Exploring the Beautiful Carl F. Bucherer “Heritage” Collection

With the renewed taste for vintage design, brands continue to dig into their archives to find inspiration. The Carl F. Bucherer Heritage collection was launched in 2018 as the Lucerne-based watchmaker celebrated its 130^th anniversary. The first of the “Heritage” models was the Tourbillon Heritage Double Peripheral Limited edition. In 2019, the second tribute to its rich tradition was a revived 1950s bi-compax chronograph enhanced with annual calendar function. Today, we travel to the beautiful city of Lucerne, in the heart of Switzerland, to discover the Carl F. Bucherer Heritage Collection with Samir Merdanovic, Head of Manufacture Movement and Customer Service at Carl F. Bucherer, in the video at the top of this article.

Carl F. Bucherer Heritage Tourbillon Double Peripheral

Carl F. Bucherer is neither the first creator nor the only brand to use peripheral winding movements. But, objectively, the brand has made the peripheral technology a trademark technical solution. It was the first to bring an efficient solution to the peripheral winding concept and to bring it into serial production. Back in 2009, Carl F. Bucherer presented the A-1000 calibre with a peripheral winding system. Instead of a traditional centrally mounted rotor, it featured an annular mass rotating on the periphery of the movement. This smart and elegant solution allows for winding efficiency whilst simultaneously providing an unimpeded view of the movement, as well as reducing the overall thickness.

With the Tourbillon Double Peripheral, Carl F. Bucherer pushed the concept even further. Besides the peripheral rotor, the watch is regulated by a peripheral tourbillon. Rotating between three miniature ball bearings, the tourbillon seems to be floating over the movement. Operating at 3Hz, the regulator incorporates silicon escape wheel and pallets. The stops-seconds allows you to adjust the watch with precision. The back of this elegant timepiece features a hand-engraved plate reproducing the iconic Lucerne Chapel bridge. The swan swimming in the waters is engraved at a different place for each one of the watches, making each of them truly unique.

Carl F. Bucherer Heritage BiCompax Annual

A rare combination of complications, the Carl F. Bucherer Heritage BiCompax Annual was inspired by one of the brand’s 1950s chronographs, a stylish 34mm watch with a champagne-coloured dial. Presented in a choice of two-tone steel and rose gold or steel with a panda-style dial, the aesthetics of the case are similar to the 1956 model but the size has been increased to a modern 41mm.

The two-register dial is framed by a tachymeter. It is paired with crisp syringe-style hour and minute hands and protected under a box sapphire crystal. The annual calendar has been smartly incorporated: a large date allows for perfect legibility while a discreet aperture between 4 and 5 o’clock displays the month. The calendar mechanism automatically accounts for months with 30 and 31 days and only needs to be adjusted once a year at most.

More details at www.carl-f-bucherer.com.