German watches
For its first appearance at this year’s Baselworld 2012 trade show, the young German watchmaker has presented a number of new timekeepers that belong to their elegant Intemporal collection. Each model has its own good points, but the Lehmann-Schramberg Intemporal Zeigerdatum (Pointer Date) wrist watch seems to offer the most balanced (i.e. it is not over-expensive and is not over-sophisticated) combination of features and a pretty remarkable design.
Of course, the first thing that gets the most attention is their take on a good old simple calendar display. Instead of the usual date aperture or a hand pointer, the Germans have offered a more impressive solution with a red open-worked rectangular traveling around the circular cutout in the dial.
The visual effect is further enhanced thanks to the elongated hour markers. Crafted either from steel or gold, the baton-shaped indices are so long that the date aperture can’t help but to mercilessly cut through them splitting them in 1:2 proportion.
As you can see on the pictures, the hour markers are painted with white luminous substance that, together with lume-covered hour and minute hands (that, too, seem to be slightly longer than usual) make it easy to read the watch in darkness.
Not sure about you guys, but to me this, as well as the rather unusual decorative pattern on the dial, strongly reminds those vintage, tube-powered Grundig radios from 1960s.
Another interesting thing about this timekeeper is an unorthodox shape of its case. Featuring a recessed setting crown and a pair of very unusual lugs, the body is around 42 millimeters in diameter and is just 13 millimeters in height, which makes it an extremely comfortable everyday watch with a sporty character.
According to the brand’s press release, the watches are powered by their own caliber LS0004 automatic chronometer movement. Based on the well-known ETA 2892-A2 ebauche with key parts replaced with in-house components in order to make the mechanism even more reliable and accurate (although only time will tell how good the “in-house” replacements parts are in the long run,) as well with the standard rotor replaced with a winding system design by an independent Swiss watchmaker Mr. Vianney Halter.
Prices are still to be announced, but it is reported that the watch will start at some €9000 for a version in stainless steel case. A variation in rose gold body of the same size will probably be twice as expensive.
See also: Glashutte Original Senator Observer in Stainless Steel (ref. 100-14-05-02-04)
Photos: Lehmann-Schramberg
Lehmann-Schramberg Intemporal Zeigerdatum (Pointer Date) Automatic watch specification
Price: TBD (from €9000)
Movement: Automatic, Caliber LS0004, base ETA 2892-A2, chronometer, modified in-house, winding system by Vianney Halter, Made in Germany
Number of jewels: 28
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Power reserve: 42 hours
Movement decoration: No data
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Case material: Stainless steel / Rose gold
Bezel material: Matches case
Crown material: Matches case
Case shape: Round
Bezel shape: Round
Case size: 42.00 mm
Case height: 13.00 mm
Lug width: N/A
Dial: Silver / Blue / Grey
Numerals: Arabic (date aperture)
Hour markers: Stainless steel / Rose gold (with luminous dots)
Hands: Steel / Rose gold
Water resistance: 30 meters
Strap: Black or blue leather strap
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Case back: Sapphire