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Sham1 introduces Christian Klings, an independent watchmaker known for his ultra-rare, entirely handmade timepieces, drawing inspiration from masters like George Daniels. This post highlights Klings' 'Visibility' watch, a 37mm manual-winding piece that embodies a 'less is more' philosophy, and sparks a discussion on the value and challenges of extreme exclusivity in independent watchmaking.
I have always been partial to simple two handed or three handed watches and had heard of Christian Klings but have never really seen any of his watches. I believe since he started making watches in 1996, he has only produced two to three timepieces a year. This means there are no more than sixty six time pieces with his name in the whole world. We all know how rare a RW Smith is a an annual production of ten pieces a year so a Christian Klings timepiece is ultra rare. The main reason why only so few pieces are made every year is because all the parts are hand made by Mr Klings himself as he was inspired by George Daniels and Derek Pratt, both of whom were leaders of the totally hand made watch.
I was therefore most keen to read about Christian Kilngs' latest watch known as the Visibility. I have always liked smaller watches and this 37mm timepiece could easily be mistaken for a Breguet at first glance but the short lugs and superlative guilloche work are quite something. The watch is very thin which is quite rare among independents who generally prefer a thicker more robust case. This thinness is accentuated by the narrow case band and lugs, as well as the domed case back. The movement is based on a vintage hand wound movement produced by A. Schild from Switzerland.The prototype in stainless steel has been sold and the production version will be available by the end of this year. The watch to me is a near perfect example of a well finished manual winding three handed wrist watch. The only qualm I would have is the price which is likely to be USD40,000 to USD50,000 which is not insignificant. This is partly due to the low production numbers but for this price, one might be tempted with a Gronefeld or Laurent Ferrier. Both however will not be as exclusive and rare as a Christian Klings timepiece.
Photos borrowed from SJX
Key Points from the Discussion
- Christian Klings produces only 2-3 watches annually, making his timepieces exceptionally rare, with no more than 66 pieces existing globally since 1996.
- The 'Visibility' watch, at 37mm, features superlative guilloche work and a thin case, a rarity among independents who often prefer more robust designs, and is based on a vintage A. Schild hand-wound movement.
- The price point of USD 40,000-50,000 for a Christian Klings watch, while justified by low production and handcraft, places it in competition with established independents like Grönefeld or Laurent Ferrier, raising questions about value proposition.
- The extreme rarity and fully handmade process of Klings' watches contribute to their high price, but also raise concerns about continuity risk and long-term service, especially without a dealer network.
- Beat Haldimann's H11/H12 is suggested as a comparable option for true handcraft without machines, potentially offering a different value proposition in the same price bracket.
- The 'Visibility' watch was previously showcased at an exhibition, which helped increase its recognition and, consequently, its price.
- A previous design by Christian Klings from 2011 shows a strong resemblance to the 'Visibility' watch, indicating a consistent design language.
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