ANDERSEN Genève has introduced the Communication 45 – a world time watch – to celebrate its 45th anniversary. It is named after the Communication – Svend Andersen’s (the brand’s eponymous founder) first world timer from 1990. The Communication 45 will be available in three dial versions, each depicting a map of either Europe, Asia, or the Americas. Each version will feature a yellow gold case, and will be limited to 15 pieces each, 1 for each year the brand has existed.
Left: The new Communication 45. Right: The original Communication in yellow gold from 1990. The page on which both watches are placed is as much a horological treasure as the watches themselves. Notice the text, both top and bottom. It features the stamp of Jean-Pierre Hagmann (JHP), one of the greatest casemakers of our times. JHP, who passed away on 7th March 2025 aged 84, was responsible for the case of the original Communication.
We interviewed Pierre-Alexandre Aeschlimann, the owner of ANDERSEN Genève. Transcript from our interview:
[Kunaal Khemka] Alex, Huge Congratulations to you and your team for celebrating the 45th Anniversary of ANDERSEN Genève. How involved is Mr. Sven Andersen in the company? Also, tell us a bit about Mr. Marco Poluzzi, the master case maker?
[Pierre-Alexandre Aeschlimann] Svend Andersen (83 years old) has always been more than just a founder—he has been a guiding force and mentor for generations of watchmakers who passed through our atelier. It started with Frank Müller who was the first one to join at the beginning of the 80’s. He stayed 7 years. Afterwards many outstanding watchmakers like Felix Baumgartner, Philippe Quentin, Nicolas Billières, Roland Gloor etc. worked at ANDERSEN Genève next to Svend.
Left: Svend Andersen. Right: ANDERSEN Genève Atelier in Geneva.
Today Svend is coming to the Atelier to welcome collectors and press from around the world. He is also our living archive—a tremendous resource for researching past creations, especially unique pieces. For the last years I am developing complications and timepieces with a small in-house team of 6 watchmakers. We share with Svend, and we still listen to him carefully, but he deserves to rest a bit!
Left: Marco Poluzzi. Right: ANDERSEN Genève Atelier in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
As for Marco Poluzzi— also 83 (like Svend!), he embodies old-school craftsmanship. He is passing on the art of traditional case-making, entirely by hand and without CNC machines, to the team in La Chaux-de-Fonds. That level of dedication is increasingly rare today.
[Kunaal] Why did you choose the Communication 45 – a vintage inspired world time piece – to celebrate this milestone birthday? So far you have only shown one dial. I look forward to the other two dials. I really like the old-world vibes of the yellow gold and shape of the case.
[Alex] For our 45th anniversary, we wanted a piece that truly reflects our heritage—both in terms of technical complications and visual design. The original “Communication” model, launched in 1990, was our first timepiece made in series. Before that, we focused solely on unique commissions. In 2025 we had to create a timepiece that is showing our DNA. Our DNA in terms of complication but in terms of design and craftsmanship too.
Left: 1990 Souscription edition “Communication 24″ of 24 pieces. Middle: 1990 Communication with a cream dial. Right: 1990 Communication. Each has a yellow gold case.
Back in 1990, world time complications were particularly practical—remember, there was no internet or smartphones, yet global business operated across 24 time zones. Our watch filled a void, especially since Patek Philippe wasn’t producing a world timer at the time. The Communication was welcomed in countries like Italy, Germany, Japan before reaching a broader audience in Hong Kong, Southeast Asia & USA.The design of the original Communication—with its elegant teardrop lugs—was a tribute to classic models like the Patek Philippe 1415 HU.
Image: Notice the “cornes de vache” or cow horn lugs, and the crown at 9 o’clock. The crown features the Communication 45 logo, a globe with the number 45 on it. The openworked and brushed sword shaped hands are made from gold. The map on the dial is “infilled with a liquid lacquer of unalloyed gold.” Domed sapphire crystal. The dial depicts the map of Europe. The dials with the maps of Asia and the Americas have not yet been unveiled.
For the Communication 45, we revisited that style but added our own twist. The lugs, when viewed from the side, resemble “cornes de vache” (cow horns)—a subtle but distinct nod to our design language. It took time to get right, but the result is well worth it.
[Kunaal] It is safe to say that ANDERSEN Genève is one of the original independent watchmakers – if not the original – before the term “Independent watchmaking” became a thing. What differentiates ANDERSEN Genève from the other independent watch brands?
