About Jochen

Jochen Benzinger is a master artisan whose handcrafted timepieces revive the nearly lost traditions of watchmaking. Each watch he creates is meticulously engraved, skeletonized, and guilloché by hand, reflecting a level of craftsmanship rarely seen in the 21st century.

Born in 1961, he trained under a guild master in Pforzheim, where he completed an engraving apprenticeship and earned distinction as a top student. Driven by a desire to revive traditional crafts, he taught himself the lost art of engine turning, sourcing and restoring antique machines with guidance from aging local experts.

In 1985, Jochen took over Kollmar, a historic Pforzheim atelier known for generations of exceptional engine turning. Today, he and his small team—including master watchmaker Hermann Grieb—create bespoke timepieces as well as components for some of the world’s most prestigious watch brands, often in watches valued over $100,000. Jochen’s artistry also extends beyond horology, having engraved Fabergé eggs collected around the world.

For those seeking a truly special watch crafted in the heritage of 19th-century Pforzheim, Jochen Benzinger offers a rare blend of tradition, skill, and artistic integrity.

Rejecting mass production, Benzinger works with restored machines from over a century ago, embracing the slower, more deliberate pace required to produce truly individual works of art. His creations are the result of countless hours of dedication, each one a testament to the enduring beauty of handmade precision.