Independents

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Svend ANDERSEN was born in Denmark in 1942. He absolved normal and practical school and a four years' apprenticeship as watchmaker. With his diploma from the Danish Watchmaker School integrated in the Royal Technological Institute of Copenhagen, he went to Switzerland in 1963 in order to see how the world's best watches were made.

He first worked at Gübelin Lucerne in the after-sales service and in 1965 he joined Gübelin Geneva. He was also responsible for the shop service because of his excellent knowledge of languages.

In 1969 he made, as a hobby, his first Bottle Clock which was displayed at the "Montres et Bijoux" Show. This unique performance had brought him the renowned "Watchmaker of the impossible" as it was mentioned in the international press. Indeed, nobody had ever realized such a clock.

Patek Philippe got interested in ANDERSEN's creations and, in 1969, Svend ANDERSEN joined their ”Atelier des grandes complications”.

Svend ANDERSEN launched his own workshop in the late 70’s after having spent 9 years at Patek Philippe. He started his career as independent watchmaker by first manufacturing cases for Italian collectors. Satisfied with the high quality of the work, the watch collectors started to ask for their own bespoke timepieces (called “pièce unique”). Since then ANDERSEN Genève has been developing complicated watches like the annual calendar, perpetuel calendar, and jumping hour calendar.

1. First of all, the new Perpetual Secular Calendar 20th Anniversary with Days Indication.

As you see, the days are expressed in the form of the Sun and the planets/ Satellite - Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn.  What a wonderful way to check the day....  And special Guiilloche dial.  There is also "Blue Gold" dial version, on bespoke order.

Only 20 pieces will be made in Platinum. 

 

The catalog version.

 

Current model dial is cool, too.  This one, platinum, white dial, Breguet numerals, blue hands - all exciting element.

The date is unique on 3h.  Each 12 hours, left hand side and right hand side shows the date back to back - can show whether it is AM or PM.

 

 

Now, "Secular" part.....  This can show until the year 2400 with no adjustment.  50 years adjustment, 100 year adjustment are done automatically.  Secular Calendar" - Only those secular years which are divisible by 400 are considered to be leap years (every other every 4 years are leap years, of course).  Therefore, the secular years 1700, 1800, 1900, 2100, 2300 are NOT leap years and have only 28 days in February.  
I would recommend to out this on the winder all the time.  Adjusting seems a bit to take a while  The 50 year indication is on the outer rim, 48 month indicator is on the left.  and 100 year indicator is on the right side.  

 

The weight and size are well balanced.

 

2. Worldtime Watches (Heures du Monde), 5th generation.

(according to the website)

In 1990, Andersen Geneve introduced its 1st Worldtime watch.  The 5th edition of Worldtime watch - the "Tempus Terrae" - commemorates the first Worldtime wristwatch with two crowns developed by Louis cottier in the 50s, one of the most beautiful Worldtime watch.  The Tempus Terrae 25th Anniversary is offered in LE of 25 pieces in YG, RG, and WG.  You can have a special engrave on the back cover.

Beautiful "Blue Gold" dial.

And "Blue Gold" rotor - Blue Gold is an alloy of gold and steel and then heated until the color turns blue, just like the heated blued hands.....  The other ingredients, mix ratio are secret.

3. Grand Jour & Nuit - 2nd edition

(according to the website)

The 1st edition was elaborated as a "Piece Unique".  Afterwards, in 1998, it was discovered by managers of Cartier and then Andersen Genee manufactured a special edition of 125 watches for Cartier Pasha Collection.  Both 1st and 2nd edition are powered by a base movement Frederic Piguet 15.  The 2nd edition is hand wounded and ultra-flat and jumping hour mechanism.  The double hour hand, associated with the small minute hand, offers an aesthetic and legible display of Day and Night on the dials of Blud Gold or Jade, Aventurine, White Mrble, and Grossularite.  LE of 50 (30 in RG, 20 in WG).

Beautifully finished Frederic Piguet movement.

Maybe too big you think?  Not really.....

 

Thanks, Pierre-Alexandre for inviting us for the show.  And thank you Stella Polare for being such a good host for this type of events.

Will post separately about the newly opened place in Tokyo dedicated to the independent watch brands.

Best,

Ken

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