One-hand brand MeisterSinger has just announced the release of a new iteration of the Bell Hora chiming watch, this time with a black and gold dial.
The Release
The Bell Hora Black/Gold is identical to the other models released in 2021, except for the new black dial with gold markings, including a filled gold bell icon at 6 o’clock. The case features brushed and polished finishing and measures 43mm wide and 13mm thick, with a slab-sided case and long lugs. A large push-pull crown at 3 o’clock is accompanied by an on/off pusher at 2 o’clock; the watch sounds a single chime at the top of the hour the “sonnerie au passage” is activated. The dial is embossed with a spiral, along which are printed 24 hours in gold. The single white hand revolves every hour. The watch has 50m of water resistance. The Bell Hora is powered by a Sellita SW200 movement modified to accommodate the hourly chime, which is located at 12 o’clock right under the dial. The chime charges every 60 minutes and discharges at the top of each hour.
Context
MeisterSinger is the only brand making a real go of single-handed watches, but it doesn’t seem content to let that be a gimmick. The brand has introduced a handful of complications in recent years, including a watch that displays the current zodiac sign. The original Bell Hora was released in 2021 and this addition adds a bit more expands the line and suggests that they’ve had success with the original blue and beige models. That’s to say nothing of the
Our Thoughts
MeisterSinger’s commitment to single-handed watches is to be admired, even if it’s not for everyone—and it’s not. It requires a more relaxed relationship with time in which precision is not a priority. On top of that, this is a rather interesting complication: short of a true sonnerie which chimes the time on command, it offers what one could fairly call a budget option for those enamored of minute repeaters. There’s something to be said for a company integrating unique modifications to widely available movements to create interesting complications that you just can’t find elsewhere. We’re here for it.
Availability
The MeisterSinger Bell Hora Black/Gold is priced at $4,195. Though availability is not clear at this time, you can find out more about the new MeisterSinger Bell Hora Black/Gold on the company’s site.