Introducing the Erwin, Habring²’s Newest In-House Watch with Jumping Seconds

Habring² is a small, Austrian independent founded by husband-and-wife duo Richard & Maria Habring. If the name rings a bell, it’s because Richard Habring is no stranger to the industry, with a career spanning decades in some of the watch world’s most renowned firms, among them IWC where he notably developed the brand’s rattrapante (split-seconds) chronograph module as head movement designer. In 2004, he formed his eponymous brand, with the spirit of Habring² being focused on limited, nearly-bespoke production led by a small team.

In 2014, Habring² made a huge leap forward with the debut of the Felix, the brand’s first watch to feature the in-house A11B (base) caliber, which was to serve as a foundation for all watches moving forward. Today, we’re seeing the evolution of that development with the introduction of the Erwin, which brings together the A11B caliber and the brand’s signature jumping seconds (dead-beat) complication to create the A11S.

Before we get to the watch, a bit more on the brand’s movement development. Between the years 2007 and 2014, Habring²’s calibers were based primarily on the Valjoux 7750/7760/Valgranges range. With ETA’s well-documented decision to taper supply, Habring² took the steps to move toward greater independence, a decision that ultimately resulted in the A11B caliber. The vast majority of the movement is manufactured in-house, with Habring² eschewing an overly industrialized approach in favor of more manual production of critical parts. The one major component not produced in-house is the chronometer-grade balance spring, which Habring² sources from renowned spring producer Carl Haas.

The Erwin case—100% made and finished in Austria—comes in at an attractive 38.5mm with a height of just 9mm, so it boasts an impressively well-proportioned case even with the added girth from the jumping seconds module. Thinness was a priority here from the onset, so special attention was given to the height of the module, which was ultimately thinned from previous iterations. All in all, you won’t have any issues slipping this one under a shirt cuff.

The Erwin will be offered in two distinct variants. The first features a silver-white dial with minimalist black print and black oxidized steel hands, an aesthetic previously seen on the Felix. The second, and my personal favorite of the two, is a new silver dial with a brushed finish and red gold-plated hours indices and hands. The Felix is also available in this new treatment.

The Erwin will sell for $6,200. It’s no doubt an expensive proposition, and one that is higher than what we normally cover on worn&wound, but few brands offer the same horological prowess at this price point, especially with this level of hand finishing. For more information, visit Habring².

For our review of the Habring² Time-Reserve 2009, click here.