Uhrwerke – Eine Leidenschaft
Sweden is not one of the countries that springs to mind when you think of manufactures of pocket watches and movements. Until recently, I had never heard of it either. Here we take a look at a chapter in watch history that is as exciting as it is exotic.
The three-circle stopwatches produced by Junghans since the 1950s in the format of a pocket watch are well-known design classics. However, Junghans also produced large laboratory stopwatches with a three-circle display.
Watches in which the oscillating balance is visible on the dial are not a modern phenomenon. This already existed in pocket watches more than 120 years ago. As an example, I am presenting a pocket watch from the Honestus brand here, whose history is quite interesting.
To remove a movement from the case, the crown with the winding stem often has to be removed after opening the case. In most cases this is quite simple, but there are also a few more complicated ways.
The caliber UMF 24 from the VEB Uhrenkombinat Ruhla (UMF = Uhren- und Maschinenfabrik = watch and machinery factory) is probably the best-known mechanical movement built in the former GDR. Around 130 million of these simple and inexpensive pin lever movements are said to have been built between 1963 and 1990, many of them for export.
Wall clocks are not normally my thing. But the ones shown here are so small and cute that it’s worth taking a closer look at them. These are miniature clocks from the manufacturer Wintermantel in Triberg in the Black Forest, Germany.
