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MeisterSinger Classic Watches: Award-winning Timepieces

MeisterSinger Classic watches have won many awards through the years, including the Red Dot, iF Design, and Good Design Awards, and Watch of The Year in the Netherlands, but what makes them worthy of these international honors for product design? The answer is strength in simplicity, which is one of MeisterSinger’s core values.

MeisterSinger Classic timepieces are minimalistic yet reliable. They typically do not have any complications, except for a date window in certain collections, and they feature only one hand, like pocket watches and clock towers of the Middle Ages. Regardless, these timepieces can still be used efficiently as normal wristwatches.

Because the single-hand configuration is so unconventional, the key to reading the MeisterSinger Classic’s time correctly depends on understanding the indices. It is easier to learn than you might think. On the dials are thick line markers with double-digit figures that indicate the hours. The long, medium, and short filigree lines between the hour indices represent 30-, 15-, and 5-minute intervals respectively. With that in mind, when the needle-style hand is positioned directly on the 01 marker, wearers will immediately know that it is 1 o’clock. If it is in the middle of the 01 and 02 indices, the time can be 1:05, 1:15, 1:30, and so on, depending on the length of the marker the pointer is on.

Prices at a Glance: Most Popular MeisterSinger Classic Watches

How Much Is a MeisterSinger Classic Watch?

A MeisterSinger Classic is not too expensive compared to most classic luxury timepieces from the biggest brands. For just $2,500 USD and below, anyone can have their own award-winning MeisterSinger Classic watch. Below are the most in-demand MeisterSinger Classic models and how much buyers will have to shell out to purchase one:

Prices for the MeisterSinger Classic N° 01

The Classic N° 01, also known as No. 01, is MeisterSinger’s most decorated hand-wound watch, with a price range that goes from $1,400 USD to $1,700 USD. It was the first creation from the brand to win the Red Dot and iF Design Awards and was recognized as Watch of The Year in the Netherlands in 2004. This timepiece also bagged the 2nd and 3rd place Goldene Unruh Awards in 2004 and 2005.

The most popular No. 01 variants are the MeisterSinger Classic No. 01 Ref. AM3308_SV06 and Ref. AM3303_SG02 watches. These two timepieces are Red Dot and iF Design Award winners priced at $1,499 USD each. The most unique feature of both watches, apart from the single hand, is the intricate fermata engravings on their stainless steel case backs. The fermata, an eye-like musical symbol that means rest or stop, is MeisterSinger’s iconic logo. 

Although the two models share some similar features, they are different when it comes to the dial finishes and bands. The Classic No. 01 Ref. AM3308_SV06 has a blue sunburst face and gray suede leather strap while the Ref. AM3303_SG02 is simpler, featuring an ivory dial and classy brown leather strap.

Prices for the MeisterSinger Classic N° 02 

The N° 02 or No. 02 watch, although no longer part of the present-day MeisterSinger Classic collection, is still sought-after by fans because of its bigger power reserve and unusual dial color options.

To elaborate, the Classic No. 02 watch looks like the No. 01 models, with the same single hand and double-digit hour indices, but is driven by a different caliber movement inside. It is the Unitas 6498-1 caliber that rests within the No. 02 timepiece and can be seen through the watch’s transparent case back. The movement lasts 46 hours per winding cycle, which is four hours more than the power reserve of the Sellita SW 210 caliber that powers the Classic No. 01 watches.

Furthermore, the Classic No. 02 offers a third variant, with a dial that comes in a very unconventional color: green sunburst. The version, popular with fans because of its unusual hue, is the MeisterSinger Classic No. 02 Ref. AM6609N. It costs approximately $2,395 USD. 

Prices for the MeisterSinger Classic N° 03

The MeisterSinger Classic N° 03, also called No. 03, is another award-winning watch. The timepiece, worth $1,500 USD to $2,500 USD, depending on the model, received the Good Design Award in 2007 and was nominated for the German Design Award in the same year. 

Style-wise, the No. 03 takes after the appearance of the original watch No. 01, but has an added touch of modernity thanks to new finishes and an automatic caliber. A new surface treatment the No. 03 offers is a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating that makes the dial and case look contemporary and suave in black. Meanwhile, the No. 03 also incorporates the latest caliber Sellita SW 200-1 movement, which provides 38 hours of power per winding cycle. 

The popular model that showcases this new finish and movement is the MeisterSinger Classic No. 03 Ref. AM902BL_SVSL03, which is quoted at $1,749 USD.

Prices for the MeisterSinger Pangaea Date

The Pangaea Date is MeisterSinger’s first sub-collection to come with a round date indicator. The MeisterSinger Classic Pangaea Date Ref. PMD907D_SG02 and MeisterSinger Classic Pangaea Date Ref. PMD908D_SG03, both of which retail at $1,759 USD each, serve as the sub-collection’s flagship models. They feature the round date complication at the 6 o’clock position. 