[Alex] Svend Andersen and Vincent Calabrese played a major role in shaping the world of independent watchmaking. As founders of the AHCI (Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants), they gave talented watchmakers a platform to create and sell their own timepieces. ANDERSEN Genève has always been developing timepieces with complications and will always be. That’s our core philosophy.
Left: 1990 advertisement for the Communication. Middle: 1990 papers for the Communication. Right: 1994 Europastar featuring Svend Andersen.
At the beginning Svend was developing them with the help of watchmakers working with him in the Atelier. If you look at the Perpetual Calendars with retrograde date from the 80’s, some are branded “ANDERSEN Genève”, some “FRANCK Genève”. Indeed, Franck Müller was involved in developing the Perpetual Calendar module called (in house!) “2-30”; it stands for 2mm thick and 30mm wide to have all necessary components.
Left: Dial options for the Communication in 1990. Right: Box containing the dials.
Today, thanks to the outstanding in-house watchmakers’ team we are continuing his path. I believe this is the “motto” of ANDERSEN Genève. Developing in-house complications and creating timepieces. A collector came last year to pick up his bespoke World time watch. Svend was here to welcome him and told him: “This watch wouldn’t be as perfect if we didn’t have that long history in World time. Thanks to the expertise in this field, we could bring many details that are making your watch beautiful. One can feel this into your timepiece.” Experience is everything.
[Kunaal] What are your thoughts on the independent watchmaking landscape? If I may ask, besides ANDERSEN Genève, your other favourite independent brands? And favourite mainstream brands?
[Alex] I’ve been passionate about watches since childhood … and my wish list is very long! It is true that the watchmaking scene is very rich nowadays. There are “true” watchmakers doing amazing work, though not all brands are consistent. As I have always said: “There is room for everyone in the watch world.”
ANDERSEN Genève watches over the years. Left: 1991 Chronographe Lemania. Middle: 1992 Christophorus Columbus. Right: 2022 Heures du monde with Asprey. Notice the gorgeous lugs. Classics always stand the test of time.
That said, I believe the landscape—both among independents and larger manufacturers— will change over the coming years. The whole Swiss Watch industry is going through a very difficult period.
[Kunaal] Now for a really difficult question. Your world time and jump hour modules are in-house and powered by base vintage movements. Now, when even microbrands are commissioning watch specialists to create a bespoke movement for them or doing it themselves, why is ANDERSEN Genève not going this path? Given your heritage and price-point, isn’t this something both existing and newer clients expect?
[Alex] You are perfectly correct. There are many “movement makers” on the market; some are outstanding. As I tell collectors if you are looking for a tourbillon movement, I can make 3 calls and find tourbillon movements for a couple of thousands Swiss Francs to a couple of tenth of thousand Swiss Francs. But at ANDERSEN Genève, we’re not in the business of making movements.
Instead, our focus is on complications. We design them in-house with a team of highly skilled watchmakers and engineers from 23 to 49 years old. Complications that are then displayed in a timepiece that is also developed in house. For us, it’s not about following industry trends—it’s about delivering something meaningful, crafted with intent and care. We’re not caught up in the “in-house for the sake of it” hype. Our timepieces speak for themselves.
Image: ANDERSEN Genève uses vintage automatic movements as a base for their in-house world time module. “Each movement is fully disassembled and refinished in-house. Bridges and plates are gently frosted rather than striped, giving a matte texture reminiscent of early 20th-century finishing styles, and forming a high contrast with chamfered and polished bevels, all of which is carried out by hand. Screws are mirror polished, and the teeth of the wheels are finished to precise tolerances to enhance both function and appearance. The rotor, in matching BlueGold ‘Cognac’, carries the same ‘tapisserie’ guilloché as the dial. On the underside of the balance bridge, the brand’s “A” logo is engraved, with its centre a polished and heat-blued screw head – a quiet detail reserved for those familiar with the brand’s history.”
[Kunaal] Do you have a third model planned? Perhaps, a time-only watch? Maybe a modern reinterpretation of a secular perpetual calendar, such as the one you showed me in Singapore 10 years ago?
[Alex] Yes, we have several exciting projects in the pipeline. But as I have understood in the watch industry, everything takes time. While I’d love to reveal more, it’s too early to say whether these new pieces will be ready in 2026 or later. Right now, our priority is delivering the last Jumping Hour timepieces and other timepieces that have been ordered. Today we are running on a delivery schedule of 9-12 months for current collection timepieces. It is longer for Unique Pieces. Not easy at all to manage.
