ANCRE ULTRAMATIC - HERMANN BECKER - 14K GOLD - 1960s

Case Width (without crown): 32.7 mm

Case Width (with crown): 35 mm

Lug to Lug: 38.5 mm

Between Lugs: 18 mm

Thickness: 10.2 mm

The name "Ancre" (French for "anchor") is a sacred term in the horological world. It signifies the use of the lever escapement - the gold standard of precision. In the 1950s and 60s, German manufacturers frequently placed this name on their dials as a mark of quality, emphasizing that their timepieces were equal to the Swiss giants. It was a true manifesto of technical excellence.

The history of Hermann Becker (HB) is a tale of technical courage and engineering sovereignty in the heart of Germany’s "Golden City" - Pforzheim. Founded in 1921 by the talented watchmaker Hermann Becker, the company chose a challenging path from the very beginning. While most brands took the easier route of ordering ready-made movements from Switzerland, Becker had the ambition to create his own "hearts" for his watches. He sought to prove that "Made in Germany" could compete with the finest Swiss examples.

The manufacture reached its true peak during the era of the "Economic Miracle" (Wirtschaftswunder) following World War II. After rebuilding production in Pforzheim, Hermann Becker made a technological breakthrough by introducing a line of in-house automatic calibers - the legendary Ultramatic series.

This watch belongs to that very "golden era" of the 1960s and 70s. The HB 313 movement within represents the pinnacle of the brand's craftsmanship. It was a statement of quality: 25 jewels, a sophisticated automatic winding architecture, and flawless finishing of every component. Unfortunately, like many great manufactures, Hermann Becker did not survive the "quartz crisis" of the late 1970s, forever becoming a part of history. Today, watches powered by the HB Ultramatic caliber are rare collectible artifacts, serving as reminders of a time when German mechanics were a benchmark for uncompromising reliability and individuality.