Martin Braun -  New Models for 2002

by Michael Disher

May, 2002

Click factory photos for larger versions

 

 

Martin Braun

 

I met Martin Braun for the first time at Basel 2001, and I was instantly impressed. Martin’s Eos with sunrise-sunset complication is a great looking watch that generated lots of buzz at the Fair, and it was clear to me this was a man with a future. I wrote about that visit in an article titled The Sun Rises on Martin Braun.  

Fast forward one year - Basel 2002, and of course I had to look in on Martin. What a difference a year makes. In ’01, Martin had no USA representation, no CD with digital images, and the Eos was still on the drawing board. Now, deliveries of the Eos have commenced, ads for Martin’s watches appear in major watch magazines, I was able to bring home a CD (and take a few images of my own), and best of all, Martin is introducing four new models. When I sat down in Martin’s booth, he told me with pride “My collection is complete.” Let's take a look at what's new for 2002.

 

Luminator

First up is the Luminator, pictured on the right.  While Martin’s other designs tend toward the classic, the Luminator retains the Martin Braun look,  but is slightly bolder -  Martin feels it is more casual, but still a watch that will work well with business attire.  The design of this watch started with the dial, which Martin notes is on three levels:  the center has a sunken appearance. The outer edge of the dial is raised, and on top of that are applied hour markers and numbers. The markers are filled with Luminova. The hands are highly polished and also filled with Luminova. The watch also features an arrow style second hand.

The case measures 39 mm in diameter without the crown. The movement is an ETA 2824, known for its ruggedness. The movement sports Geneva stripes and blued screws, and Martin’s name and logo are engraved on the rotor. Available with black dial in stainless steel on strap, as shown.  

The USA retail price will be $1575, and this watch will be available in June. 

 

La Sonnerie 

The La Sonnerie, pictured below, is Martin’s new alarm watch, and it is a stunner. This is a Limited Edition, and only 100 pieces will be produced. The case measures 42 mm in diameter, and the dial is delicately guilloched with a wave design. 

The movement is based on an A. Schild caliber 1478, a manual winder that has not been produced since the 1970s. Martin was not happy with the alarm sound the original movement produced, so he devised a sound-spring from solid bronze for the alarm hammer. This improves the alarm’s tone. 

Martin also modifies the movement’s finish. Originally nickel plated, Martin will finish 50 movements with Geneva stripes and 50 with perlage. All movements will have a screwed balance, and Incabloc shock protection. The hands are of the highest quality, with beautiful bluing, and the alarm hand has a red tip, assuring easy legibility. The La Sonnerie will be produced in steel and offered on a Louisiana crocodile strap with a silver dial. The USA retail price will be $5000, and this watch will be available in mid June, 2002.     

 

 

 Boreas

Martin’s most important new watch at Basel this year is an enhanced version of the Eos. The Eos name comes from the Greek goddess of the dawn - fitting for a sunrise-sunset watch. In Greek mythology, Eos had a son named Boreas, and Martin has chosen this name for his new Eos offspring.  

Shown below, the Boreas adds an Equation of Time complication to the Eos sunrise-sunset complication. This complication was designed in-house. The EOT display is elegantly incorporated, with a small center-mounted subsidiary hand moving across a scale just below the date. The EOT scale’s curve harmonizes well with those for the sunrise and sunset, and the EOT’s blued hand matches the other perfectly. The EOT complication balances the sunrise-sunset mechanicals located on the lower half of the dial. On the whole, I feel the new complication improves the Eos’ overall visual appeal. 

The Boreas is available in 39 or 42 mm diameters, with black or silver dial. On the black dial model, the EOT and sunrise-sunset scales are anthracite in color. The Boreas will be available in stainless steel or rose gold. USA prices will be $10,000 in steel for either case size, $16,000 for a 39 mm rose gold model, and $17,000 for a 42 mm rose gold model. Deliveries should begin in January, 2003. 

 

 

Square Eos

While in Martin's booth, I spied a square watch of substantial proportions. Martin informed me that it was an early prototype for a new model to be released later this year, perhaps around September – a square Eos. Early information indicates it will be available in steel or rose gold, with prices in the neighborhood of $8000 for the steel version and $15,000 for the gold. I do not have pictures, but if the finished product looks like the prototype, it will be a striking watch. 

For more information about Martin Braun and his unique timepieces, visit his website at www.martin-braun.com.

 

Images of the Boreas and La Sonnerie against wood backgrounds by Michael Disher. All other images  © Martin Braun, used with permission. 

© 2002 TimeZone.com, All rights reserved