Jean Marc Wiederrecht - Perhaps the best master watchmaker you have never heard of.

[IanS]

Out of the thousands of watches entered in the Grand Prix d' Horlogerie de Genève each year, just 10 are selected in each category.
There are a lot of excellent brands and watches so to have a watch chosen as one of the 10 is a very high honour in itself.

Jean Marc Wiederrecht has developed the complications for five watches presented in five different categories in this year's Grand Prix!
That's an incredible achievement from a great watchmaker who you have probably not heard of (until now).


Jean Marc Wiederrecht and his wife Catherine at the opening of this year's Grand Prix d' Horlogerie presentation.

While Jean Marc Wiederrecht and his Geneva based company, Agenhor, are virtually unknown to the wider world,
they are very well known to watch brands for their ability to design and make complications and complication modules.
And while jumping hour and retrograde indications are a speciality,
Wiederrecht and Agenhor have been responsible for many of the most innovative watches we have seen over the last decade.

20 years ago Wiederrecht teamed up with (the then unknown watchmaker) Roger Dubuis, in a company called “Dubuis & Wiederrecht”.
Together they created the world's first double retrograde perpetual calendar which, back in 1989, helped to launch Harry Winston Timepieces.
The two men split up, Dubuis to form his own brand with Carlos Dias (with whom he has since split) and Wiederrecht created Agenhor.



Wiederrecht has also developed and patented an innovative asymmetrical gear tooth design (pictured above),
which enables the play-free meshing of gears without risk of binding.
These gears are found throughout Agenhor's complications and are one of the reasons for the company's
high reputation and success as they ensure precise vibration free indications which are resistant to shocks.


Arnold & Son True North - Category: Best Constructor


Harry Winston Excenter Perpetual Calendar - Category: Men's Watch


Harry Winston Ocean Lady Biretro - Category: Lady's Watch

As well as developing the majority (if not all) of the retrograde complications for Harry Winston
(one of the major reasons that HW's retrogrades watches are so good),
Wiederrecht has worked 'invisibly' for many of the most prestigious brands in Switzerland.

Wiederrecht has no fewer than five watches he has helped develop display at this years Grand Prix d' Horlogerie de Genève:
Harry Winston Excenter Perpetual Calendar (Men's Watch), Harry Winston Ocean Lady Biretro (Lady's Watch),
Van Cleef & Arples Fairy (Complicated Watch), Arnold & Sons True North (Best Constructor) and Guy Ellia Jumbo Chrono (Sport Watch).


Guy Ellia Jumbo Chrono - Category: Sport Watch


Van Cleef & Arples Fairy - Category: Complicated Watch

Have a look at a few more of the complications Agenhor has developed by clicking here

I predict that we will be hearing a lot more of Jean Marc Wiederrecht and Agenhor in the very near future.

[alex]

Thanks Ian, its true that Jean-Marc is one of those masterminds who never got the spotlight but as you say...this will change soon

[Kris]

This is amazing stuffs….Please check the link to the pages posted by Ian

It seems he designed complications for most of the top & mid tier brands.

You will see many familiar faces (movement) per the link

Just amazing!

Kris

[Jack Freedman]

This fellow is incredible. I'd love to work with him, next to him, or under his direction.

Jack Freedman

[IanS]

And in more ways than you may be thinking Alex

Agenhor is on a roll. Well if the truth be told, Wiederrecht has been on a roll for many years, but I have only recently woken up to the fact!

[Jack Forster]

d'Horlogerie for "Best Kept Secret" Agenhor should be a front runner.

That's an amazing article Ian, not only for the content but also for what it reveals about the surprising places where much of the actual watchmaking expertise we venerate is actually vested.

Those tooth profiles are remarkable; I assume the shape of the cutout has functional considerations as well? I'd love to hear more about that especially- it's the sort of thing, like real improvements or innovations to escapements or lubrication, that are meaty, interesting innovations in watchmaking.

Jack

[urban_11]

a men behind all those profilic complication watches certainly deserves mentioning.

[jimsbk]

Thanks Ian for the article. Now I know who is behind some of the movements in my watches. Much appreciated and wished him even greater success in the years ahead. Cheers, Jim

[IanS]

and I will probably write one.

Cutting a symmetrical slot in the tooth - to allow play-free tolerances without binding - has been tried on many occasions. The problem up until this design is that either the flexing spot is too thick, causing it to weaken and break with use, or it's too thin, so you have too much flex (which is the same as play)

Have a close look at Wiederrecht's design:
1. The leading face is very strong so there is no flex/play
2. The trailing side can only flex a small amount before closing the gap. This ensures that there is no problem turning the gears in reverse and applying pressure.
3. The flex portion at the bottom of the training edge is thin and long (very flexible) so does not weaken with use.

[IanS]

their movements have 'Agenhor Inside' Jim.

Not only does Wiederrecht have an unsurpassed reputation for innovation and quality, his patented gear profiles enable him to make mechanisms which work better and more reliably than the competition.

[Edgar]

Wow, what a beautiful watch. But, please explain to me how the date works. When I look at the scale it seems that the 15 is in the good position, but there is no mark (besides an 'extra' screw) that it is the 15th.

Originally Posted by IanS

Guy Ellia Jumbo Chrono - Category: Sport Watch

[Jack Forster]

. . .really interesting look.

Jack

[IanS]

As you can see the function is simple but did not show clearly on my previous photo.

The numbers on the exterior date ring blend into the background around the dial,
but are highlighted when they contrast against the white section at 2 o'clock.

[Curtis]

Hi Ian,

Thanks for putting a spotlight on this interesting and very clever watchmaker. I look forward to learning more about him and his work.

Cheers,

Curtis