Andreas Strehler – Faune et Flore Jardin des Papillon - Unique Masterpieces

Andreas Strehler – Faune et Flore Jardin des Papillon Gold or Platinum Hand-Engraved - Unique Masterpieces 2024

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Faune et Flore – Unique Masterpieces of the Art of Engraving 

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Sirnach – Engraving, incising a design on a hard, usually flat surface by cutting grooves into it with a burin has existed before us. Already our ancestors, i.e. the ancestors of homo sapiens have known it. Until today, the art has made great progress but the objects, animals and plants, are still a popular subject.

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Andreas Strehler, continuing his floral motives and his papillon motive, is presenting a collection of beautifully hand-engraved watches: The Faune et Flore (fauna and flora) collection. 

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 Each watch a unique masterpiece.

Two masters

As UhrTeil AG, the manufacturing arm of Andreas Strehler, employs Roman Houdek, a master engraver, Andreas had the idea of a collaboration for his own watches to showcase both the engraving skills of Roman and the watchmaking skills of Andreas in a combined creation.

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Floral motives in an abstract form as well as the butterfly bridges are familiar motives on Andreas Strehler watches. This logically led to the creation of the Faune et Flore collection, representing the fauna and flora in miniature works of art in an Andreas Strehler watch.

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In a watch, and not on a watch, as the not only an engraved dial was to put on a watch but the engraving and the watch and in particular the watch movement were to become a unit, one being an integral part of the other.

Creative collaboration

After Andreas' idea and detailed explanations, Roman begins to make the first sketches traditionally by hand. He uses photos of the animals chosen as the motif for the watch’s central bridge and hence its dial as inspiration and as a template. It is important that the proportions and movement of the animals match the living model.

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Once the basic idea has been finalised, the design is worked out on the computer to ensure that the positions of the animals and plants do not cover up important positions for the function of the watch movement. During this time, the collaboration with Andreas is particularly intensive to ensure that the result fulfils Andreas' requirements.

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Once the design has been finalised, a plate of massive 18k Gold with the correct thickness and size to fit inside an Andreas Strehler watch is machined and used as a basis for the engraving. This already has all the precisely drilled holes required for the later placement of the jewels.

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Our master engraver then transfers the contours of the later motifs to this bridge before scribing them with his ‘Spitzstichel’ (pointed burin)

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These light lines serve as markings for the subsequent actual engraving. Using his ‘Bollstichel’ (hollow burin), ‘Flachstichel’ (flat burin), ‘Spitzstichel’ and other burins and tools in different sizes, he first roughly removes the raw material from the blank before turning his attention to the details of the motif. With his experience and talent, he creates a three-dimensional image of nature, turning metal into a living thing, step by step.

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All engravings on the Faune et Flore watches are done entirely by hand; the computer is initially only used to draft the design and to ensure that the correct position of the jewels and therefore the functioning of the watch movement.

Garden of love and beauty

The first watch of the series is the Jardin des Papillons. Obviously, the butterfly, Andreas Strehler’s heraldic animal, had to be the first to be immortalised on an Andreas Strehler watch.

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For Native Americans, butterflies are a symbol of rebirth and transformation and therefore of hope. In the Chinese culture, the butterflies stand for love, beauty, freedom, and the human soul. In the Jardin des Papillon, the butterfly was set in a garden with other animals and floral ornaments to give it a beautiful background and context.  Looking at the finely sculptured landscape full of small animals evokes a garden in summer, with the scent of flowers and the sound of a mild breeze rustling the leaves.

Water and friendship

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With the Étang des Koï, Andreas Strehler changed the element and a bit the continent but remained true to his ideas of design and beauty.

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In the Japanese language, "koi" is a homophone for 恋, a sign which means "love" and "affection". This is the reason why koi are symbols of love and friendship.

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Ornamental koi are also symbolic of the whole Japanese culture and are still closely associated with Japan’s national identity. Well-known are the koinobori called carp streamers. This tradition began in the Edo period (1603–1867) and is still practiced today, when on 5 May, Children's Day, colourful carp-shaped wind-socks made out of paper or cloth flutter in the wind.

