Habring²

Overview

Habring² is a family-run Austrian watchmaker founded by Richard and Maria Kristina Habring, producing limited-series mechanical watches with complications like jumping seconds and chronographs. It occupies a niche in the independent watchmaking segment, emphasizing hand-finishing, modular movements based on ETA/Valjoux calibers reworked in-house, and small production volumes of under 300 pieces annually. The brand is notable for its made-to-measure approach, reliance on European suppliers, and Richard Habring's prior invention of the Doppelchronograph for IWC.¹²³⁴⁶

History

Habring² was founded in October 2004 by master watchmaker Richard Habring and Maria Kristina Habring in Austria, following Richard's training starting in 1985 at the Karlstein watchmaker's school and his experience developing complications for brands like IWC since 1989. The first Habring² watch was presented that year, with production limited to 50 pieces annually initially, growing to around 200-300 today, adding one model per year in series of 12 individually numbered pieces. Key milestones include the 2014 launch of the in-house A11 manual-wind movement in the Felix model, Austria's first such caliber, and winning a GPHG award for the Jumping Second Pilot.²³⁴⁶

Product Lines

Manufacturing

Watches are assembled and hand-finished in Kärnten, Austria, by the Habring family in their small workshop. Movements are modular developments based on ETA/Valjoux 7750/7760, with the A11/A11B produced in-house and via partners in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany; cases from Fricker in Pforzheim, Germany, and bracelets from Hirsh in Kärnten. Production remains limited to under 300 pieces per year using European suppliers like DK Precision, Cador, and Carl Haas.¹²³⁶

Notable Products

• Felix - Manual-wind watch with proprietary A11B movement, celebrating 10 years with over 48-hour power reserve.
• Erwin Tuxedo - Automatic model with tuxedo dial in the modular Erwin series.
• Jumping Second Pilot - Pilot's watch with jumping seconds complication, GPHG award winner.
• Doppelchronograph - Complicated chronograph based on Richard Habring's IWC invention.
• Time-Only - Brand's first 2004 three-hander model, produced in limited series.

Reputation

Habring² is highly regarded by enthusiasts for its low production, hands-on family operation, and rational engineering like the sustainable modular movements and reliable supply chain, positioning it as a pragmatic independent survivor. Professionals praise Richard's expertise from IWC and the brand's serviceability focus over hype. Criticisms are minimal but include lack of full 'manufacture' status until the A11, though recent developments address this.³⁴⁶