Twenty years may seem like a long time, but in the full history of watchmaking, a manufacturer celebrating two decades is still considered relatively young. To seize this festive moment, 2021 was marked as a turning point for the company MeisterSinger. The company, which began producing watches in 2001 with a non-traditional approach to displaying passing hours, presents something unheard of - the pun is quite appropriate: MeisterSinger Bell Hora Anniversary Edition.
From the very beginning, the brand MeisterSinger adhered to a different philosophy in displaying time. To offer a more relaxed perception of time, yet no less accurate, most of the brand's watches have only one hand to indicate time. And yes, although there are watches with multiple hands and even additional complications, the entire portfolio revolves around the single-hand design the brand is famous for.
In April 2021, MeisterSinger surprised us with a new concept. It leads us down a path usually reserved for much more expensive watches: a time complication. The MeisterSinger Bell Hora model, first presented with a sunburst dial - in blue or ivory - is equipped with a sonnerie-au-passage module installed on top of the base Sellita SW 200 movement. This mechanism allows the watch to chime every hour, informing you that another 60 minutes have passed. And for those who occasionally want to enjoy moments of peace and tranquility, the watch features an on-off function that disables the chime.
The distinctive feature of the MeisterSinger Bell Hora Anniversary Edition is the dial. It stands out not only in color but also because the centrally positioned hand has a new shape, and the dial has a unique design. The Bell Hora Anniversary Edition dial is white with predominantly black markings, accented by red and blue.
On the outer edge of the dial, alternating red and blue lines help read the time. Red marks every 15-minute interval, while blue marks the full hour. At each half-hour mark, the red markers placed under the number "30" are slightly thicker. The final changes on the dial include a blue spiral pattern, which in the regular Bell Hora has a fluted design, and the classic font for the brand and model name.
While the regular Bell Hora has a sharp, needle-like hand, the Anniversary Edition is equipped with a hand inspired by antique pocket watches. A long, elongated hand with a sharp arrowhead and two circles in black rotates over the dial. Meanwhile, the 12- and 24-hour scales remain around the dial.
Apart from this updated (or perhaps vintage) style, there are no changes in the MeisterSinger Bell Hora model. As mentioned, the base movement remains the Sellita SW 200, with a unique module installed on top. This ensures high reliability and respectable technical specifications for such watches at a very reasonable price.
The MeisterSinger Bell Hora Anniversary Edition comes on a brown leather strap with contrasting stitching. The watch is presented in a limited edition of 100 pieces, priced at 3,690 euros, which is slightly higher than the non-limited version. The watch will be available for sale in the first half of September.
For more information, visit MeisterSinger.com.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS - MEISTERSINGER BELL HORA ANNIVERSARY EDITION
Case: Diameter 43 mm x height 12.95 mm - stainless steel, polished - sapphire crystal front and back - case back secured with 4 screws - water resistance 50 m
Dial: White dial with black markings, blue and red details - light blue decorative spiral pattern - 12- and 24-hour scale - vintage font for brand and model - elongated single black hand with arrowhead and double circles
Movement: MS Bell, base Sellita SW 200 with hour strike module - automatic winding - 28,800 vph - 38-hour power reserve - 26 jewels - hour indication with "sonnerie au passage" mechanism - on-off function for the hour chime
Strap: Brown leather strap with stainless steel folding clasp
Availability: Limited edition of 100 pieces - available for sale in the first half of September
Price: 3,690 EUR