1941 Principia

The extended Lancette hour and minute hands are flame-blued and include mirror-polished centres. In the lower portion of the dial is a small seconds display. A flame-blued hand with an elegant counterweight traverses the display with notable poise.

At the top of the subdial on the cream lacquer dial, '60' is proclaimed in a subtle shade of orange. It is a patriotic reference to Bart and Tim's country of birth, The Netherlands.

Let's take a closer look at the case. The sculpted case is executed using specially shaped cutters to create the characteristic hollowed, concave recesses and convex surfaces. In between each additional cutting phase, the case is polished prior to the next stage of milling, ensuring the precisely defined contours of the case are retained. This process proves incredibly time-consuming, but the outcome justifies the effort.

Each lug is retained with two hidden titanium screws, positioned inside the case. The lugs can be detached for remedial polishing or, should they have been subject to excessive trauma, they can be replaced.

Measuring 39.5mm in diameter, with a restrained height of 10.5mm, the 1941 case is the epitome of elegance, courtesy of its discreet mien.

Last but not least, how did the Principia get its name? The 'Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica' often referred to as simply the Principia, is a body of work by Sir Isaac Newton, delivered in three books. Written in Latin, the Principia formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation. This Newton's scientific study is the foundation of classical mechanics and it led the Horological Brothers to select the 'Principia' name for their first watch with automatic winding mechanism.