FAQ

What kind of movements does AM use in it's timepieces?

Historically, the Swiss watch and clock industry has always had a specialized horizontal structure in which suppliers, craftsmen and sub-contractors supply movements and external parts to assemblers called "établisseurs", who put the final product together. However, to a lesser extent, the industry has also developed a vertically integrated structure in which watches and clocks are sometimes made entirely by the same company, in this case called a "manufacture".

Angular Momentum is considered not a manufacturer of so called "complicated watches"

Our Artisan Timepieces are all fit with historical (NOS) new-old-stock movements manufactured between 1950 to 1975 by FHF (Fabrique d'Horlogerie Fontainmelon) and AS (Adolf Schild SA) and Unitas SA which became the today's ETA SA later on.

The FHF and AS movements are - though 50 to 70 years old - of excellent quality. Some say even better than today's mass produced movements. All movements have never been used before and are completely overworked, decorated and if necessary modified in the Angular Momentum ateliers in Bern.

The movements we use in our watches have been supplied by FHF and AS between 1910 and 1980 in large quantities to well known brands among them:

Tissot Cal. 2132/35/36/37 = FHF 69N, Bulova Cal. 3AL = FHF 59, Cortebert Cal. 732 = FHF 73-4, Doxa, Dugena Cal. 3605 = FHF 96, Dugena Cal. 677 and 777 = FHF 70, Elgin = FHF 905, Gruen Cal. 220 = FHF 60, Longines Cal. 510 = FHF 59-21, Lucien Paccard, Sefes, Silvana, Tudor Cal. 390 = FHF 96, Waltham Cal. 1155 = FHF 70, Zodiac Cal. 58 = FHF 81 (1965) and FHF 96, FHF Auto 909, Eaton Solar Aqua movements = FHF, Girard Prregaux Cal. GP 86 = FHF (1930-60), Girrard Perregaux Cal. GP 21 Gyromatic = FHF 90-5, Girrard Perregaux Cal. GP 461 = FHF 90-5905, Alpina Cal. 647 = FHF 70, Alpina Cal. 668 = FHF 28, Alpina Cal. 821 = FHF 123, Rolex Cal. 59 (CS) = FHF 30-1 (around 1945), Rolex Cal. Marconi special and Rolex Viceroy (from 1919) = FHF.
 

What is the meaning of the term "manu propria"

Manu Propria is a craftsman mark.

A Latin term, iterally means "made by one own hands"

Timepieces marked or signed with the wording or sign "manu propria" are personally and completely hand-made by Martin Pauli

Is Angular Momentum also running its own boutique? Or is it possible to purchase directly from Angular Momentum of Switzerland?

What is the meaning of Angular Momentum?

ANGULAR MOMENTUM is a concept taken from astrophysics that derives from the combination of a moment of inertia with an angular velocity. The term dates back to the German astronomer and physicist JOHANNES KEPLER (*1571) and means the TORCH. The term Angular Momentum is also used in movement making and describes the force of a movement.

What is Angular Momentum's most handsome and classic timepiece?

It is definitely the Tage Olsen Classic TRef. 7019.

A 38 mm Staybrite steel dress watch with snap-back, ultra-flat hand-winding movement, double curved sapphire crystal, frosted curved silver dial, polished "Bâton" indexes and "Dauphine" hands. It's the same archetype layout that is seen on certain watches made in the middle of 20th century. We tried to keep it humble, no pomp and circumstance about it. The Tage Olsen is produced since 2003.

more information: http://www.angularmomentum.com/e/collection.e/collection_detail.e.jsp?ID_Display=100004&ID_ProductgroupDisplay=100000

What is Email Lumineuse

The Èmail Lumineuse is a recent development of Angular Momentum and a fusion of enamel and a non-radioactive substance which is in the position to glow for 35 hours after being loaded under light for a period of 10 minutes. The Èmail Lumineuse is only available in "Aqua Blue" and quick loading "Pale Green".

How does the Revolving-Disk-System work?

