A three-quarter plate, gold chatons, blued steel screws for under US$5000.

Located in Stuttgart, Steffen Cornehl is a watchmaker specialising in restoration, having been part of the team that worked on the timekeepers inside the Peterhof Palace museum in St Petersburg in the early 2000s.

For several years now the 42-year old has been producing his own watches. All inspired by historical precision timekeepers like military deck watches and powered by Unitas movements he modifies himself.

Other details have also been modified, including the winding click that has been replaced with an elongated spring.

While his watches are all affordable,

the top of the line model is the Regulator SC1. Though based on a Unitas 6498, the movement has been significantly reworked aesthetically. With the bridges being replaced by a single three-quarter plate in the German (though historically English) style.

Both plates have a gilt frosted finish, and both the ratchet wheels are finished with solarisation. While the screws are blued and jewels sit in gold chatons, giving it a traditional look.

And of course the time display has been customised regulator-style, separating the hours and minutes into individual axes. Notably, the sub-dial for the seconds at six has been enlarged, being inspired by antique precision timepieces. Fitted with sapphire crystals on both sides, the steel case is plain and typical of Unitas-powered watches in this price range. Measuring 42 mm in diameter and 10.2 mm high. The watch is also available in 18k gold.

Cornehl offers simple customisation on his website, including the style of bezel and crown, though more thorough personalisation is available on request.

Price and availability 

The Regulator SC1 is priced at €4500 before taxes and is available direct from Cornehl Watches.

Located in Stuttgart, Steffen Cornehl is a watchmaker who specializes in restoration. He is part of a team that has been restoring the old timekeepers inside Peterhof Palace's museum in St Petersburg since the early 2000s.

For several years now, the 42-year old has been producing his own watches. They are inspired by historical precision timekeepers like military deck watches and powered by Unitas movements he modifies himself …

Chances are you’ve never heard the name Steffen Cornehl before. That’s because he is an independent watchmaker of the more obscure variety. He doesn’t come from one of the major brands, nor is he based in Switzerland. Instead, he works out of a small studio in Stuttgart, Germany, where he restores antique clocks and vintage watches, while slowly building a following of dedicated enthusiasts for his own watches. His customers appreciate his passion for handcrafting historically-inspired watches using traditional techniques, as well as the degree of customization he offers. Not to mention his exceedingly reasonable prices.

As luck would have it a German watchmaker travels to St. Petersburg, Russia, in the late 90s. Like many curious tourists, he visits the legendary Peterhof, the “Russian Versailles”. When the expert sees the extensive and exquisite collection of clocks, he asks irritatedly: “Why are all these movements standing still, why aren’t they running?” The simple answer of the museum’s staff:  “We have no one who is able to repair them.” This is when the specialist has an idea: He quickly involves renowned colleagues who are organized in a professional group. Since that day, the horologists travel to St. Petersburg once or twice a year to make the impossible possible – with expertise and a lot of stamina …