Both of these watches are unique because of the dégradé or fading finishes on their black and blue dials. The dark tone of the Pangaea Date Ref. PMD907D_SG02’s face is complemented by its dark brown leather strap while the blue motif of the Ref. PMD908D_SG03’s dial is accentuated by a cognac leather strap.

Prices for the MeisterSinger Pangaea

The Pangaea is the MeisterSinger Classic watch that the Pangaea Date is based on. Although not in production anymore, the timepiece is still quite popular with fans.

The Pangaea looks almost identical to the Pangaea Date, but carries a more vintage vibe, which is attributable to its dial. The Pangaea’s face boasts a cream or ivory hue while the double-digit hour indices and the rest of the markings are all in contrasting black. 

The design is as simple as that of the pocket watches from the 1400s and 1500s. Coming in this signature style is the iconic MeisterSinger Classic Pangaea Ref. PM903, which is worth $2,500 USD.

The Latest MeisterSinger Classic Watch

MeisterSinger launched several new watch lines in the last two years. Out of all of its releases, it is the 2020 City Edition that has the MeisterSinger Classic look all over.

 The MeisterSinger City Edition of 2020 is modeled after the MeisterSinger Classic No. 03. It also features the top-notch Sellita SW 200-1 caliber, a single hand, and double-digit indices. The only differences between the MeisterSinger Classic No. 03 and the 2020 City Edition is that the latter comes with a round date window on its dial, along with the silhouette of a famous city, and an engraving of said city’s name and motto on the transparent case back. 

There were 28 versions of this watch released, with each model representing a different city. Paris, Stockholm, Luxembourg, and Berlin were among some of the iconic locales featured. These watches sold for $2000 USD apiece. 

MeisterSinger Classic's History: The Watch That Slowed Down Time

The launch of the first MeisterSinger Classic in 2001, the No. 01, allowed people to feel less pressure when using a watch. The No. 01 seemed to slow down time because it featured an unusual handset, with only one hand pointing silently to the hours. There was no longer a second or third hand that ticked rapidly to show the passing of the minutes and seconds. This unorthodox design was conceived by MeisterSinger founder Manfred Brassler. He wanted to create a watch that focused only on the essentials, much like the oldest instruments of timekeeping, and so he made it into a reality.

The instruments that inspired the MeisterSinger Classic were the one-handed timepieces manufactured up until the mid-18th century. MeisterSinger specifically cites the famous watchtowers of Westminster Abbey and Toulouse Cathedral, the pocket watch called Nuremberg Egg, and the table clock Eisenuhr as examples.

Because of the MeisterSinger Classic No. 01’s peculiar yet convenient dial configuration, it won many honors in 2004, including the Red Dot and iF Design awards, and the title of Watch of the Year in the Netherlands. The MeisterSinger Classic has maintained its minimalistic style throughout every incarnation, but over the years, MeisterSinger has released models with a greater variety of colors, as can be seen from the MeisterSinger Classic No. 02 timepieces. 

Another watch that became the pride of MeisterSinger in 2007 was the MeisterSinger Classic No. 03, which received the Good Design Award. The timepiece had a classic exterior but was modern on the inside with its state-of-the-art self-winding Sellita SW 200-1 movement. The Classic No. 03 was also the brand’s flagship automatic watch.

Ten years after its initial release, at the 2017 Baselworld event, the new models of the MeisterSinger Classic No. 03 were made more compact, going from 43mm to 40mm in diameter. Besides the new size, changes to the MeisterSinger Classic throughout the years included the addition of the date window, which was first incorporated into the Pangaea Date models.

5 Reasons to Buy a MeisterSinger Classic Watch

The MeisterSinger Classic is extraordinary in many ways, so there are plenty of reasons why watch enthusiasts are so interested in it. Here are the top five strengths of the watch that make it worth purchasing:

1. The MeisterSinger Classic is a winner of multiple awards, which prove its exceptional design and build.

2. The timepiece, lacking the minute and second hands, helps people transition away from a fast-paced grind to a more relaxed lifestyle.

3. The price of the MeisterSinger Classic is quite affordable for a luxury timepiece.

4. This watch, which is read in a very nontraditional way, would be a great highlight of any watch connoisseur’s collection.

5. The MeisterSinger Classic can match just about any outfit with its minimalistic and versatile style.

MeisterSinger Classic: Worthy of Recognition

MeisterSinger shows through its classic watch that timepieces can be exemplary without having to be too modern. It adopted only the essentials, much like the timekeeping instruments of the past, and made those vintage features usable and attractive, even in the present day. Indeed, the MeisterSinger Classic is truly worthy of all the international praise it has been awarded.