Hercules Watches

A simple vision?

Perhaps, an adventure of it’s own, leads an inspired watchmaker into a manufacture of watches made for adventure?

Adriaan Trampe, originally from the Netherlands, now makes his home in Lausanne, Switzerland. Adriaan is dedicated to his pursuit of the success and excellence of the marque he’s acquired, Hercules Watches. Adriaan Trampe began his adventure in the watch industry in Holland.  Adriaan was looking for what would be next after high school. A 10 week trial course in Schoonhoven was exactly the catalyst Adriaan needed, he was hooked on watchmaking and proceeded into a four year program in “Uurwerktechniek”.

Before his completion of schooling in Schoonhoven, In 2015, Adriaan began thinking of producing and marketing watches. His first foray began as he became inspired to create a divers watch, in a vintage style. After significant research, Adriaan stumbled into an old marque in Pforzeim, Germany which had gone silent during the “Quartz Crisis” , the brand “Eza”.  The desire to make vintage looking watches in a modern way, leads a young watchmaker into becoming an entrepreneur. Adriaan Trampe developed his own protocols for product development and direct marketing of the Eza brand. Since, Adriaan has achieved a Masters Degree in Business from Business School Lausanne and he’s begun a new adventure by acquiring the historical marque Hercules!

The vision for Hercules Watches was very clear. In fact, Adriaan was led into the marque by his love of Alipinism. As an avid alpinist, Adriaan dug deeper into the history of watches as equipment for famous alpine expeditionaries. A story of the small manufacture Henzi & Pfaff was striking. In 1953, an Austrian mountaineer called Hermann Buhl became the first one to reach the top of the Nanga Parbat (8’126M). 31 Men tried to do this before him but didn’t return, which gave the Nanga Parbat the nickname “Killer Mountain”.  Hermann and the entire expedition crew were equipped with Hercules timepieces made by the watchmaking atelier Henzi & Pfaff. The watches proved to be reliable, robust, and precise timekeepers during their adventure. After none of the experimental clocks failed, Henzi & Pfaff successfully placed the proven reliability under extreme weather conditions at the center of its advertising. This was reinforced by the presence of the distinctive brand Hercules, which conveyed strength and resistance. The successful ascent and the worldwide attention of the expedition were marketed effectively by Henzi & Pfaff. As a result, Henzi & Pfaff equipped further expeditions with watches and thus developed the image of a reliable, robust and at the same time sporty watch.

 

Hercules Watches today, advancing Henzi & Pfaff, Hercules from Pforzeim to Switzerland!

Hercules offers two high-quality Swiss-made mechanical movement options for their watches, each with its own unique features and advantages:

Micro Rotor Movement: This movement is designed with a micro rotor, which is asmall automatic winding system that helps power the watch. One key benefit of this design is that it allows for a thinner overall watch profile compared to regular automatic watches that rely on the movement of your wrist to wind. Additionally,the placement of the micro rotor allows for a close fit between the movement and the anti-reflective coated sapphire caseback,giving the wearer a clear view of the intricate mechanics of the watch and the decorated bridges with Superluminova-filled height lines. The movement is specially made from scratch for this watch. The luxury aspect comes mainly from the micro-rotor mechanism. Normally, an automatic rotor is placed on top of a movement, while here the rotor is placed between the bridges. The alpinism part comes from the height lines of the Nanga Parbat (like on an old map) engraved in the bridges, filled with BGW9 SuperLuminova. This lights up bright blue in the night, memorating the permafrost on the top of the mountain..

 

Hand Wound Movement with Two Barrels: The hand-wound movement with two barrels provides an impressive 120 hours (5days) of power reserve. Hand-wound movements are appreciated by watch enthusiasts for their simplicity and the connection they offer to the watch’s inner workings. Through the caseback, you can get an up-close view of the movement,including engraved height lines representing the Nanga Parbat mountain, which are filled with Swiss BGW9 SuperLuminova for a striking glow in the dark.

Furthermore, each Hercules watch is assembled by hand, emphasizing the craftsmanship andattention to detail that goes into its production. To ensure accuracy and precision, the complete watch undergoes testing by Timelab inSwitzerland to receive an official “Observatoire Chronométrique+” certification. If the watch successfully passes this test,it earns the prestigious title of a “Chronometer,” signifying its exceptional timekeeping performance.

HERCULES WATCHES 2025

Clients of Hercules have a lot of choices in 2025!

….Clients may choose from a Microrotor automatic calibre (€5’995)  or a (€6’495) two barrel handwound calibre, produced bespoke for Hercules by Manufacture horlogère Vallée de Joux.

Tantalum! (€11’995)

The option of a Tantalum case is SO rare! Tantalum is such a unique material.

Tantalum watch cases are a fascinating niche in the world of horology. Tantalum, a rare and dense metal, has increasingly become a choice material for luxury watchmakers seeking to differentiate their timepieces. Here’s why tantalum is gaining popularity in watchmaking:

1. Durability: Tantalum is renowned for its exceptional durability and resistance to corrosion, making it an ideal material for watch cases. It can withstand the rigors of daily wear, scratches, and environmental factors, ensuring that the watch retains its luster and appearance over time.
2. Unique Aesthetic: Tantalum’s distinctive dark grey hue sets it apart from traditional watch case materials like stainless steel or gold. Its deep, lustrous sheen adds an air of sophistication and exclusivity to the timepiece, appealing to collectors and connoisseurs who appreciate unique aesthetics.
3. Hypoallergenic Properties: Tantalum is hypoallergenic, making it an excellent choice for individuals with sensitive skin or metal allergies. This property ensures that wearers can enjoy their timepiece comfortably without any adverse reactions.
4. High Density: Tantalum is a dense metal, which gives tantalum watch cases a substantial feel on the wrist. This weightiness adds to the luxury feel of the timepiece and provides a sense of quality craftsmanship.
5. Craftsmanship Challenges: Working with tantalum presents unique challenges due to its high melting point and resistance to corrosion. However, skilled watchmakers have developed techniques to overcome these obstacles, resulting in finely crafted tantalum watch cases that meet the highest standards of quality and precision.
6. Limited Availability: Tantalum’s rarity adds to its allure in the world of luxury watches. Its limited availability contributes to the exclusivity of tantalum timepieces, making them highly coveted among collectors.

Overall, tantalum watch cases offer a blend of durability, unique aesthetics, and exclusivity that appeal to discerning watch enthusiasts. As the demand for distinctive and high-quality timepieces continues to grow, tantalum is likely to remain a sought-after material in the realm of luxury watchmaking.