enowned independent watchmaker Andreas Strehler has just launched his new brand, simply called “Strehler”. Through his latest endeavor, he will be able to share his passion for high-end watchmaking with a broader audience by offering more widely available creations.

With Sirna, the first creation of the brand, Strehler focuses on the essentials, injecting uncompromising ethos into an elegant three-hander. Indeed, the initial inspiration for the Sirna model was to encapsulate the creator’s philosophy, watchmaking expertise and exquisite craftsmanship into a simple daily watch. The idea was also to create a watch that will stand the test of time and that can be enjoyed by many generations to come.

“My starting point has been to create an elegant daily wearer, a beautiful three-hand watch, asserting a distinctive, timeless yet modern personality. To me, the Sirna represents watchmaking in its purest form. Naturally, behind its apparent simplicity, I wanted the Sirna to be technically very intricate and refined. Most importantly, it is entirely crafted in our own workshop in Sirnach. With its unique and distinctive character, this watch eventually led to the creation of my new brand, Strehler,” explains Andreas Strehler.

The entire watch, from the movement to the case, dial and hands, is produced by a dedicated team in the brand’s own workshop. Based in Sirnach, a small town of the canton of Thurgau in between lake Constance and the alps, it is one of the very few full-fledged watches manufacture in the German-speaking part of Switzerland.

The Sirna is powered by a new automatic movement born from the single-minded pursuit of engineering perfection and the belief that there are no shortcuts. Admirably blending technical and aesthetic refinement, the SA-30 movement (30mm calibre) is entirely developed, manufactured and finished in-house. Its design was guided by the idea to create a superb, robust and reliable engine.

The SA-30 is regulated by a swiss lever escapement special to Strehler and a large free-sprung balance wheel. Its large barrel delivers a particularly constant torque and ensures 60 hours of power reserve. Visible via the exhibition caseback, the impeccable execution of the finishings – chamfered and polished bevels, circular Geneva stripes, graining or circular-grained wheels – all channel the movement’s sophisticated architecture. The bridges and the skeletonised 18k gold rotor create a series of circles that echo the curvature of the case.

With its versatile 40 mm diameter and harmonious proportions, the elegant polished steel case feels quintessentially “Strehler”. Its fluid lines add a modern touch: the elongated lugs beautifully extend the case band and gently bend downward for enhanced ergonomics. With its concave profile, the Sirna is particularly thin (8.5 mm) which offers superb comfort on the wrist, making for a great daily wearer. The classic case, case back and bezel construction is water-resistant to 3 atm.

The compelling dial is crafted from titanium and features a small second’s counter at 6 o’clock, offering a perfectly balanced layout. The dial together with the unique three-dimensional pattern has been created with renowned watch designer Eric Giroud. Like only soft metals like brass are able to be embossed, a titanium dial can only be machined and laser engraved one by one. This hard surface has to be meticulously polished by hand in countless hours.

Achieved by anodization, the intense blue colour of the titanium will not fade overtime. Together with two applied stainless steel chapter rings, it produces a captivating sense of depth. The making of a single dial requires hours of meticulous work. Also manufactured in-house and shaped in characteristic “Strehler” style, the steel hands are delicately hand-polished. The stainless-steel crown bears a blue titanium insert.

The watch is presented on an elegant and supple brown calfskin leather strap with off-white stitching. It is secured to the wrist by a steel pin buckle whose profile echoes that of the case. Manufactured in-house, of course.

Beautifully presented in a beechwood box, the Strehler Sirna is accompanied by a cognac leather travel pouch. Although it is not a limited edition, production of the watch is naturally limited by the artisanal manufacturing methods involved. The production capacity is estimated to be between 30 to 50 watches per year.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

CASE

• Manufactured in-house
• Material: Medical-grade stainless steel
• Diameter: 40 mm (47 mm lug to lug)
• Height: 8.5 mm
• Crystal: Sapphire with anti-reflective coating
• Back: transparent (sapphire) case back secured by 4 screws
• Water-resistance: 3 ATM / 30 m

DIAL & HANDS

• Manufactured in-house
• Dial: Titanium, machined, laser engraved, polished by hand and anodised in blue with proprietary pattern circular-brushed stainless steel chapter ring, designed with Eric Giroud
• Hands: Hand-polished stainless steel

MOVEMENT

• Manufactured in-house
• Calibre SA-30
• Automatic mechanical movement
• Diameter: 30 mm
• Height: 4 mm
• Number of parts: 194
• Number of jewels: 30
• Power reserve: Minimum 60 hours
• Escapement: Strehler Swiss-Lever escapement
• Balance: Free-sprung with 4 regulating screws
• Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
• Functions: Hours, minutes and small seconds
• Rotor: 18k gold – steel ball-bearing manufactured in-house
• Decoration: Circular Geneva stripes, perlage, bevelled and polished edges with inward angles

STRAP

• Manufactured for Strehler
• Material: Brown calf leather with off-white stitching
• Size: 22mm x 18mm

BUCKLE

• Manufactured in-house
• Type: Pin buckle
• Material: Medical-grade stainless steel

LAUNCH PRICE

• 20,000 CHF, excluding VAT and local taxes