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The Étang des Koï evokes a tranquil pond for the koi to live in peacefully, move slowly and invite contemplation and meditation. 

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Standing in a sculptured Japanese garden, looking at the tranquil pond with the sound of a spring gently burbling in the background was the feeling the master engraver brought to live in this masterpiece.

160 Hours – or more

One whole month, or cautiously calculated at 20 working days with 8 working hours, 160 hours is the time it takes to turn bridges at the hand of a master engraver into a living object. 200 plus hours is probably more like it.

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The work of the engraver takes skill and experience and great concentration. 

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A single wrong movement with his burin can irretrievably destroy the work of weeks.

From Papillon d’or to Faune et Flore

These bridges which are tuned into such filigree masterpieces are made in Sirnach, in our own workshop. 

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Like all other parts of the watch except stones, crystals, hairsprings and straps.

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The Faune et Flore movements are specially made for the collection; the movement being a variation of the Papillon d’Or open movement. As always, and as with all watches bearing the name of Andreas Strehler, each component of the Faune et Flore collection is designed, manufactured, finished and assembled in Andreas Strehler’s workshop in Sirnach.

Born free – wildlife without limits

All hand-engraved watches of the Faune et Flore collection are being built on request. The design and all other details are specified between the client, the engraver and Andreas Strehler.

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Within the limits of the art of engraving and Andreas Strehler’s idea of aesthetics, almost any animal, any plant or any other scenery can be the object of an engraving.

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The Jardin des Papillons and Étang des Koï are examples of what can be done. Our clients will have the opportunity to choose gold, rose gold, white gold or other materials for their unique piece of art.

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For watches of the Faune et Flore collection, prices start at CHF 165’000 for a watch similar in its degree of engraving to the Jardin des Papillons or the Étang des Koï.

PS: Andreas will be in New York with this new timepiece on the 18th and 19th October.

For an more information, please visit the press section on www.astrehler.ch or contact info@astrehler.ch.

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Collection  Faune et Flore

Name: Faune et Flore Jardin des Papillon - Unique Masterpieces

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Movement     
Mechanical manual winding. Massiv 18K gold butterfly bridge
Complication
World smallest differential gear to indicate the power reserve
Power reserve  78 hours, double barrel mainspring
Size     Tonneau shape: 32x30mm, 5.9mm thickness
Frequency     3 Hz / 21’600 A/h
Jewels     27
Movement parts     162
Case     
18K rose gold or platinum
Size     41×47.2mm, 10mm height
Hands   Blue steel
Dial     
In solid gold
Strap     
Black alligator with tang buckle in 18K rose gold or platinum

🔴 Price starting at  CHF 165’000 (excl. VAT and local taxes)💰

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Press release - 2024
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Contact US
Andreas Strehler
Standbachstrasse 26
CH-8370 Sirnach
Switzerland
phone +41 71 966 11 88
fax +41 71 966 11 79
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www.facebook.com - Andreas.strehler.9
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Astrehler.ch

Andreas Strehler – Trans-axial Remontoir Tourbillon

Andreas Strehler – Trans-axial® Remontoir Tourbillon

In his never-ending quest for precision, Andreas Strehler has developed a new movement which combines his Remontoir d'égalité (constant force) with a Tourbillon. And has some additional interesting features.

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Twin power: The epicyclical mainspring limiter

In Andreas Strehler watches, the energy for operating the movement is stored in twin mainspring barrels. The running down of the two mainsprings is limited by an epicyclical gear. Only the optimal part of each mainspring is used where the power supplied is practically constant.

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This is already a very good start. But not the perfect solution yet. Even by using the highest-grade lubricants and the tightest tolerances in manufacturing each component, the flow of energy from the mainsprings will be subject to variations.

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Changes in temperature or in the position of the watch will cause such variations. To filter these variations, Andreas Strehler employs a Remontoir d'égalité or constant force escapement.

Regulated Energy: The Remontoir d'égalité

In Andres Strehler's Remontoir d'égalité, the energy supplied from the twin mainspring barrels through the gear train is accumulated in a spring, acting on a satellite arm held in position by the star wheel (the satellite). One tooth of this star wheel is resting on the palette-stone of the palette arm.

