting table clock in glass case with one-minute flying tourbillon escapement made by C. Klings (also signed by a Lottermann):



PS. Very interesting essay about "Desmodromic Escapement" was published in "Armband Uhren"  6/2004 (October-November), pp. 130-132 (in German language).

All best regards
otho

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BTW,
Mar 10 2007,05:29 AM

an interesting, but enough unknown Russian independent watchmaker, and even tourbillon-maker, Konstantin Chaykin.

His works are:

1. Tourbillon Carriage Clock - for details click here

2. Easter astronomical clock, with an amazing complication of Orthodox Easter Date indicator ! - for details click here

PS. Sorry for OT, but I'm not registered user and I can't write a new topic.

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