Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Return of the Angelus Tinkler 1958 Quarter Repeater
The charming chiming model is back with its vintage credentials intact, powered by a new automatic movement.
Angelus is a historical Swiss watch brand founded in 1891 in Le Locle by Albert and Gustav Stolz, known for technically ambitious and award-winning chronographs, multi-complication watches and even chiming models. After a long period of dormancy following the quartz crisis, the brand was revived in 2011. Tapping into its rich archive, Angelus has gathered its more classical, heritage-inspired watches in the La Fabrique collection. The Tinkler, a 1958 repeater watch, is the latest golden oldie to join La Fabrique. Driven by a new automatic quarter-repeater movement, this limited edition Tinkler in steel or gold captures the charm and chime of the original watch.
In addition to its fabulous chronographs, Angelus was also synonymous with chiming timepieces and, almost 130 years to the day, filed a patent for a silent strike governor. When it was released in 1958, the Tinkler was heralded as a pioneer of automatic, water-resistant quarter-repeater wristwatches. However, the quarter-repeater complication was considered obsolete in the late 1950s, and only 100 examples reached the market.
The revived Angelus Tinkler has a compact 38mm x 12.03mm case with a clean, understated 1950s aesthetic. Unlike the original, which had a pump-style pusher to activate the quarter repeater, the new Angelus models feature a rectangular pusher. Chiming on demand, the watch strikes the hours with a clear strike on the first gong and a double strike on two gongs to signal each quarter hour.
Available in steel or yellow gold, the case is polished, with a screw-down caseback featuring the “A” monogram. The subtly domed, sunburst white dial features the original’s modernist-style hour markers. A combination of faceted arrow-shaped golden markers and a prominent Arabic 12, the key positions of the quarter repeater are highlighted with the distinctive “exclamation-shaped” markers at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. Sharp faceted golden hands indicate the time, and a retro-inspired box sapphire crystal protects the dial.
The new automatic Angelus A600 movement beats at 28,800vph, delivers a robust 70-hour power reserve and is decorated with snailing, Côtes de Genève with polished angles, blued and chamfered screws with mirror-polished heads and a sunburst tungsten rotor.
Underscoring its vintage spirit, the watch is paired with a classic alligator strap in deep inky blue for the 18k yellow gold version and warm saddle brown for the steel, both with pin buckles matching the case material. The yellow gold model is limited to 15 pieces and retails for CHF 56,300 (incl. tax), while the steel model, limited to 25 pieces, retails for CHF 37,900 (incl. tax). More information at angelus-watches.com.
