In our new interview series spotlighting forward-thinking figures in independent watchmaking, Pascal Béchu, managing director of Angelus and Arnold & Son, shares on how the new Tinkler 1958 revisits Angelus’ past to propel the brand forward
Angelus has revived a piece of its history with the new Angelus Tinkler 1958 Quarter Repeater. First introduced in 1958, the timepiece was equipped with a patented movement and was considered a pioneer of water-resistant, self-winding quarter-repeater watches. Housed in a 36mm water-resistant case—with a pusher at 9 o’clock to activate the chimes—the watch’s technical complexity and high production costs meant that only a limited number of pieces were made, earning it a status as a cult classic among collectors.
At Watches and Wonders 2026, Angelus reintroduces this historic model with the Tinkler 1958 Quarter Repeater. Offered in stainless steel (limited to 25 pieces) and yellow gold (15 pieces), the contemporary 38mm reinterpretation is powered by the new automatic calibre A600.
Pascal Béchu, managing director of Angelus and Arnold & Son says he hopes the new Tinkler will mark the beginning of a new generation of repeater watches for the brand. He adds that Angelus is steadily building its modern collection, with repeating watches forming the second pillar of the brand’s La Fabrique complications line. “The brand’s heritage and wealth of expertise are immense, and we have a development plan for the next five years,” he says.
What are the highlights of the Angelus Tinkler 1958?
The Tinkler 1958 boasts a new complication within Angelus’ current collection, and a significant one. It features a new movement and is the culmination of an extensive period of development. With this launch, we are reminding the world that Angelus is not only a specialist in high-end chronographs, but has also been a manufacturer of repeater watches since its earliest years.
The company’s first patent, filed in 1894, was for a chronograph mechanism, and the next two patents, filed in 1896 and 1899, concerned repeater watches. In a sense, we are also celebrating the 130th anniversary of the Stolz brothers’ first patent for a repeater watch.
What elements of its conception or execution could only have been realised by an independent watch brand?
As a niche brand with independent management, we are able to be extremely agile in everything we undertake. This new calibre was developed in record time, drawing on the expertise of our manufacture and its watchmakers.
What creative, technical, or commercial risks were required to bring back this historic model?
With the Tinkler, we are writing a new chapter in Angelus’s history. There are only a few quarter-hour repeaters on the market today, and minute repeaters are widely regarded as the pinnacle of horological complications among collectors and enthusiasts.
We believe that a quarter-hour repeater offers an opportunity to make this complication more accessible while celebrating Angelus’ heritage. Only time will tell whether this intuition proves right.
What place do you hope the Tinkler will occupy in the broader Angelus story?
I hope that the Tinkler 1958 will be the first in a long line of repeater watches. Before the end of the 1970s, Angelus presented 5- and 10-minute repeaters in addition to the quarter-hour repeater we are launching this year. This launch in 2026 marks a very important milestone in the company’s development.
