MeisterSinger - Edition Benjamin Franklin ED-BF4H

MeisterSinger pays homage to Benjamin Franklin and his 4-hour clock concept with the new Edition Benjamin Franklin. Price is €5,599. Single-hand watch

MeisterSinger, renowned for its single-hand watches, pays homage to Benjamin Franklin and his 4-hour clock concept with the new Edition Benjamin Franklin.

Benjamin Franklin, a key figure among the intellectual elite of his era and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, was not only a signer of the Declaration of Independence but also a scientist, inventor, and publisher. Among his notable inventions are the lightning rod, bifocals, and the Franklin stove. 

A lesser-known accomplishment of Franklin was his 4-hour clock concept, which he co-created with Scottish astronomer James Ferguson in 1733. At that time, all mechanical watches were single-hand watches so his invention perfectly applies to MeisterSinger's watchmaking.

At the time, all mechanical watches were single-hand timepieces, making Franklin's concept a perfect fit for MeisterSinger's watchmaking tradition. His clock design featured a single hour hand that completed six rotations within a day instead of the typical two, signifying that 4 hours passed with each 360° rotation. 

When the hand pointed upwards, it indicated either 4, 8, or 12 o'clock, either AM or PM, depending on the viewer's understanding of the current 4-hour time period. Franklin's invention simplified clockwork mechanics, making affordable clocks accessible, even to American colonists of his time.

MeisterSinger's rendition of the concept is encased in a 43 mm stainless steel case that frames a luminous white dial divided into quadrants. Roman numerals from 1 to 12 boldly spiral towards the dial's center. The central hour hand, though moving at a slightly accelerated pace, maintains MeisterSinger's characteristic unhurried rotation.

Driving the MeisterSinger Edition Benjamin Franklin is an ETA/Unitas 6498 movement, specially adapted for the 4-hour timekeeping concept, boasting a 46-hour power reserve. The transparent case back provides a glimpse of the movement's intricate details, originally designed for pocket watches, including sunburst-finished wheels, blued screws, and a bridge adorned with Geneva stripes.

The watch is complemented by a cognac calf leather strap, with various strap and bracelet options available to choose from. The MeisterSinger Edition Benjamin Franklin ref. ED-BF4H, offered as a limited edition for the US market of 70 pieces, is priced at Euro 5,599 / US$ 5,599. meistersinger.com