The Launch of the Carl F. Bucherer Heritage BiCompax Annual

Reading Time: 6 minutes

The Carl F. Bucherer Heritage BiCompax Annual timepiece that made waves at Baselworld in spring 2019 is now finally being launched worldwide. Carl F. Bucherer’s latest model in the popular Heritage collection is a celebration of the design and savoir-faire of the early 1950s. Inspired by a historical timepiece from the museum of the watchmaker, the Carl F. Bucherer Heritage BiCompax Annual combines an elegant vintage look with sophisticated “Made of Lucerne” Swiss watchmaking heritage. This luxurious chronograph, which features an annual calendar and a BiCompax dial design, is now available in two limited-edition versions.

Modern Interpretation of a Design Classic

Whether it is in music, cinema, or fashion, some creations achieve icon status thanks to an enduring appeal that spans generations. The same applies to the world of watchmaking, as evidenced by the Carl F. Bucherer BiCompax chronograph: an archival piece dating back to circa 1950, it served as inspiration for the new Heritage BiCompax Annual – a modern tribute to the original’s curvaceous design codes and importance in the company’s history.

The Heritage BiCompax Annual combines the vintage flair of the watch that inspired it with contemporary features, such as a 41 mm stainless steel case. The chronograph features the BiCompax dial design of its retro predecessor: two symmetrically arranged totalizators are positioned on the horizontal central axis and framed by a tachymeter scale. Two versions of the watch are available, each of which is limited to 888 pieces – a nod to 1888, the founding year of Carl F. Bucherer. Watch connoisseurs can choose from a model with a champagne-colored dial, cognac brown calfskin leather strap, and rose gold accents, or a model with a case in full stainless steel and a silver-colored dial, black totalizators, and a textile strap. Both watches revive the rebellious spirit of the early 1950s and combine it with the highest standards of state-of-the-art watchmaking technology.

Mechanical Heart

The Heritage BiCompax Annual may be reminiscent of its retro predecessor on the outside, but it is powered by an ultra-modern automatic movement on the inside. The CFB 1972 caliber boasts 42 hours of power reserve, satisfying even highly demanding technical requirements. The fact that a convenient automatic movement now powers this watch is not the only modern refinement compared to the original. The new version also features an annual calendar and a large date display that takes the different month lengths – 28, 30, and 31 days – into account, which means it would only need to be corrected during a leap year.

The Heritage Collection

While the inspiration for the new Heritage BiCompax Annual dates back to the early 1950s, the roots of Carl F. Bucherer go back even further to 1888, when Carl-Friedrich Bucherer opened his first watch and jewelry shop in Lucerne.
Today, the manufacturer takes great care to maintain this rich heritage and applies the motto “Treasuring Values” to everything it does, living out the values of excellence, innovation, and sustainability.

The Heritage collection, which was launched in New York in 2018, is an ode to this rich history, which the Lucerne-based watchmaker has been building for over 130 years. The Heritage collection’s debut model was the spectacular Heritage Tourbillon DoublePeripheral. Limited to just 88 pieces, this masterpiece combines a peripheral tourbillon and a peripheral automatic winding system – two of Carl F. Bucherer’s proud technical achievements. The movement bridge features an elaborate hand-engraved depiction of Lucerne’s historic Chapel Bridge, making each piece a homage both to excellence in craftsmanship and to the city of Lucerne. Carl F. Bucherer’s appreciation of tradition and connection to its roots truly shine through in this collection, which consists solely of limited-edition timepieces.

Living Traditions, Rich Heritage

The Heritage BiCompax Annual Celebrates the Design and Savoir-Faire of the 1950s

Some timepieces have a history that dates back many years before they officially make their debut. This is especially true for the Carl F. Bucherer Heritage collection, including the new Heritage BiCompax Annual. Strictly speaking, the origin of this watch can be traced back to 1888 – the year in which Carl-Friedrich Bucherer opened his first shop in Lucerne. His business grew quickly and he was dedicated to manufacturing timepieces and jewelry in-house from the very beginning. This tradition continues today, more than 130 years later. Over the decades, a wide array of exceptional designs and technical achievements have emerged from Carl F. Bucherer’s workshops. The Heritage collection celebrates this multifaceted history with exceptional limited-edition timepieces. The latest addition to the collection takes its inspiration from a design that was already making waves in the late 1940s and serves as a tribute to this special chapter of Carl F. Bucherer’s history.

