How a Watchmaker Reinvented a Complex Movement And Made It Affordable

Habring utilized this, as well as an additional cam mechanism to control the split-second function, to create a simple, cheap and relatively easy-to-produce rattrapante movement Habring eventually left IWC and started his own independent watch brand with his wife Maria in 2004, though it wouldn't be until 2012 when they produced a rattrapante under the Habring² brand name after IWC's patent on the innovation expired The Habring² Doppel 20 borrowed the same watchmaking principles and underlying architecture as the IWC form the '90s, though it ditched the automatic winding and features Habring's own styling.

The 3.0 carried over much of the same movement developments from the 2.0, but Habring² distilled the chronograph's stop, start and reset function into one pusher, reducing the overall pushers from three to two According to an interview with Hodinkee, Richard Habring says the new A11R movement borrows much of the basic architecture as the 7750, but adds some modifications, and features parts either manufactured by Habring² or supplied by parts makers in Germany The development of the in-house movement, according to Habring, was a response to a letter from ETA telling him they would no longer supply him with movements or even spare parts.

Mechanically, the Doppel-Felix's existence is a testament to the Habring's skill as independent watchmakers, but the fact remains that the couple also built a watch that's beautiful externally, as well. . Source