Brendan Horneman Honours Christiaan Huygens with Innovative Kneijnsberg Hugenius Timepiece

Brendan Horneman, the independent watchmaker and esteemed educator at the Dutch national school for watchmakers, reminisces the scientific genius of Christiaan Huygens with his latest innovation, the Kneijnsberg Hugenius. The Hugenius pays homage to Huygens’ inventions and theories that greatly advanced mechanical timekeeping.

Originally a part of Kneijnsberg & Van Eijk, Horneman’s journey saw the creation of remarkable timepieces such as the Tree of Life in 2018. However, the Hugenius is the tip of the iceberg as Horneman segues into his own brand, Kneijnsberg. The new watch encapsulates the spirit of scientific pioneering embodied by Christiaan Huygens. 350 years after the invention of the balance spring, Horneman’s creation aims to honor this legacy.

A multi-talented scientist, Huygens also enhanced other fields like engineering, physics, mathematics, astronomy, and optics. Elements from the latter two fields are cleverly incorporated into the Hugenius’ design architecture.

The dial is the unique centerpiece of the Hugenius, imbued with Huygens’ work in optics and astronomy. A beautiful contrast of white and gold decorates the black base dial with rings and scales inspired by astronomy. The centre spotlights Earth, cradled in the belief of being the solar system’s center. Lollipop-tipped hour and minute hands mark the time traditionally, with an interesting twist in the form of a large hand bearing a 4mm-wide magnifying lens at its tip. A tribute to Huygens’ optical innovations, the magnifying lens glides over celestial symbols, perfecting the astronomical ensemble of the Hugenius.