[Kunaal] Do you have any plans for a collaboration or partnership with any other independent watch brand? Such as the one you have with Benjamin Chee Haute Horlogerie (BCHH)?
[Alex] The collaboration with Benjamin Chee was wonderful. He is such a watch and design lover, and he loves details as much as I do. I truly enjoyed developing the Celestial Voyager with Benjamin. The result is outstanding. Looking ahead, we have another collaboration coming in 2025—this time with Asprey London.
ANDERSEN Genève’s Jumping Hours. Left: Black Jade Stone. Middle: Mother of Pearl. Right: Burma Jade.
We’re launching the final edition of our Jumping Hour series: the ANDERSEN Genève x Asprey Burma Jade (top right), limited to just 12 pieces. The dial is made from an exquisite 0.4mm-thick green Burma jade—a fitting finale to a collection that began in 2020.
[Kunaal] I am aware ANDERSEN Genève does a lot of bespoke pieces, which I am assuming are mostly dials. How does one commission a bespoke ANSERSEN piece? Do bespoke pieces constitute a major part of sales?
[Alex] We love bespoke commissions. They’re a big part of who we are. But since we’re a small team, we must balance things carefully—we’re not aiming to produce hundreds of watches a year.
We always say we make watches for “wrists” not for “retail window”. Therefore, many collectors are contacting us directly to ask for their wished options / timepieces. Personally, I love collaborating directly with collectors to make something outstanding just for them. We share the same passion. It is a beautiful journey.
[Kunaal] Which are your key markets? And which other markets you looking at?
[Alex] In 2025, we celebrate 45 years since the delivery of the first ANDERSEN Genève timepiece. Fewer than 1,500 watches have been made since then—a true testament to our commitment to quality over quantity. Our early Ambassadors in the 80’s were in Italy, Germany, and Japan, followed by collectors in Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, and the U.S.
Left: 1990 Communication made for Japan. Right: 2005 Shellman Voyage by ANDERSEN Genève. Japan has been an early market for the brand and is among the most sophisticated watch markets in the world.
Today, we are thrilled to welcome collectors in new regions like Belgium, Denmark, Poland, the U.K., Turkey, the UAE, and Brazil. I’m particularly keen to spend more time in India—there’s a growing community of discerning collectors there. I am aiming to visit them in 2026.
[Kunaal] Last but not least, since you have a front row seat in horology – both from the perspective of ANDERSEN Genève, and being based in Geneva, is there any watch collection advice you would like to share?
[Alex] What a lovely question. I believe you must buy a timepiece the same way you are buying an Art Piece for your house or your garden. Buy with your heart, buy something you like so that you can enjoy it every day. If you can afford it this will bring you joy and happiness.
Thank you very much Kunaal for your ongoing support for ANDERSEN Genève.
[Kunaal] The pleasure is all mine.
Communication 45 Key Features
Functions: Hours and minutes. World time function.
Dial: Centre dial made from 21K BlueGold. ‘Tapisserie-Guilloché’ pattern. Cognac colour. “The city ring of the Communication 45 is circular-brushed and overlaid with cream lacquer. On top of this, a new, bespoke font for the city names was developed to aid perfect legibility; the 24-hour ring features alternating day and night sectors in cream and dark brown.”
Movement: Powered by a mechanical high-quality vintage movement upgraded by the brand. World time module developed and crafted in-house. It is an updated version from the module used in the Celestial Voyager series. Jewels: 17. Frequency: 21,600 vph or 3 Hz. Power reserve: 40 hours.
Case: Three-part case made from 3N yellow gold. Diameter: 38 mm. Thickness (without sapphire crystals): 8.97 mm. Dial side and caseback feature a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides. Crown at 3 o’clock for time setting, and at 9 o’clock for rotating the city disc. Water resistant up to 30 metres. Watch comes with a baby crocodile leather strap with a pin buckle made from yellow gold.
Price: Swiss Franc (CHF) 49,800 + Tax. Limited edition of 45 pieces (15 each with map of Asia, Europe, or the Americas). Delivery: Q1 2026. Please contact ANDERSEN Genève if interested.
Our coverage on the ANDERSEN Genève X BCHH Celestial Voyager “Sunset over Cappadocia” – Version 2 explains the brand’s world time function in greater detail.
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