KMII
[Montblanc Moderator]
50152
If you always wanted a rectangular independent - Schnelle Watches ⌚️🇩🇪
As you well know, I do not only appreciate things perfectly round when it comes to watches - the VC 1972 Prestige de la France being a prime example. At the same time I also like the personalization offered by independents - a Venn diagram of the two currently not offering much overlap.
So I was positively surprised when I discovered someone doing just that within walking distance of my temporary office - Thomas Schnelle.
Entering the watch world through first working as a contractor for Gerd-Rüdiger Lang of Chronoswiss and then for Chronoswiss proper, he seemed to harbor the dream of making his own watch for many years.
Corona then threw a spanner in the works but also provided an added impetus and while the first idea of a round watch gained limited traction, the pivot was to make a rectangular piece primarily geared towards women. Like so often in life the best laid plans lead to something else, and while the rectangular art deco aspects remained, the main customers are - as so often with mechanical watches - men. For a fuller history, here a link to a Worn and Wound article: wornandwound.com
Below some popular options (demonstrators), from the basic…
Then with a different case material and finishing and lumed hands and numerals…
To a dial-less version showing the back side of the movement (below). What is especially visible in the second shot above is the box crystal that adds additional light coming from the side and giving the watch an infinity pool effect when looked at from an angle.
The watches are all powered by reconditioned Longines 9LT hand wound movements - a mid to high grade dress watch caliber produced in the 1940s and 1950s. It might be an idea pioneered by Lang but is certainly a good one. This offers the ability to offer a proven and reliable shaped caliber at a very fair price, something unthinkable otherwise at the minuscule production volumes currently made.
All the movements are being fully reconditioned and different types of finishing are possible. Given that the current annual production is running at around 25 pieces, the movements already sourced should last for many years to come.
At the same time this means that one will need to bring some imagination with to design the watch one wants, as at this rate one will not be able to view all the options live before making the decisions.
Then with a different case material and finishing and lumed hands and numerals…
To a dial-less version showing the back side of the movement (below). What is especially visible in the second shot above is the box crystal that adds additional light coming from the side and giving the watch an infinity pool effect when looked at from an angle.
The other thing of importance is the case size. While far from the conventional proportions of the 21st century, it works rather well on a wide variety of wrists - the 48mm lug to lug (lugless design) will make it look fair sized on larger wrists, while working on my chicken leg wrist of 17cm, too.
The watches are all powered by reconditioned Longines 9LT hand wound movements - a mid to high grade dress watch caliber produced in the 1940s and 1950s. It might be an idea pioneered by Lang but is certainly a good one. This offers the ability to offer a proven and reliable shaped caliber at a very fair price, something unthinkable otherwise at the minuscule production volumes currently made.
All the movements are being fully reconditioned and different types of finishing are possible. Given that the current annual production is running at around 25 pieces, the movements already sourced should last for many years to come.
At the same time this means that one will need to bring some imagination with to design the watch one wants, as at this rate one will not be able to view all the options live before making the decisions.
Now I just need to get Thomas to make the complication I would want work reliably 😁 And bring a bit of patience to get the finished watch 😉🤞🏻And I need to source some 17/14mm straps as I actually have none 😂
The beauty of the independent world is that there is an almost infinite range of options available. Here you do not get an in-house movement (unreasonable at 25 watches a year) or Dufour level finishing but it fully fits the niche of giving one an independent, fully customizable alternative to a Reverso or a Tank at a very reasonable price point.
If you always wanted a rectangular independent - Schnelle Watches ⌚️🇩🇪
As you well know, I do not only appreciate things perfectly round when it comes to watches - the VC 1972 Prestige de la France being a prime example. At the same time I also like the personalization offered by independents - a Venn diagram of the two curr...
Six years sounds like something truly epic 🙌🏻👌🏻
As for watches unworn in years - been there done that 😂🤦🏻♂️
Have you personally impressed the Emperor so much…
That the Micro Artist Studio decided to honor you with a piece unique? 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
🤣😋
No, I tried when I visited them, but no reply means no, so asked Cedric Johner to execute the vision, one can hope he finally completes it.
That sounds incredibly exciting 🙌🏻👌🏻👍🏻
Was considering to check if the GS Cal. 19xx wouldn’t fit into a Schnelle - it’s a very rare shaped 5Hz movement 😁👍🏻
Thanks KMII - that's a nice report on a watch that one will not likely ever see in the wild !
I like the first, "basic" version for its austere, almost unfinished-concrete like aesthetic.
Many thanks for this great post!
These watches have really piqued my interest and I had gathered some photos for a hypothetical future post. So your feedback is very welcome and valuable ! I like the general idea very much but have the impression from photos that 48 mm lug to lug would b...
Size on the wrist…
Is a highly personal perception and needs to look right to you. I find this one fits my wrist better than most contemporary Reversos but it’s always best to first try. Glad if you you found the post helpful 👍🏻🙏🏻
So Thomas harvests 9LT movements from '40s / '50s production . . .
. . . Longines found on eBay or other secondary market sources, then? He's giving new life to old movements that will carry on for another century. Kudos on that account alone. 👏🏼
Awesome!!!
I have been trying to get one for a while but he said he needs time to work through the back log. I love his case shape and the overall idea. Very fun watch!
He does have a backlog indeed 😊👍🏻
So likewise not sure when mine will materialize 😁🤷🏻♂️
I don't know how long the wait is for a watch from Thomas Schnelle...
But been waiting 6 years for Cedric Johner to finish my watch and no news on when he will finish 🙄🤷♂️
The wait is definitely over a year given the orders…
But do not think it would be six 🤷🏻♂️
Great post. And a very cool watch in my opinion.
As you know I’m also somewhere in the line for one of these too. No hurry, and I hope that Thomas can manage the interest he has to the best for him and his business. Seems like there are several of us here that have already registered interest. With that...
Will do my best 😂😂😂
But let’s not forget - a likely WPS edition would probably equal his annual production, which might not allow him to serve any other clients and seriously affect his cash flow 🤷🏻♂️