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Paul Gerber: Model 42 - Model 41 - Retrotwin w/power reserve
Model 42: A high grade ETA base cal. that Mr. Gerber modified for his three rotor winding mechanism and a quick set forward date mechanism of his design that also moved the large date display out to the edge of the dial. The case is 42mm titanium that has relatively short slightly curved strap lugs. I used one of these watches for several years. Usually I will not have a watch above 39 or 40 mm but the Model 41 lay very nicely on my 2inch long wrist (across the top) without the lugs catching air and it did not move around. I put a rubber strap on it and used it well for several years the same way I use my Aqaunaut and it kept good time and still looked nice when I passed to a family member.
Model 41 (in the center): The movement is Mr. Gerber’s own cal. design and is manufactured by him in his workshop. It has the three rotor winding mechanism, which he designed for this movement before he adapted it to the ETA base in the Model 42. It is 100 hours of power autonomy and has a quick set date mechanism of his design that allows both forward and backwards adjustments of the date from the crown. Unique to this watch is the novel “alternative seconds” mechanism invented by Mr. Gerber that allows instantaneous switching of the center seconds indicator hand between a sweeping seconds action and a jumping seconds action at the push of the button in the case side at 2 o’clock. The case is 42mm. steel or gold.
The Retrotwin w/power reserve piece is better known so I will not comment more about it, except I will describe the action of the novel power reserve indicator in case some are not acquainted with it: when the main spring is winding the indicator hand remains stationary while the index disk under it turns counterclockwise, therefore allowing the stationary indicator hand to display the increasing power reserve; when the main spring is unwinding the index disk remains stationary while the indicator hand turns counterclockwise over the index disk, thereby displaying the decreasing power reserve. The result is a kind of dance throughout the day as the watch is alternatively winding and unwinding according to the wearer’s varying activity, driving the indicator hand and index disk to change positions relative to each other and also relative to the dial.
Note: the pics are from a small meet up a few years ago. Sorry about the low quality images
edited to correct error in title
Paul Gerber: Model 42 - Model 41 - Retrotwin w/power reserve
