Independents

Independents in Basel: Andreas Strehler

 

Andreas Strehler’s Papillon is the closest to completely sacrificing timepiece functionality for the sake of mobile art I saw at this fair.  Even after I put my glasses on it still took me a while to read the time.
On the other hand it is possible to use it to read the time, once you know were to look, and it is really beautiful, IMHO.  The pictures just don’t do it justice.

A hint, hours are read at the top and minutes at the bottom of the face.
Note that the going train has no 3rd wheel.  The resulting giant wheels form the main pieces of this dials presentation, the central bridge in the form of a butterfly gives the watch its name.  Below, the hours and minutes turn on sapphire disks above the double barrels.  The parts are all made in Strehlers workshop or to his specifications.  Note those wonderfully formed jewels, made especially for Andreas Strehler.

Andreas Strehler