By Carl Scutt
Agenhor is an independent watchmaker based in Geneva specializing in complications and movements for other brands, but this time they have released a multi award-winning movement, and revolutionary new chronograph movement called the AgenGraphe earlier this year.
Far from being put into full production, this movement is to be dedicated solely to Only Watch 2017 in a very special one-off timepiece called Carpe Diem.
Jean-Marc Wiederrecht, founder of Agenhor had wanted to offer his backing to Only Watch, and the biennial auction in support of Duchenne Muscular for some time. Until now Wiederrecht hadn’t considered there was a timepiece that could possibly convey his message of support, until now!
To this end the Carpe Diem with the revolutionary AgenGraphe movement is the first and no doubt the last, Agenhor-branded timepiece to be produced. It’s a collaboration that’s produced a unique piece for Only Watch, built to offer a message of hope to those suffering from Muscular Dystrophy, and what could be more fitting that a one off piece.esigned as a table clock chronograph this piece has been cleverly suspended in the center of a rotating transparent Plexiglas sphere. Viewing the piece is through an integrated magnifying lens in its attractive and unique presentation case.
Designed as a table clock chronograph this piece has been cleverly suspended in the center of a rotating transparent Plexiglas sphere. Viewing the piece is through an integrated magnifying lens in its attractive and unique presentation case.
After nine years of development Agenhor finally presented the AgenGraphe® to the waiting world, the most advanced chronograph movement they have ever built, fitted to this fully functioning desk clock and chronograph.
This piece can be orientated through 360 degrees and instead of hands, this movement offers five rotating disks to display time and elapsed time.
On the dial there are no hands but in their place five coaxial disks that indicate time and elapsed time up to 60 hours. The two outer disks display hours and minutes, while three inner disks respectively display chronograph hours, minutes, and seconds.
Taking advantage of the keen creative and competitive nature of second year watch design students a competition was run to design the case for the new AgenGraphe movement. Working in pairs to come up with the design for the timepiece, and presentation case students Bérénice Noël and Florian Wicki came through with the winning design.
Judging of the submitted designs was by an elite panel consisting of Luc Pettavino founder Only Watch, Jean-Marc Wiederrecht founder Agenhor, Valérie Ursenbacher Chair of Watch Design at HEAD, and Serena Trabalza designer and teacher at HEAD.
The winning team of design students said of their winning entry, that they had imagined a transparent ball magnifying the beauty of this next-generation chronograph movement, which is easy to see in the final design.
In a world where conformity usually equates to acceptance and success, it’s good to know that true creativity is alive and well. It’s a fine indictment of the ethos, passion and design freedom of the all the students making up the design teams, who deserve congratulations across the board.
With an estimate price tag is around CHF 18,000 – 28,000, or €17,000 – 26,000 or $19,000 – 29,000 this could be a real collectors piece that would fit well in any watch enthusiasts collection.
