[T54SL Sneak Peek: Treiber's Tribute to the Mercedes 300SL]

On 9/18/2023 at 7:36 AM, TimeTexas said:

This looks incredible. This is such a beautiful car.

It looks like the crystal is actually slightly recessed below the bezel with only the top of the curved crystal extending higher. Is that correct?

Thanks Chris, I’m very excited about this one. Got some prototype parts in hand and it’s looking pretty killer. 

You’re right, the crystal seat is lower than the bezel. I had initially modeled the watch with a standard double dome crystal, like in the renderings above. After some consideration I decided to change the crystal to be more like the style on the omega speedmaster . Unlike the speedmaster, the top of the crystal sits just slightly above the bezel. I think it looks really clean this way. Looking forward to sharing more in the coming weeks. 
 

This should be a bit easier to photograph too so we can all look forward to that

[T54SL Sneak Peek: Treiber's Tribute to the Mercedes 300SL]

Hi everyone,

We’re thrilled to offer you an exclusive sneak peek into our next automotive inspired timepiece, the T54SL—a watch inspired by the timeless classic, the Mercedes 300SL.

 

The Iconic Mercedes 300SL:

Why did we choose to pay tribute to the Mercedes 300SL? To put it simply, this car is an automotive legend. It's more than just a vehicle; it's a symbol of innovation, style, and racing prowess.

While the 300SL, introduced in the 1950s, has an iconic design and is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful cars ever made, the car wasn't just built for style. It was designed to dominate on the race track, and it did just that. It dominated the global racing circuit, clinching victories in events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Mille Miglia, and the Carrera Panamericana, among many others.

 

Design Inspirations:

The T54SL is an homage to this legendary car, designed to encapsulate its essence. Let's take a closer look at the design elements:

Dial and Hands:

Similarly to our first watch, the T57BA. The dial and hands of this watch are a direct homage to the car's speedometer. Using the same font, and colors used on the car’s speedometer ensures that every glance at your wrist is a reminder of the 300SL and its unprecedented racing history. 

Crown Inspired by Dash Knobs:

The devil is in the details, they say, and the Mercedes 300SL is a testament to this. We've taken cues from the car's dash knobs to design the watch crown. The result? A crown that effortlessly blends functionality and elegance. The crown design allows it to closely hug the case, for a nice on-wrist feel. 

Lug Design Inspired by Wheel Arches:

Just as the 300SL's wheel arches accent the car’s curves so do the lugs on the T54SL accent the watch’s design. 

 

Choice of Bracelet or Leather Strap:

Your watch, your choice. The Treiber T54SL will come with options for both a stainless steel bracelet or a hand made leather strap. 

 

A Sneak Peek:

Now that you have a better idea of our inspiration, take a look at the rough 3D renderings of this timepiece, and some photos of the 300SL for comparison. 

 

A Timepiece in the Making:

We are currently working to craft the very first prototype of this watch, so expect to see more on this in the coming weeks, as we build out the prototype. We will also be at the microLUX Austin show in November where we hope to have a prototype of this timepiece available for attendees to see and feel in person. 

As we venture further into the creation of this extraordinary watch, we invite you to stay tuned for more updates and a closer look at the prototype. More pictures and information will follow, showcasing the watch and the design philosophy behind this tribute to the Mercedes 300SL.

We hope you share our enthusiasm for this project and can't wait to share the journey with you.

Thanks,

Hermann

[T57BA Review - Capturing the Soul of Americana]

Wonderfully written as always, Chris! I’ve said this a few times, but it’s great how you’ve noticed some of the small design details I’ve incorporated. Really glad you got to get your hands on it and appreciate your feedback.  
 

As you’ve mentioned I’m working on improving the dial and crystal printing, so should have updates on that within the next month or two. Hoping to have more crisp printing and some stronger lume on the next batch. Maybe once I get those sorted I can get another watch sent out to you to get your input. 
 

My initial prototypes actually included a strap with a more standard buckle (with my own design), so if you, or other future customers prefer that over the deployant clasp, I could revisit that. I personally fell in love with the deployant clasp and haven’t wanted to touch a standard buckle since incorporating it so decided to move forward with that. 
 

