Andersen Genève Tempus Terrae 25th Anniversary Limited Edition
Andersen Genève has unveiled the Tempus Terrae, the 5th limited edition world time watch created by the independent Swiss watch maker. It celebrates 25 years (1990-2015) of World Time Watches with indication of different time zones by Andersen Genève.
In 1884 Sandford Flemming invented the 24 time zones that are used to tell time on earth. In 1930 Mr. Louis Cottier, a watchmaker from Carouge in Geneva, developed a complication for pocket watches to display multiple time zones. This complication was introduced on a wrist watch by Mr. Cottier in 1950.
Mr. Andersen has been servicing watches with this complication while working at Patek Philippe in the “atelier des grandes complications” in the 70’s (he spent 9 years at Patek Philippe).
In 1990 Andersen Genève presented its 1st Edition of World Time watch – the “Communication” – commemorating the 1st World Time wrist watch produced by Mr. Cottier. The module developed and assembled by Andersen Genève gives an easy way to read the time all around the world, without pushing buttons or turning crowns. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th following Editions were called “Christophorus Colombus”, “Mundus” and “1884”.
In 2015 the 5th edition of World Time watch – the “Tempus Terrae”- will commemorate the first World Time wrist watch with two crowns developed by Louis Cottier in the 50’s; one of the most beautiful world time watch ever created. Mr. Cottier was so successful that he made World Time watches for Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, and even Rolex. The time zones indication has been continually optimised since Andersen Genève’s first World Time watch 25 years ago, in 1990.
The Tempus Terrae “25th Anniversary” is proposed in a limited edition of 25 pieces in yellow gold (2N), 25 in red gold (4N) and 25 in white gold. It celebrates 25 years (1990-2015) of World Time Watches with indication of different time zones by Andersen Genève.
This 5th edition World Time watch by Andersen Genève will commemorate the first World Time Watch with two crowns developed by Louis Cottier in the 50’s; one of the most beautiful world time watch ever created.
The Tempus Terrae carries Andersen Genève’s DNA adorned by watch collectors: a very sober and classy watch case in gold with aesthetic simplicity. The centre of the dial is made of exclusive “BlueGold” that Andersen Genève has been mastering for decades. It is a 21ct gold with iron elements in it.
Once heated the gold gets an exclusive blue colour that reflects light in a very special way. No two dials get out of the oven with the same colour making every dial unique. The hand guilloché Scale texture empowers light reflection too. It is an extremely difficult texture to handcraft.
In order to let the BlueGold dial shine as much as possible, the “Andersen Genève” logo was removed from the centre of the dial and replaced by the “A” logo on the outer ring of the dial, the so called “City Ring”, above GENEVE. Brushed “A” shaped Andersen hands are also part of Andersen Genève’s DNA. They remain as discreet as possible though give a clear visibility of time.
The Tempus Terrae has two crowns. The first one with the “A” logo will set the time (minutes and hours). The second one with a “TT and a globe” logo will be used to set the reference time zone, i.e. the corresponding city, where the user is leaving (or travelling).
All 5 editions of World Time watches have a detail in common: on the “City Ring”, “Moskwa” is written instead of Moscow. In the past, Andersen Genève used to write the names of the cities in their own languages. Afterwards every city was written whether in French or in English except “Moskwa” which is Moscow but written in Russian language. This detail remained on every World Time watch in honour to Russian collectors who have been loyal customers for decades.
The Tempus Terrae offers personalisation alternatives; bespoke options have been offered by Andersen Genève since the beginning in the early 80’s. Whether with a special city name or a special text colour on the dial, the watch collector can make his watch unique. The owner can also have a “secret” inside his watch (or the watch he is offering!). He will have the opportunity to engrave his desired text inside the hunter case back cover. The text (or any logo, or coat of arms, or …) will appear once the cover is opened (at an 85° angle).
Once the case back cover is opened, the decorated movement with “Côtes de Genève” and “Perlage” will be visible under the sapphire glass. The owner will be happily surprised to find yet again a BlueGold hand guilloché Scale texture on the rotor; the same decoration as on the dial.
Technical details
Model: Andersen Genève Tempus Terrae
Movement
High quality automatic movement upgraded by Andersen Genève with time zones complication module developed and produced in the atelier
Rotor: “Blue Gold” guilloché main
4Hz (28’000A/h) with 48 hours power reserve
Case
Yellow (2N), pink (5N) and white gold with hunter case back
Diameter: 39 mm
Height: 8.9mm
Width between lugs: 20 mm
Two sapphire glasses
Dial
Multi-part, with one rotating ring displaying 24 hours’ time zones with day/night coloration in dark blue and silvery white metal
Center disc: 18mm in 21ct “Blue Gold” with guilloché main “écaille” or “tapisserie”
World time zone scale on a silvery white metal disc with dark blue city names; personalisation available on colours and names of the cities
Hands: “A” Andersen shaped 18ct yellow (2N), pink (5N) and white gold
Strap
Hand-stitched alligator leather with 18ct buckle or 18ct fold-over clasp in yellow (2N), pink (5N) and white gold
