A couple of days ago, on 5th July 2011, the German Watch Museum Glashütte opened a special exhibition to honor the work and achievements of the master watchmaker Alfred Helwig.
The exhibition called "Alfred Helwig – his life and work for the art of watchmaking" is opened on his 125th birthday. The German Watch Museum hosted numerous guests, including the former students of Helwig, lenders of the exhibits and watch aficionados, collectors, as well as representatives of the watchmaking companies.
Alfred Helwig is known in the world of watchmaking as the inventor of the flying tourbillon. The flying tourbillon is neither supported by a bridge nor cock, at both the top and bottom, but rather cantilevered, being only supported by one side. Today, visitors can enjoy his beautiful and technically perfect models, including a unique lever escapement pocket watch with flying tourbillon he built in 1905. As any of his creations, this watch easily blends brilliant design and high technical precision.
From April 1913-1944, Alfred Helwig also worked as a teacher at the German School of Watchmaking in Glashütte, where he later became a headmaster. Some of the works designed by his students are equally on display.
The exhibition reveals many historical papers documenting watchmaker’s intentions to develop marine chronometer with an hour angle indication and lever escapement, or a prototype of a pilot’s wrist watch with an hour angle indication dial and rattrapante function – for the fast and accurate determination of location. There are also about 40 of his articles and books, including an illustrated essay on “rotating carriage watches” – which is what he called Tourbillon watches.
As a homage to Alfred Helwig, Glashütte Original issued two models of the series "Masterpieces": Alfred Helwig Tourbillon and Alfred Helwig Tourbillon 2. Both of these limited edition watches honor the great watchmaker, as well as the Watchmaking School of Glashütte Original that changed its name in 2002, bearing the name Alfred Helwig since then.
The exhibition is opened from 6th July until 31st of October 2011. A small exhibition catalogue is also printed for this occasion.
