NEWS: Habring2 - 10 years and a new in-house movement!

Jul 23, 2014,00:22 AM
 

PRESS RELEASE

Sheet anchor for a family business

The anchor of a mechanical watch serves to transfer the energy from the spring barrel to the balance wheel in the form of pulses whilst permitting the movement to run according to its frequency and thus display the passage of time. Whilst its form is indeed reminiscent of its maritime counterpart, not only is the watch anchor's function much more complex, its production is disparately more demanding than forging a piece of steel.

The watch anchor is an escapement component alongside the anchor wheel and the balance wheel. The escapement measures beats and controls the speed of the going train to match the passage of time; it is thus responsible for the precision of the watch. The production of escapement components is extremely elaborate and expensive; it was also the reserved domain of a monopolist in Switzerland over the past few decades – a remnant of the "watch crisis" at the end of the 1970s and start of the 1980s and the resulting shakeout of an entire industry. 

Fortunately, the industry segment has since experienced a sustainable recovery, and not only in Switzerland: other European countries have also rediscovered their horological roots – be it at the initiative of individuals or through declared political interest, as in the pretty watchmaking town of Glashütte.

The mechanical watch proves impressively through its exemplary durability and extreme sustainability that it is far more than just an attractive fashion accessory or "luxury object"; in fact, it represents the technology of the future despite – or perhaps even because of – its centuries of history. Mechanical watches were the essential standard when cars and colour TVs were traded as "luxury goods". Today's common quartz watches will eventually prove to be as much of a technological dead end as did the steam engine. At its time the measure of all things, but in retrospect outdated.

Maria and Richard Habring – founders and namesakes of the young watch brand Habring² – measure time with their watches and do so with genuine passion. Whilst many watch producers concentrate on fitting ready-made movements in their respective shells, Habring² is going a step further in its meanwhile tenth year of existence. The complete proprietary movement including its key component – namely the escapement – stems from in-house production. This is an absolute first for a manufacturer with just five employees.



For Maria & Richard Habring, manufacturing their own anchor is more than simply mastering a key technology: to them, it is represents the proverbial sheet anchor in a competitive battle fought with unequal resources. 



Romantic enthusiasts versus industrial heavyweights, family business versus large corporations, personal effort, creativity and social commitment versus pure capital growth...

Whilst industrial "manufacturers" in Saxony's Glashütte can fall back on generous government subventions and therefore list investments worth millions in their communications, competitors elsewhere in Europe are quite literally left to their own devices. 

Habring² will also invest – in the future – not in buildings, machines and equipment, but rather in its products and in training tomorrow's experts (Habring² is currently Austria's largest apprenticing company for watchmakers), in wages and salaries, in people who create sustainable products with as much enthusiasm as the protagonists. Products that will bring pleasure to their future owners.

Real manufactures such as Habring² – in contrast to industrial producers – work not only with their own capital but also with their own bare hands, even if it is just to turn a machine crank, a job carried out elsewhere by computers. The anchor and wheels, the escapement and many other components are not only made by hand at Habring² but also hand-adjusted. The human being is at the heart of the process, from the start of production to its culmination, when the proud owner straps "his" watch around his wrist. 



In future, every chronometer manufactured by Habring² (currently around 150 per year) will feature one of these anchors to ensure time is measured accurately as quickly or as slowly as it passes. The new movement – known as the A11 – that serves as a framework for the anchor will be presented in a completely new guise on 16 September 2014 to coincide with the 10th anniversary of Habring². 

PRESS RELEASE

P.S. I will exchange the first two images with those carrying English descriptors later!
This message has been edited by Ornatus-Mundi on 2014-07-23 00:23:45


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Congratulations to Maria and Richard!...

 
 By: DonCorson : July 23rd, 2014-10:54
This is a big any very symbolic step forward. Those who make their own escapement are few and far between. Best wishes for the next 10 years... looking forward to many new surprises. Don

Well done, Maria and Richard!

 
 By: monochrome : July 23rd, 2014-11:10
Impressive!! I'm looking forward to learning more details about the A11 movement.

Very, very impressive.

 
 By: Darren : July 23rd, 2014-15:08
This is very exciting news, and looking forward to seeing this wonderful movement make its way into various Habring timepieces. Darren

Very impressive and great news!

 
 By: jrwong23 (aka watchthebin) : July 23rd, 2014-19:14
Congrats to Richard and Maria! I met them once in Singapore and really admire their mission for Habring2. Thanks for Magnus for sharing this great news here cheers robin

Can't wait to see it in person!

 
 By: KIH : July 26th, 2014-20:21
Wonderful news! Ken

Dear All, Maria & Richard are well aware of the positive responses...

 
 By: Ornatus-Mundi : July 27th, 2014-07:35
and rest assured - you will see much more & life just in real time as news unfold;-) Best, Magnus

Nice to see such a small manufacture come forward with such developments

 
 By: andrewluff : July 29th, 2014-06:37
Exactly why I am a huge fan of independents and the work they put in to make new movements and technology. Can't wait to see the timepiece it will fit in. Cheers Andrew

Great news

 
 By: takashi78 : July 31st, 2014-20:21
Happy to see the brand progressing nicely. Cant wait to see the finished product on a watch.