Located on Lake Biel’s shores, picturesque Twann lies nestled at the foot of steeply terraced hillside vineyards. This scenic area of Switzerland has not only been home to winemaking for centuries, but also various small and highly specialized watch manufacturers. The solitude and atmosphere of tradition surrounding the town, the natural beauty of its waterfalls and forest, made it an ideal location for the founding of Thomas Prescher Haute Horlogerie in 2002.
Thomas Prescher’s passion for horology born of a childhood obsession with collecting crystals and minerals. As a teenager on a visit to a local jewellery shop, his eye drifted to the watchmaker working at his bench and he was smitten. He began working part-time at the store and became familiar with the mechanics of watches and clocks. However, at 19 he joined the German navy, leaving six years later as a Captain.
After the navy, Prescher decided to study watchmaking and he won the single apprenticeship position offered yearly by IWC. The watch he crafted at the end of his four-year apprenticeship – which he completed in three years – was a rare, half-flying tourbillon and he came top of his class. Prescher then moved to Audemars Piguet in Frankfurt, where he also obtained his Master Watchmaker certificate. Then it was back to Switzerland to work in the restoration department of Gübelin where he had the opportunity to restore some of the world’s most iconic and complicated timepieces and to create bespoke watches for special clients.
Four years at Gübelin was followed by a brief spell at Progress Watch, then a position as Production Manager for Blancpain. In 2002 Prescher opened his own restoration atelier, making time to craft a watch of his own that became the world’s first double-axis tourbillon with constant-force device. This earned him his place as a candidate of the AHCI in 2003.
In 2004, Prescher stunned the horological world with the presentation of his incredible wristwatch Tourbillon trilogy comprising single-axis, double-axis and triple-axis tourbillons – all flying tourbillons with constant-force mechanisms. Alongside his tourbillon models, Prescher is also well known for his distinctive Tempusvivendi line in which the time is displayed by figures at the push of a button. His new Sculptura Una collection functions in the same way, but with conventional hands. In 2009, Prescher surprised again with a completely new development: an instant perpetual calendar with coaxial indications for optimal legibility.
In 2010 he presented themed “reduced to the max” the Mysterious Automatic Double Axis Tourbillon. A piece of art with an automatic movement implemented with upstanding mainplates left and right in the case. Indicating only hours, minutes, moonphase and calendar. The calendar is integrated in the horizontal rotating oscillating weight. As heart a flying tourbillon with constant-force in carriage, the tourbillon flying on two axes.
With “Choose your movement” he gave 2011 each aficionado the possibility to have an own piece of art with the own chosen design made by him and additional a closer look on the manufacturing of this piece. But not enough he realized a nautical project, where the Double Axis Tourbillon Nautica was born. Last but not least his newest goal a watch which ages. The NEMO Sailor collection with a case made in Copper bronze and steel replaced in time a fabulous patina. Followed by the Nemo Captain Triple Axis Tourbillon in an incomparable material combination for the case he used red gold and palladium.
THOMAS PRESCHER HAUTE HORLOGERIE is known for its luxury hand- and tailor-made watches for watch aficionados and connoisseurs all over the world since 2002. The timepieces of Thomas Prescher are manufactured using the knowledge of the ancient art of watchmaking by hand. He makes hand-made watches to the very highest standards and their finish is among the best available on the market.
Every client has the possibility to discuss individually the possibilities of unique material combinations and different designs. So the client has a maximum of individuality to create his time sculpture together with Thomas Prescher. During the discussion with the master every timepiece is developed down to the last detail to the individual client’s wishes, every watch a unique piece. In the focus of this process stand the personal preferences of the client.
The skilled perfectionism of the watchmakers is the ultimate guarantee that every timepiece coming from the house Thomas Prescher is incomparably and unique, absolute perfection. To quality and processing of the applied materials the highest demands are set.
Once the client has ordered a timepiece the way of the creation is accompanied with a photo diary to witness the creation for the next generation. It will be sent to the client at regular intervals.
Contact details
THOMAS PRESCHER HAUTE HORLOGERIE
Postfach 89, 2563 Ipsach
Atelier: Moos 6 – CH-2513 Twann
Switzerland
Official website: www.prescher.ch
