In Tune with the Times

MeisterSinger celebrated its 20^th anniversary this spring with the unexpected debut of a new complication: the hour strike, which Francophone watchmakers refer to as a sonnerie au passage. Exactly on the hour, this complication sounds a friendly chime that alerts the wearers to the passage of time without requiring them to glance at the dial. If desired, the audible signal can be switched off. A small bell-shaped symbol on the dial shows whether the audible mode is currently switched on or off. This Münster-based brand now presents a special limited edition of 100 timepieces. The “Edition Bell Hora” alludes to the style of antique pocket watches and is unmistakably a MeisterSinger. Based on a historical model, 24 numbers – one for each hour of the day – follow the course of a spiral. This not only visually translates the Bell Hora’s audible motif, but also creates a fascinating visual effect in which the eye is drawn from the center outwards or from the periphery toward the center, depending on one’s perspective. The time is displayed by a slender and extra-long hand with a fine arrowhead and three circular elements. The “Edition Bell Hora” ticks to the rhythm of automatic Caliber MS Bell, which is based on Sellita Caliber SW200.