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This palette arm constantly moves ahead. Every second, the palette arm releases the star wheel. The star wheel turns by one tooth and the satellite arm jumps ahead by 6°. The satellite wheel then rests again against the palette-stone and the cycle starts anew.

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When moving ahead by 6°, the satellite arm recharges the spring which drives the escapement. The amount of energy transferred to the escapement thus is always the same, it is constant. The energy is transferred to the escapement through an axis.

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Conquering Gravity: The Tourbillon

The escapement mounted on this axis is a Tourbillon. The Tourbillon is a special escapement. It is also one of the most complicated components known to watchmaking. In a Tourbillon, the whole escapement including the balance rotates typically once a minute.

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The idea behind the Tourbillon is that the balance, despite its name, is never perfectly balanced. This means that it oscillates slightly differently, depending on its position in space.

When the Tourbillon was invented by Abraham Louis Breguet in 1801, men wore pocket watches. A pocket watch is carried vertically, and the balance always oscillates on a horizontal axis. This means that gravity pulls more on any part of the balance which is thicker or heavier. Now, by rotating the whole escapement and hence the balance once a minute, it did not matter if the balance was slightly imperfect: Gravity would still pull heavier on the thicker part of the balance. But, by its rotation, this effect would even itself out. The balance would, for one part of the rotation of the Tourbillon, work uphill, so to speak. But for the other part of the rotation of the Tourbillon, it would work downhill (and for the rest of the time in neutral).

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As wristwatches are worn in many different positions, it was thought for a long time that the Tourbillon was an utterly beautiful but absolutely useless complication. A masterpiece of watchmaking but of no relevance to the precision of the movement. Then, Tourbillon watches started to win chronometer competitions. And the perception of the Tourbillon again changed. It is now universally considered to be utterly beautiful and absolutely useful.

All together now: The Trans-axial® Remontoir Tourbillon

In his quest for perfection, Andreas Strehler has designed, constructed and built a movement where internal influences on the already pretty linear power supply from the epicyclically limited twin mainspring barrels is filtered through a Remontoir d'égalité and transferred to a Tourbillon escapement mounted on the same axis to eliminate the influence of gravity on the escapement.

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Voilà the Trans-axial® Remontoir Tourbillon.

The Trans-axial® Remontoir Tourbillon escapement is hand wound, using Andreas Strehler's own true conical gear wheels (which are the envy of the watch industry).

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To show the power left in the two mainspring barrels, the movement has a power reserve indication using an extremely small differential gear, another speciality of Andreas Strehler.

The Remontoir d'égalité is mounted on three roller bearings and powers a separate jumping seconds indication. The Tourbillon is held in position by two gold chatons.

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Technical Specifications

Movement
Hand-wound skeletonized tourbillon
Calibre Trans-axial Remontoir Tourbillon
Impulse: Double main spring barrel, energy regulated by a remontoir d’égalité
Plates and bridges: Three 18k gold bridges, Central Main Plate and bridges are decorated to the highest standards, edges bevelled and polished by hand, fully decorated movement
Escapement: swiss lever escapement designed by Andreas Strehler
Regulating system: Free-Sprung balance with Breguet overcoil and eight adjustment screws
Frequency: 3 Hz / 21’600 A/h
Number of jewels: 37, 3 gold chatons
Number of individual parts: 250
Size: 32.0 x 30.0 mm
Height: 7.01 mm (without Tourbillon)
Power reserve: 78 h, limited by a differential stop works
Functions: Hour, minute, small jumping second, constant force, Tourbillon, power reserve indication (micro differential gear train)
Winding-mechanism: Hand winding with conical gear wheels
Speciality: Constant force Tourbillon, Remontoir trans-axial underneath the Tourbillon, special roller bearing for the remontoir.
Case
Stainless steel
Dial
Skeleton

• Tourbillon at 9 o'clock.
• Power reserve indication at 10 o'clock.

