TRADITION · PRECISION · PERFECTION - Erwin Sattler

Research and Development
What is regarded by both Erwin Sattler and connoisseurs of
fine mechanical timekeepers as precision is something that
depends on many factors. Often times, less obvious little
details make for the famous cherry on top: optimally shaped
teeth for a light, friction-free gear train; the right selection
of materials, and the most perfect compensation possible for
atmospheric influences. Each of these parameters often
increases rate precision by only fractions of a second, but
the sum of these details is exactly what makes a clock into
a precision pendulum clock.
A research and development department at the Erwin Sattler
factory passionately takes care of these many details – here
the task is to continually optimize and develop mechanical
precision timekeepers. In this department, modern measuring
technology is utilized to examine the day-to-day practicality of
historical theories and inventions in the twenty-first century.
Before the knowledge gained is allowed to flow into the
production process, it is extensively tested on prototypes.
Computer-aided gear train designs, high numbers of teeth on
various gears, and consistent outfitting of the movements with
jewel and ball bearings guarantee optimal energy transmission.
This saves up to fifty percent of the driving weight. At the
same time – something non-technicians can also understand
– the movement’s longevity is extended significantly.
We maintain a unique laboratory for quality control that
enables our designers to analyze environmental influences on
a pendulum under constant conditions. In our new pressure
chamber, for example, we examine the behavior of individual
pendulum designs under various atmospheric conditions.
From that, air pressure constants are calculated. In the end,
this targeted analysis of research results makes it possible
to create efficient compensation of the influences of air
pressure and temperature changes on the rate of our
precision pendulum clocks. Thus, rate deviations can be
restricted to values in a range of just a few seconds per month.
Unusual or unconventional materials provide us with new answers
for old questions. Driving weights made of tungsten,
pendulum rods crafted in Superinvar, extremely low-friction
ball bearings, and progressive air pressure compensation
barometers are just a few examples.
This makes clear why Richard Müller, co-owner and technical
head of the Erwin Sattler manu factory, continuously invests
great sums in the research and development department.
At the same time, our creative designers are given the space
they need to realize their ideas and visions.
In the manufactory:
Two years go by. On a high-performance computer screen,
lines, circles, and curves fit together to form secretive design
plans. CNC-controlled machines drill precise holes in the base
plates, turn thin arbors, and mill intelligently shaped teeth.
Miniscule balls create precision bearings for the arbor’s pivots.
Schooled craftsmen give steel poire and Breguet hands
their inimitably slim shape, then carefully temper them over
a flame to give them their wonderfully deep blue color.
Somewhere else in the manufactory, magic hands create two
moons and a number of shiny stars on a round metal disk.
Or they cut wood intarsia, putting them together to make a
wonderful work of art. Glass panes are faceted and
polished. All the while, and with great patience and care,
experienced clockmakers assemble fascinating microcosms
that divide the passing of time into measurable parts. Without
rushing, these works of art are adjusted and regulated so that
they can fulfill their task with optimal precision. Carefully
packaged up for delivery, the end product is finally on the
way to a retailer that has been qualified as a suitable partner
for the Erwin Sattler manufactory.
Atmosphere
Someplace else:
Your house or apartment during this time: you’ve leafed
through the catalogue again and again, looking at the
pictures and studying the texts. You’ve discussed it all with your
Sattler dealer. And then, one day, it happens: your Erwin Sattler
precision clock arrives. You notice right away that something
has changed for you at home. The timelessly elegant design
decorates any room; gentle ticking creates an inimitable
atmosphere in the room where it hangs. You literally feel how
the daily grind makes way for peace and quiet. Thoughtfully,
you watch the ponderous swings of the pendulum, every move
inspiring you. In your mind, you make a journey back to
times when electronics did not yet play a role. You feel
how the sonorous ticking of your clock touches you, the
masterpiece embodying value and tradition. You become
conscious of how this seemingly anachronistic object defies
these fast-paced times of our era with ease and charm within
your four walls.
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