Ochs und Junior: New Showroom, Ulysse Nardin Partner

Ornatus-Mundi · 2012-04-19T01:43:08Z

Ochs und Junior opens new Lucerne showroom, announces strategic partnership with Ulysse Nardin. Explore Ludwig Oechslin's innovative watches and the technical collaboration.

Ornatus-Mundi

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Ornatus-Mundi shares a significant announcement from Ochs und Junior, detailing the opening of their new Lucerne showroom and a strategic partnership with Ulysse Nardin. This collaboration highlights Ludwig Oechslin's continued influence in horology, bridging his innovative independent work with a prestigious manufacture. The post offers valuable insight into the evolving landscape of independent watchmaking and brand partnerships.

[originally posted by Stefan (nitediver) in News Central]

Ludwig Oechslin’s watches: now at the new Ochs und Junior showroom – with Ulysse Nardin as strategic partner (PRESS RELEASE)

Ochs und Junior watches, conceived by the lateral- thinking watch designer Ludwig Oechslin, draw their effect from the intelligent, elegant simplification of both mechanics and design.

Ochs und Junior has inaugurated a new head office and centre of operations at Zürichstrasse 49, Lucerne: the retail concept represents a departure from the norm as practised by other watch brands, and is the first to be launched.

This is the place to discover – over the finest espresso in Lucerne – custom-built watches featuring a host of innovative functions, including the world‘s mathematically most precise moon phase indicator and an annual calendar indicator based on just three components. The showroom also sells a range of other items that the makers of Ochs und Junior consider to be complementary to their timepieces.

Ulysse Nardin as strategic partner

Ulysse Nardin and Ochs und Junior have agreed on closer collaboration going forward. Ulysse Nardin has established a long-term strategic partnership with Ochs und Junior. The partnership strengthens cooperation between the two companies at a technical level, and with Ludwig Oechslin in view of his retirement as Director of the Musée International d’Horlogerie (MIH) in 2014. As part of the agreement, the new Ulysse Nardin calibre UN-118 movement launched at Baselworld 2012 will be made available to Ochs und Junior.

This closes a creative circle: Ludwig Oechslin has designed a number of speciality watches for the prestigious Le Locle-based watchmaking company in the past.

The new showroom
On Lucerne's busy Zürichstrasse, surrounded by excellent restaurants, architecture practices, advertising agencies and furnishing stores, Ochs und Junior has opened a unique venue – a first for the watch industry. This is the pulsing heart of the Ochs und Junior story, where new concepts are developed, launched, retailed and enjoyed.

Visitors will not fail to notice the furnishings, which include a four-metre-long table and a vintage Florence Knoll sofa suite. Fortified by a coffee from the restored 1960 Gaggia espresso maker, they are invited by Managing Director Beat Weinmann to discover and understand Ludwig Oechslin‘s innovative mechanisms and try their hand at assembling a watch using original components.

Simple white display windows thrust the Ochs und Junior products into the limelight. They can be bought on the spot. Alternatively, the prospective purchaser can assemble his or her personalised Ochs und Junior, consisting of a combination of functions, dial colours, hand/index colours, strap colours and case materials; the finished watch is then shipped within 6 to 12 weeks.

The Lucerne showroom is thus a key component of the Ochs und Junior venture. With a concept based on small batch production, it offers innovation, production, communication, distribution and service from a single source.

Transparency and personal contact are cornerstones of the company, both in the showroom and via the internet. Ochs und Junior retails its watches directly to a small but growing niche of individualists; there are no middleman mark-ups. Soon to come on stream is a specially developed webshop.

Opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday 10h00 to 12h00 and 14h00 to 18h00
Saturday 09h00 to 16h00
or by appointment

About the De Bethune DB25 Ref. DB25

De Bethune DB25 Reference DB25

The DB25 represents De Bethune's entry in the 44.5mm manual-wind category, distinguished by its silver dial configuration within the DB25 series. This reference launched in 2006 and continues the brand's approach to contemporary haute horlogerie complications.

The 44.5mm case is crafted from 18k white gold with a fixed bezel and sapphire crystal. Water resistance extends to 30 meters. The manual-winding caliber DB2105 movement provides a substantial 120-hour power reserve. The watch features a leather strap attachment.

This reference appeals to collectors seeking De Bethune's technical approach to timekeeping in a precious metal case. The extended power reserve and manual-wind operation position it for enthusiasts who appreciate hands-on interaction with their timepieces. The 44.5mm sizing places it in contemporary proportions within the independent watchmaking segment.

Specifications

Caliber: DB2105

Case: 18k White Gold

Diameter: 44.5 mm

Dial: Silver

Water Resist.: 30m

Crystal: Sapphire

Key Points from the Discussion

The Ulysse Nardin Classico Luna, presented at Baselworld, appears to utilize a moonphase display mechanism similar to Ochs und Junior's Luna Mense.
There is no official press release for the Classico Luna yet, but it's speculated that its moonphase mechanism is based on a modified version of the Moonstruck's, which also features a separate sun indication.
The collaboration between Ulysse Nardin and Ochs und Junior seems to be a promising and fruitful development for both brands.

The Discussion

ArthurSG

Apr 19, 2012

and they should produce some interesting watches.

Marcus Hanke

Apr 19, 2012

... so the new Ulysse Nardin "Classico Luna" presented at Basel uses the same moonphase display mechanism as the "Luna mense" by Ochs and Junior. Marcus

Ornatus-Mundi

Apr 19, 2012

but UN, do they communicate that? Cheers, Magnus

aldossari_faisal

Apr 19, 2012

Looks like a fruitful collaboration is on the rise in the horizon .... Thanks for posting. Faisal

Marcus Hanke

Apr 20, 2012

There is no official press release on the Classico Luna yet. Upon asking, I was told that the Luna uses the moonphase mechanism of the Moonstruck. However, the Moonstruck uses a separate Sun indication. Only when looking at the "Luna Mese" I realized that, apparently, it works the same way as the Classico Luna. However, there might be no contradiction at all, since it is possible that the new moonphase indication indeed is based on the Moonstruck mechanism, albeit modified. But this is my specul

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Ochs und Junior: New Showroom, Ulysse Nardin Partner

About the De Bethune DB25 Ref. DB25

Specifications

Key Points from the Discussion

Continue the conversation

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