Goldpfeil Amphiscala by Thomas Baumgartner, One-of-a-kind Collection

Several years ago, Thomas Baumgartner rediscovered a neglected masterpiece: a 17th century Italian clock, created by Campanus and showing the hours of both day and night. Transparent numerals, lit up from below, moved in turn over a semi-circle. Beyond the concept of illumination, this “Amphiscala” system inspired our craftsmen to develop various interpretations, now culminating in this exceptional achievement.

The numeral appearing in the oval gives the hour. Each numeral moves from left to right, over a 60-minute period, thereby covering a 180° degree angle. The minute graduation is located under the oval and is divided into 15 or 5-minute “slices”. One can thereby determine the number of minutes by the position of the oval in the semi-circle.

This creation, stemming from the fertile imagination of designer Martin Frei and developed by Felix & Thomas Baumgartner, is sculpted from a single block of solid gold and enriched by an exclusive hand-engraving. It houses a self-winding movement equipped with two discs that are pivoted at the far ends of a revolving bar and mounted on a Maltese cross to avoid any friction.