For many old-school collectors, Andreas Strehler is a familiar and respected name, having established himself as an independent watchmaker as early as the 1990s and continuing to develop impressive watches around his distinctive papillon movement with complex mechanisms such as the remontoir d’égalité.

Most newer collectors, however, may not immediately recognise the name but Strehler is, in many respects, a watchmaker’s watchmaker. Much of his career has been spent behind the scenes, developing movements for a wide range of clients – including other independent watchmakers – through his engineering firm, UhrTeil. The work spans the spectrum, from time-only automatic calibres to more complicated mechanisms such as perpetual calendars.

In 2023, he launched a new brand, Strehler, conceived as a more accessible counterpart to his haute horlogerie offerings. The focus is on minimalist timepieces in terms of function, yet each carries his distinct character, along with strong finishing and a level of pricing that offers a wider audience access to a piece of traditional watchmaking.

The brand made its debut with a time-only watch. Now, three years later, it introduces its second timepiece, and one that is arguably more compelling: the Säntis with a world time complication.

Strehler Säntis

Säntis World Time

Named for the mountain that overlooks Strehler’s workshop in Sirnach, the Säntis brings an immediate sense of warmth and nostalgia. The use of a Cottier-style world time complication places it within a long-established and recognisable watchmaking tradition. For Strehler, this feels like a strong move. At just CHF 4,750 more than the previously launched time-only base model, it offers a more distinctive and engaging proposition. Priced at CHF 24,750, it represents compelling value for the design, movement finishing, and, not least, the name behind it. It stands as one of the more convincing entry points into independent watchmaking.

The functionality of the Cottier-style world time remains both practical and familiar, with a city ring displaying the time across 24 time zones at a glance. All adjustments are consolidated into a single crown. In its neutral position, it winds the movement. Drawn out to the first position, it engages the world time indications, with one direction advancing the city ring and the other the 24-hour display. Pulled further, it sets the hours and minutes, with the 24-hour ring following in step.

What’s immediately striking is the dial centre. If the pattern feels unusual, that is because it is. It was designed by Eric Giroud, the watch designer behind many distinctive creations, including those from MB&F. The motif is machined from titanium to create a deep, three-dimensional surface, then hand-polished before being anodised to achieve the rich colours seen here.

Here, the dial centre is paired with coordinated tones in appealing colours such as brown, aqua, and blue. Customisation is also possible, with a palette of around 20 colours available. There is, however, one principle: the chapter ring and the central section must be executed in the same colour.

Well-finished In-house Movement

The Säntis is not only visually appealing but also very wearable, measuring a comfortable 40 mm in diameter and 9.7 mm in height. At its heart is an in-house movement developed by Andreas Strehler, who also supplied the base time-only movement to brands such as Grönefeld.

While the technical specifications are solid, the real highlight is the finishing. It is rare, both for major brands and independents alike, to find this level of hand-finished detail on the bevels of the bridges, with multiple inward and outward angles. The generosity of the finishing alone sets the watch apart, and the addition of the world time module makes it the icing on the cake — a compelling and quietly dignified watch for any collector.

Tech Specs: Strehler Säntis

Movement SA-30; automatic; 60 hours power reserve; 21,600vph (3 Hz)
Functions Hours, minutes, and world time
Case 40mm x 9.7mm; steel; water resistant to 30m
Strap Calfskin leather
Availability Directly Strehler
Limited edition No
Price CHF 24,750