Bell Hora - Ringing time

MeisterSinger celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2021. To mark the occasion, the German watch brand, a specialist in mono-hand watches, is unveiling Bell Hora, a new model that brings back to life a watchmaking complication that has almost been forgotten: the "Sonnerie au passage". Discreetly announcing the passing of the hours with a sound indication, this timepiece is fully in line with the company's philosophy: to give a different reading of time.


A complication dating back to the 14th century

The sound indication of time is intimately linked to the origins of mechanical watchmaking. In the 14th century, most monumental clocks in European cities had neither dials nor hands, but indicated the passing of the hours by sounding a bell as they passed. A century later, this mechanism will equip the first portable clocks with springs then will appear in the 16th century on the first pocket watches. Very useful at the time when electricity did not exist, it allowed to have an idea of the time at night. More than a sophistication, a real necessity.

Adept at reviving a technical and cultural tradition of ancient watchmaking, MeisterSinger brings back to the stage this watchmaking complication "ringing when passing by", a distinctive feature of Bell Hora.


A sophisticated mechanism

Extremely punctual, this watch shows the passage from one hour to the next by ringing as soon as the mono-hand crosses a thin line on its way around the dial. To do this, MeisterSinger has drawn on its exclusive jumping hour module, proven by its precision using a carefully balanced mechanism. The energy required to activate a sound, precisely at each hour change, is generated by a spiral attached to the minute hand, continuously throughout the 60-minute stroke. The transparent case back reveals the ingenuity of the mechanism striking a sound fork at the exact time.



An acoustic pleasure

Thus, Bell Hora emits a "ding" sound to inform that an hour has passed, leaving its owner free to choose an intuitive perception of time. This ringing function can be stopped thanks to the push-button located at 2 o'clock. Marked in black, it specifies, at a glance, whether the "silent" mode is activated or not.



When developing this complication, the company went to great lengths to ensure a pleasant sound: a matter of professional pride! In the 15th and 16th centuries, the "Meistersingers" were poets and singers who met as a guild. Today, Bell Hora is making this connection audible as a tribute to the German watchmaker's 20-year history.



A signed case

True to the aesthetic signature of MeisterSinger, Bell Hora unveils a 43 mm diameter stainless steel case adorned with a thin bezel. Rounded and segmented into 144 segments of 5 minutes, it reveals a large dial with a geometric organization of information in the form of a spiral. Adorned with clear, white or black typography in contrast to the sunny blue or warm ivory background, the fine numerals and hour markers guarantee optimal visibility. The single hand, which is long, accentuates the dynamism of the whole.

Dressed in a dark brown or cognac crocodile-print calfskin strap, Bell Hora is equipped with a Swiss self-winding mechanical movement (Sellita) with a 38-hour power reserve. Offering both visual and acoustic pleasure, this new timepiece opens a new chapter in the history of MeisterSinger.



Modell

Bell Hora, BHO908 (sunny blue)

Movement

MS Bell, Swiss automatic Sellita SW 220, power reserve

reserve: 38 hours, "sonnerie au passage

Diameter

43 mm

Case

Stainless steel, sapphire crystal, transparent screwed back with 4 screws, water-resistant to 50 meters

Dial

sunray blue or warm ivory

Origin

German watch brand; Swiss Made