Silver with three 18k gold bridges and rotating vernier scale
Hands: Hands: Blue steel with SuperLuminova
Strap
Hand-sewn alligator leather strap
Buckle matching the case

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Press release - 2018
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Contact US
Andreas Strehler
Standbachstrasse 26
CH-8370 Sirnach
Switzerland
phone +41 71 966 11 88
fax +41 71 966 11 79
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www.facebook.com - Andreas.strehler.9
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Astrehler.ch

Andres Strehler - Sauterelle Regulated Energy

Andres Strehler - Sauterelle - Regulated Energy NEW

Andreas Strehler is an independent watchmaker based in Sirnach, the German speaking part of Switzerland. Andreas Strehler designs, constructs and manufactures his movements in his own workshop with the help of a small and dedicated workforce. He also develops and constructs many of the tools and machines he uses himself.

 Biography

Born 1971, Andreas Strehler likes to describe himself as „a mere watchmaker“, although he has long since made a name for himself as a „createur“ of extraordinary timepieces. It all began in Frauenfeld in 1987 where he learned the profession of watchmaker. He then worked for Renaud et Papi where he was responsible for prototypes and developed and constructed complicated mechanisms.

1995 Andreas Strehler began working as a self-employed watchmaker restoring antique timepieces and started to develop his own watches. He also constructed movements for H.Moser & Cie, Harry Winston, Maurice Lacroix and Maitres du Temps.
2008 Andreas Strehler presented the Papillon, followed by the Cocon in 2012, examples of his philosophy of watch movements as living organisms. Their form also exemplifies a revival, and a new interpretation, of the traditional art of watchmaking.

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Andreas Strehler presents his latest wristwatch, the Sauterelle. This watch features a device for the constant supply of energy to the balance.

A constant supply of the same amount of energy to the balance is the ideal case, as this is the basis for even running characteristics.
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Andreas Strehler once more has gone his own way to achieve such a constant energy supply. He has done this in order to find the most technically stable solution.
Conventionally, a complication known as Force constante (constante force) acts on the escape-wheel. However, this is the point in the whole movement where the least torque is present.
For this reason, Andreas Strehler's Remontoir d'égalité is attached to the seconds wheel or fourth wheel.

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Every second the visible satellite gear provides exactly the same amount of energy to the seconds wheel and at the same time displays the seconds as dead-beat seconds. The energy is accumulated by a star-shaped satellite through a spring which is re-loaded every second. Then, the satellite wheel is released and transfers its energy to the balance. The satellite wheel then rests again against the palette-stone. This planetary design of the respective wheels is a first in a wristwatch.

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This solution has the advantage that the complete escapement including the escapement wheel oscillates free from any influence between the individual impulses delivered by the Remontoir d'égalité. Hence, the Swiss Anker Escapement performs without influence from the Remontoir d'égalité, with its precision perfected over the last 200 years.

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Fluctuations in the energy supply as well as flaws in the functioning of the gear train (uneven working of the mainspring, the gear train or the motion-work of the hands) are filtered and equalised by the Remontoir d'égalité. In contrast to a Force constante and its fixed division ratio, which demands a frequency of 18.000 A/h, the Remontoir d'égalité can be used with any frequency. The Sauterelle therefore has a frequency of 21.600 A/h which leads to higher precision.

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All watches made by Andreas Strehler show an almost linear force path as the running down of the two mainsprings is limited by a epicyclic gear. Only the optimal part of each mainspring is used where the thrust produced is constant. With the Remontoir d'égalité, Andreas Strehler now concentrates on the elimination of external factors such as temperature. Even minor changes in temperature influences the viscosity of the lubricants used in the mainspring barrels and consequently the even running down of the mainsprings.

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With the Sauterelle, Andreas Stehler for the first time presents a mechanical solution which filters almost all technical and mechanical influences on the escapement.

The constant energy supply to the escapement in the Sauterelle provides a solid basis for complications with variable energy needs such as a chronograph or a minute repeater.

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The name Sauterelle – registered by Andreas Strehler as a trademark since 2008 – was chosen very deliberately, as the jumping of the seconds indication is reminiscend of a grasshopper (Sauterelle in French).

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Press Release

For further inquiries, please contact: press@astrehler.ch

 You  Tube  -  Andres Strehler - Sauterelle

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