Key Features
The Kinezle ‘Sport’ manual wind watch is a handsome timepiece. At a glance it seems simple in design, but there is an understated charm to this watch. The grey dial has a glossy bar across it that aligns with a very legible date indicator, and the sharp applied indices and minute markers impose themselves nicely. The acrylic crystal is very slightly domed, giving the effect of a dial that is set very sturdily within the stainless steel Tonneau case, which curves neatly into the tapered bracelet. Seems to fit the average wrist very comfortably, but is easily modifiable with the micro adjustment feature in the clasp.
About Kienzle Uhrenfabriken
Kienzle is a fairly popular clock brand from Germany, and this watch is produced by its Swiss luxury division. Since the 1920’s Kienzle has avoided classical clock designs and instead created a number of new and futuristic clocks based on the Bauhaus and modernist styles. Kienzle even had a mobile boutique in the 1930’s – a truck with a real shop and showroom mounted on it!
Kienzle Uhren GmbH was Germany’s oldest watchmakers, founded in 1822 in Schwenningen, Germany by master watchmaker Johannes Schlenker. Schlenker’s business was initially in creating handmade cuckoo clocks (black forest clocks), until 1883 when Jakob Kienzle married into the family and expanded the company.
From 1894, with the help of industrialised mass-production, pre-made, standardised individual parts and openwork circuit boards were used to reduce the amount of material used and thus limit the cost of alarm and wall clocks. Then, in 1897 Jakob Kienzle became the sole owner of the company, and in 1919 changed the name of the firm from Schlenker & Kienzle to ‘Kienzle Uhrenfabriken’.
Heinrich Möller, a designer at Kienzle, created timeless designs with mechanical clockwork and manual winding which are still very popular items at auctions today, and in the late 1920’s after the merger, Möller was appointed head of the architecture and design office. He designed clocks, such as the famous Kienzle World Clock, Glass Pane Clock, and the Zodiac Clock. Due to his famous designs, Kienzle in Schwenningen became an absolute trendsetter for watch designs of the time. He retired in 1970.
In the 1970’s Kienzle became the official car clock (in dash) for Rolls Royce Corniche cars, convertible and hard top coupes, and Bentley’s. As well as the first ‘Heliomat’ solar watch, and the first quartz movements in 1972.
From the late 1990’s Kienzle has moved groups and headquarters multiple times. In 1997 Kienzle was taken over by the Highway Holdings Group. But only five years later in 2002, Kienzle returned to Germany with the establishment of Kienzle AG. With their headquarters located in Hamburg, Kienzle began to return to their former levels of success.
However, Kienzle had to file for bankruptcy again in 2010, and since 2011, the worldwide trademark rights have belonged to Premier Trademarks AG in Switzerland. An attempt to restart in 2014 resulted in another bankruptcy. There are still around, however, and continue to sell watches under the name Kienzle. However, it is an open question as to whether Kienzle will ever return to being a German brand again.
Servicing and Guarantee
This timepiece has been serviced with full disassembly. There is a 12-month guarantee, subject to the usage and care guidelines. The watch comes with a new, khaki green seatbelt style nylon strap.
Overview
Case and Strap
- Original stainless steel Tonneau case
- Steel winding crown
- Inverted lugs
- Splashproof
- Dustproof
- Snap on steel caseback
- Tapered 24mm-15mm bracelet
Dimensions:
- Width w/o crown 36mm
- Width w/ crown 39mm
- Full height 42mm
- Thickness 9.5mm
- Bracelet width 15mm (24mm lug width)
Dial and Hands
- Baton style hands
- Applied stainless steel indices
- Date indicator at 3 position.
- ‘Kienzle’ signature below 12 position.
- Grey tone dial with glossy horizontal bar in middle.
Movement
- Durowe 7422 calibre
- Manual wind
- 17 jewels
- 42hr power reserve
Testing Results
- Testing duration: 2 week cyclic test.
- Average timekeeping range: sec/day.
Servicing and Guarantee
- Fully serviced.
- Mechanics in full working order.
- 12-month guarantee.
- Guarantee Terms and Conditions.
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