The Dawn of a New Era: The Triumph of the Chronograph

The chronograph had its great breakthrough in the 1940s. This wristwatch became a symbol for athleticism and dynamism at a time when life seemed to be speeding up at a breakneck pace. It was a trend that continued unabated in the following decade: not only did the tempo of life show no signs of slowing down, but personal horizons were growing broader as well. The chronograph became an icon of its era.

In the workshops of Carl F. Bucherer, a whole range of wristwatches with stopwatch functionality was produced as early as the late 1940s. Already at that time, the Lucerne-based watchmaker was offering an array of different designs, display formats, and additional functions. These advancements aimed to meet the increasingly individual demands of customers in an increasingly diversified market.

Chronographs with a BiCompax display were particularly sought-after. This type of harmonious dial design features two subdials symmetrically positioned on the horizontal central axis of the watch face. This notable symmetry was also the hallmark of one standout timepiece in the Carl F. Bucherer archives dating back to approximately 1950. Its sporty, elegant design was as groundbreaking then as it is today. The curved design of this vintage piece lent the case – which measured only 34 mm in diameter – and its slim chronograph pushers a sporty flair. The warm gold tone of the case was complemented by a pink-champagne-colored dial featuring telemeter and tachymeter scales and a russet leather strap. This stylish classic chronograph served as the design inspiration for the newly launched Heritage BiCompax Annual.

A Golden Era: The Postwar Years

In the years following the Second World War, Ernst and Carl Eduard Bucherer – the sons of the founder – took advantage of the general economic upswing to successfully expand the family business. The trained watchmaker and goldsmith continued their father’s tradition of exceptional quality, making it their number one credo.

Technical refinement combined with unique design and useful innovative functions characterized the watches of this era. The process of creating a watch, from the initial idea to the final product, ran like a well-oiled machine. The different departments and areas of expertise within the company worked together to release timepieces that set new standards in the industry and delighted more and more watch aficionados around the world. Tourism was becoming rather popular thanks to a booming economy and growing mobility, which brought increasing numbers of visitors from all over the world to Switzerland. The timepieces from Lucerne soon made a name for themselves on the international stage.

Carl F. Bucherer continues to adhere to the high standards set during this time. Producing the highest-quality timepieces, ensuring the satisfaction of its customers around the world, and setting new standards in the process are still the guiding principles of the watchmaker. The Heritage BiCompax Annual was born in this culture of excellence.

Continuing the Success Story

The style and charm of the new addition to the Heritage collection hark back to this golden era of Carl F. Bucherer’s company history – a history that now spans over 130 years. The Heritage BiCompax Annual is inextricably linked with Carl F. Bucherer’s roots in Lucerne and its tradition of Swiss watchmaking craftsmanship. The watchmaker continues to honor these traditions today by making use of the latest technologies and manufacturing methods. The Heritage BiCompax Annual is the latest in a long line of timepieces that prove that skillfully combining tradition and innovation is part of the Carl F. Bucherer DNA.

About Carl F. Bucherer

The Carl F. Bucherer name has been synonymous with excellence, innovation, and passion since 1888. The Swiss company has become an internationally renowned global brand with sales outlets across the globe, characterized by its founder’s pioneering spirit and the cosmopolitan esprit of its home city of Lucerne. Carl F. Bucherer is one of the few remaining independent family-owned Swiss watch manufacturers and is now headed in the third generation by Jörg G. Bucherer.

The exclusive timepieces produced by Carl F. Bucherer combine unique design with the utmost precision and outstanding functionality. Technical innovations such as the peripheral rotor – an innovation that Carl F. Bucherer was the first manufacturer to put into series production – and the peripheral tourbillon make the company a pioneer and market leader in the field of peripheral technology.