Pöhlmann-Bresan x Benzinger

Lukas Pöhlmann and Josef Bresan-Rehor are German watchmakers based in Dresden who established their eponymous company in 2021 after learning their craft from master watchmaker Marco Lang, for whom they worked for 10 years while he was overseeing Lang & Heyne. Since then, the two of them have been developing and manufacturing watches to the highest quality standards in their atelier under the “Pöhlmann-Bresan” brand name.

Jochen Benzinger is one of the most renowned watchmakers who has perfected the craft of guilloché engraving. His unique pieces are created on machines that are over 100 years old, which he operates entirely by hand. Hours upon hours pass until his works achieve the required perfection and truly become works of art.

Unique piece

This unique piece, commissioned and codesigned by a US-based collector, is an extension of Pöhlmann-Bresan “Prestige” line of hand-made high-horology watches and involved even more hours of effort to create. For example, a new dial was created that elegantly combines a wide variety of materials and techniques. This dial as well as the bezel were developed in close collaboration with master guillocheur Jochen Benzinger.

The complex sector dial is made from fine silver. The guillochéd inner sector is rose engine-turned by Benzinger with a barleycorn design and lacquered in a rich cobalt blue. The overlayed outer sector ring is fabricated from freshwater mother of pearl. The elegant applied Breguet-style Arabic steel numerals have been cut large, finely polished to enhance visibility and rhodium plated. The outer seconds track is similarly lacquered in cobalt blue and the seconds markers are pad printed in white (as are the Pöhlmann-Bresan and Benzinger name plates) to enhance visibility.

The 18K white gold bezel is also engine turned by Benzinger with a complementary barleycorn design.

The steel hour, minute, and seconds hands are fabricated in house. The hour and minute hands feature a rare scalloped pear-shaped design that was inspired by a rare pocket watch made in the mid-19 century. The central seconds hand is shaped as a baton with a teardrop-shaped counterweight.

Movement

The 2.5 Hz JU26-01 movement, developed inhouse in 2022, forms the basis for the Dresden watchmaker's first model series. The arrangement of the central seconds wheel above the barrel bridge makes the movement more compact and threedimensional. This three-dimensionality is enhanced by the fact that the cocks have been raised and opened up. This creates a unique architecture, a great depth and, at the same time, a certain lightness. This open design allows the mechanics to be seen from almost all sides.

Unlike many other movements, the second stop mechanism is not hidden here, but deliberately arranged to be visible so that it can be observed at work.

For high accuracy, a Gyromax-inspired balance with six eccentric 14-karat gold weights was developed. This is kept in motion by a balance spring with a Breguet overcurl.

• The screws, mainspring click, regulating arms, and escape-wheel, including the eccentric weights, are all black-polished.

• The wheels are all hand finished with a particularly large chamfer and circular grinding.

• The ratchet wheel is finished with a double snail pattern and a polished chamfer.

• The jewel sinks are finely beveled and hand polished.

• The bridges, cocks, and plates are all frosted, and every structural surface including eight interior angles is hand finished with highly polished, broad anglage.

Technical specifications

Pöhlmann-Bresan x Benzinger

Unique piece 1/1

• Material: Stainless steel body, case, lugs, and crown
• Diameter: 40.0 mm
• Thickness: 12.2 mm
• Lug-to-lug: 48.8 mm
• Hand guillochéd 18K white gold bezel
• Push-pull ribbed crown with engraved logo
• Sapphire crystal exhibition caseback with interior surface anti-reflective coating
• Water-resistant to 5 bar – 50 m – 165 ft

Dial and hands

• Hand guillochéd and lacquered fine silver dial with freshwater Mother of Pearl outer sector overlay
• Breguet-styled Arabic steel numerals, cut large, polished and rhodium plated
• Hand-made, polished steel hands
• Sapphire crystal with interior surface anti-reflective coating

Movement

• Ref. JU26-01
• Manual winding movement
• Dimensions: 26.7 mm diameter x 7.8 mm height
• Escapement: breguet spring, gyromax balance wheel, variable inertia with six
• 14K yellow gold eccentric weights, adjusted in six positions
• Balance frequency: 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hz)
• Shock protection system: Incabloc
• Power reserve: 39 hours
• Number of jewels: 17
• Component materials: steel, brass, beryllium copper, 14K gold
• Treatments: rhodium plating, gold plating

Finishing

• Haute horlogerie, including hand chamfering and polishing of all wheels, bridges and cocks including eight interior angles; beveling of jewel sinks; black polishing of screws, mainspring click, regulating arms, escape-wheel and eccentric weights; double snail finishing of ratchet wheel; frosting of plates and cocks

Functions/Indications

• Hours, minutes, and central hacking seconds

Strap and buckle

• Lug width: 20 mm

MSRP: TBC

For more information, please visit poehlmann-bresan.de