Since time began, continuous attempts have been made to revolutionize the tried and tested two-hand time indication system with new Innovations. Specifically speaking, by implementing the Revolving-Disk-System (R.D.S.) of Angular Momentum, this has been successfully achieved.
Abridged as R.D.S., this method is an alternative time reading system without hour hand and is printed with the number 1 to 12. Where the number 12 normally is, one reads the actual hour on the disk. (learn more about R.D.S. and click on ?Revolving-Diskl-System and see an animation?)

Does Angular Momentum still produce the PIONEERS R.D.S. Collection?

The four models of the PIONEERS Collection where limited on only a few thousand pieces.
The production was in 1998 and all watches of this line have been sold out.

Where can I purchase an Angular Momentum Time Piece

You can buy your Angular Momentum Time Piece in various countries of the world or directly from Angular Momentum in Switzerland. Under Distribution on our web site you will find the contact address of the distributor, agent or retailer in your country.

What exactly is Verre Èglomisé

Reverse painting on glass - Èglomise
 
Reverse painting-on-glass is a uniquely difficult and skillful art.

This reverse painting, as églomisé is known in English, which is done here backwards on the inside of the sapphire crystal, is a unique, rare, and difficult art that is brand-new to the horological scene.
What makes this particular technique so difficult is the sequence of paint application necessary to achieve it successfully. The resulting painting is actually seen in reverse from the front, so the paint must be applied opposite to the intended effect, requiring a great deal of imagination, patience, and skill – most especially when the painting involves an entire palette of colors, as Angular Momentum’s certainly do.

Preparation of Sapphire Glass
Before a sapphire crystal can be painted, the surface has to be cleaned, by keeping it in hot concentrated Hydrochloric acid to remove all metallic remains and in a 250°C hot oven over night to remove organic remains.

Painting Procedure
On the reverse of the sapphire crystal or dial, the painting is applied by using Aqua Regia oil and color pigments, a minute and painstaking work and procedure putting layer on layer with brushes and fine needles. 

As a final step three protective layer of Japan Urushi laquer is applied over the enamel at the reverse of the sapphire dial or crystal.
 

What is the advantage of Verre Èglomisè compared to normal miniature painting?

The technique of Verre Èglomisè miniature painting on the reverse of saphire watch crystals has been developed by Martin Pauli in 2004. The technique bases on Aqua Regia oil and pure color pigments. Differently than regular miniature paintings on mother of pearl or enamel, Verre Èglomisè miniatures are not damaged, when water gets into the timepiece. The miniatures made by Martin Pauli are considered some of the finest and hyper-realistic available on the market today. The main advantage but is, that there are no watch hands disturbing the miniature picture. Angular Momentum's Verre Èglomisè timepieces show the time digitally through an apperture, by an hour disk à "Souscription" with 5-minute indexes.

When was Angular Momentum founded?

Angular Momentum trade Mark has been registered in 1999.

When was the R.D.S. Technology invented?

In 1998 the Swiss patent CH 686988 was given for the Revolving-Disk-System.

How many people work at Angular Momentum?

Only one person. Angular Momentum is a sole-manufacturing company and owned and run by Martin Pauli

Who makes the watch cases for Angular Momentum?

All watch parts, cases, crowns, hands, artworks are executed in the ateliers by hand and by hand operated machines. Angular Momentum only works with external specialists for complicated diamond setting and very difficult guilloche works.

Has Angular Momentum ever made watches with "Urushi" Japan lacquer dials?

Yes, the first watches with Japan lacquer dials have been made in 2004. Several traditional Japanese Urushi lacquer techniques have been executed. Low and high relief "hiramaki" and "takamaki", black on black "yamimaki", carving "tsuishu" and "chinkin", mixed inlay techniques "tsugaru nuri" and many more.

Is Angular Momentum also executing Grand feu enamel works?

Yes. Mostly simple white enamel dials are made, which are printed with numbers and indexes. But also Champlevé is often executed for dials.

Is Angular Momentum also offering a jewelry collection?

In our design center we make jewelry design and we also manufacture all kind of jewelry and watches with precious stone settings on gold and platinum cases, but only on special demand. The jewelry collection runs under the name MANUPROPRIA Collection.