ou may ask yourself: “Why did it take so long?” And for the first time, even Alexander Shorokhov is left without an answer. Jochen Benzinger has none either. But perhaps that is exactly the right answer: they have come together – and that is a good thing! From years of friendship and mutual respect, two personalities with a clear vision have finally united: “We are creating a watch together!”

When two artists come together, they do not simply create a timepiece – they create a handcrafted work of art. A model in which decades of expertise and true craftsmanship merge: the master engraver and guilloché artisan from Pforzheim, Jochen Benzinger, and the bold avant-garde designer and engineer Alexander Shorokhov. The result is more than a watch – it is almost a theatrical composition of design, emotion, precision, and perfected handcraftsmanship.

But first, the artists should be introduced: Jochen Benzinger is an absolute specialist in hand-engraved, skeletonized, and guilloché dials. He is one of the very few artisans worldwide who still master these traditional techniques at the highest level, having taught himself the near-extinct craft of guilloché engraving. He deliberately works with over 100-year-old machines and traditional methods. His creations are often one-of-a-kind pieces or produced in extremely limited editions.

Alexander Shorokhov is a true artist of Haute Horlogerie and has been for nearly 35 years, transforming his mechanical timepieces into exceptional works of art. His eponymous brand is strongly artistic in character, often featuring bold dial designs that combine classic mechanical watchmaking with modern, at times surreal, aesthetics.

Most models are produced in limited editions with strong collector appeal and clearly distinguish themselves from conventional “mainstream” luxury watches.

And for anyone who has not yet understood that this background and the artistic, unique direction of both simply belong together, the final result will make it unmistakably clear.

After several exchanges, including prior discussions, the two met in mid-April this year at Benzinger’s workshop to discuss the final steps and further implementation ideas for their joint “baby”. The meeting involved intensive discussions, alignment, and refinement – with the first sketches and design ideas already being recorded at that stage.

Already now, one can gain a first small insight into the emerging work of art. An initial sketch provides a direct impression of the collaboration and clearly shows how the worlds of both artists merge.

The new model combines the avant-garde design DNA of Alexander Shorokhov with the traditional, hand-executed finishing artistry of Jochen Benzinger. The result will not only be a watch that tells the time, but a story – of passion, precision, and the courage to follow one’s own path.

A limited edition of just 30 pieces, of which nearly half have already been pre-reserved by retailers, stands as an example of a special form of collaboration in the independent watchmaking scene: shaped by respect for craftsmanship, the pursuit of individuality, and the desire to create lasting values. And the final result will undoubtedly win the hearts of all watch enthusiasts as well as those with an eye for detail and collector value. Stay tuned!