Thanks again, and appreciate what you do to support us small guys in the watch world. 
 

-Hermann

[All Around Gearhead]

On 6/27/2023 at 7:08 PM, TimeTexas said:

My dad first bought a hotrod while I was in college but I always enjoyed it. He didn't keep it too long before he sold it and then got into remodeling Model A's and was part of the Austin Model A club. I'll see if I can find some photos of some of his cars. He had a '31 Crown Victoria and a fire truck and a few others he worked on and rebuilt but ended up selling. I was never very mechanically inclined, but I think it definitely plays a part in my love for mechanical watches. I truly appreciate people that can design and build watches and I'm fascinated that hundreds of inert metal pieces can be assembled to tell the time within just a few seconds per day. Really remarkable.

Sounds like he had some awesome, not so common model A’s. I’m a big fan of the victorias, and you can’t beat a vintage fire truck! Very cool to hear and would love to see pictures if you find them.

[Some Early Photos of the 57BA]

On 6/27/2023 at 7:17 PM, TimeTexas said:

So Hermann was kind enough to send me a 57BA to photograph. I will say every watch takes me a few days to get used to the lighting and angle and I just got this yesterday. Plus it has a lot of curves, including the crystal, as well as having a polished surfaces. Both things that still confound me and my makeshift studio on my kitchen table. Regardless, I'm practicing and here's a few early shots.

These shots are really great! I definitely agree that all of the curves and fully polished surfaces make it a challenging subject. You’ve figured it out quickly though!

 

[All Around Gearhead]

Hi everyone, this is Hermann, Treiber’s founder. I am a true gearhead that began working on cars at the age of 13. My first project started with rebuilding a 283 cubic inch V8 from a 1958 Chevy Corvette. The rebuild was challenging, but I loved every minute. This also sparked my interest in mechanical engineering, which eventually became my career. 

Following the engine rebuild I began searching for a car to put it in. That’s when I stumbled upon a beat up and abandoned 1932 Chevy frame and 1931 Ford body that were headed for the scrap yard. Most people would have written them off as junk, but I saw potential. I had always been fascinated by the 1950s era of American hot rodding that took pre-war cars and modified them to be sleek, and powerful machines. This car was an attainable start to the dream of having my own hot rod. 
 

By the time I was 16 the car was pieced together and drivable, but was far from finished. This didn’t stop me from driving the car around town though. By the time I was 18 the car was about 95% complete, including satin black paint. 
 

I am a strong believer in driving the cars we own and love, which is what inspired my company’s name “Treiber”, which is translated as Driver in Swiss German. 
 

I hope you enjoyed this little story and insight into my passions that have inspired the Treiber brand. This is just the beginning of my automotive journey. I have a lot more projects to share so keep an eye out for those stories.
 

The attached pictures show the before and after photos of the engine and hot rod. 

[All Around Gearhead]

Now we all know there’s a special connection between the automotive and watch worlds, so we’d love to hear from you. What cool cars do you own or have owned? Have you worked on any exciting projects? Have you gone on a nice cruise recently? Please share your automotive adventures with or without your Treiber Timepieces. 
 

Treiber’s founder Hermann Kugeler has built and worked on classic cars since the age of 13. His passion for cars and watches spawned Treiber Timepieces, developing a bridge between the two interests. His automotive stories and projects are shared also shared here. 

[Off the wrist]

On 7/15/2022 at 1:35 PM, TimeTexas said:

I’m obsessed with this watch! The design is !

[Intro to Treiber Timepieces]

Hi everyone, 

My name is Hermann and I run an independent watch brand called Treiber Timepieces based out of San Francisco, California, USA.

We design watches inspired by classic cars. Treiber translates to “Driver” in Swiss German. We design timepieces for gear heads (which can refer to car enthusiasts in the classic sense or mechanical watch enthusiasts).

Our first watch is called the T57BA, and is inspired by the timeless design of the 1957 Bel Air, brining classic American styling to your wrist.

I’m happy to be a new member of the independent watch community. Please follow our journey on Instagram and our website!