14
Karl Geitz
"Flying Tourbillon with Spring Detent Escapement"
A record breaking silver open face flying tourbillon school watch,with spring detent escapement made at the Deutsche Uhrmacherschule
Estimate
CHF80,000–160,000
€86,800–174,000
$100,000–201,000
Live 9 May, 2 PM Switzerland Time
Manufacturer
Karl Geitz
Year
Circa 1935
Movement No
34
Case No
3890
Model Name
"Flying Tourbillon with Spring Detent Escapement"
Material
"Coin silver" .900
Calibre
Manual, jeweled
Dimensions
58mm diameter
Signed
Dial and movement signed
Accessories
Accompanied by fitted box.
Full-Cataloguing
Good To Know
- One-minute flying tourbillon paired with a high-precision spring detent escapement
- The watch won First Prize in the "Special Class" at the Deutsche Seewarte chronometry trials in Hamburg. This was the most prestigious recognition possible
- Made by Karl Geitz - the father of modern German watchmaking
Crafted in 1935 under the legendary Alfred Helwig, the Karl Geitz school watch of the Deutsche Uhrmacherschule (DUS No. 34) stands as a definitive masterpiece of the Glashütte tradition. It is renowned for its rare and challenging technical marriage: a one-minute flying tourbillon paired with a high-precision spring detent escapement. The "flying" construction, which lacks a top bridge to offer an unobstructed view of the lyre-shaped cage, required immense skill to stabilize, especially when combined with a chronometer escapement sensitive to shocks. Featuring a power reserve indicator and a bimetallic compensating balance, the watch represented the absolute limit of mechanical refinement achievable by any watchmaker, let alone a student, of that era.
The historical significance of this timepiece was cemented in 1937 when it was awarded First Prize in the "Special Class" at the Deutsche Seewarte chronometry trials in Hamburg. This was the most prestigious recognition possible, proving that Geitz’s work surpassed even the finest commercially produced chronometers in terms of rate stability and accuracy. Beyond its mechanical perfection, the watch serves as a vital link in horological history, validating Helwig’s theories on the flying tourbillon and establishing Karl Geitz’s reputation as a premier talent long before he became Germany’s most influential watchmaking educator.
Karl Geitz (1913–2008) was a renowned German master watchmaker, celebrated for his exceptional contributions to horological education.After a brief stint in Mainz, he taught at the Glashütte school from 1936 to 1945. In 1951, he founded the specialized watchmaking class in Frankfurt am Main, which became the foundation for the current Hessische Uhrmacherschule (Hessian Watchmaking School), now named the Karl-Geitz-Schule in his honor.
Following his retirement in 1979, he constructed 25 large-scale escapement models to illustrate various horological mechanisms. These models are now on display at the Frankfurt Watch and Jewellery Museum.
- One-minute flying tourbillon paired with a high-precision spring detent escapement
- The watch won First Prize in the "Special Class" at the Deutsche Seewarte chronometry trials in Hamburg. This was the most prestigious recognition possible
- Made by Karl Geitz - the father of modern German watchmaking
Crafted in 1935 under the legendary Alfred Helwig, the Karl Geitz school watch of the Deutsche Uhrmacherschule (DUS No. 34) stands as a definitive masterpiece of the Glashütte tradition. It is renowned for its rare and challenging technical marriage: a one-minute flying tourbillon paired with a high-precision spring detent escapement. The "flying" construction, which lacks a top bridge to offer an unobstructed view of the lyre-shaped cage, required immense skill to stabilize, especially when combined with a chronometer escapement sensitive to shocks. Featuring a power reserve indicator and a bimetallic compensating balance, the watch represented the absolute limit of mechanical refinement achievable by any watchmaker, let alone a student, of that era.
The historical significance of this timepiece was cemented in 1937 when it was awarded First Prize in the "Special Class" at the Deutsche Seewarte chronometry trials in Hamburg. This was the most prestigious recognition possible, proving that Geitz’s work surpassed even the finest commercially produced chronometers in terms of rate stability and accuracy. Beyond its mechanical perfection, the watch serves as a vital link in horological history, validating Helwig’s theories on the flying tourbillon and establishing Karl Geitz’s reputation as a premier talent long before he became Germany’s most influential watchmaking educator.
Karl Geitz (1913–2008) was a renowned German master watchmaker, celebrated for his exceptional contributions to horological education.After a brief stint in Mainz, he taught at the Glashütte school from 1936 to 1945. In 1951, he founded the specialized watchmaking class in Frankfurt am Main, which became the foundation for the current Hessische Uhrmacherschule (Hessian Watchmaking School), now named the Karl-Geitz-Schule in his honor.
Following his retirement in 1979, he constructed 25 large-scale escapement models to illustrate various horological mechanisms. These models are now on display at the Frankfurt Watch and Jewellery Museum.