Meistersinger neo 36 and neo 40

The MeisterSinger NEO 36 and NEO 40 are two new models from the Münster-based watch brand. Upholding MeisterSinger tradition, a lone hand enunciates the hours and minutes with a clear, calm voice. The dial also features a date indication at 6 o’clock. However, while the model may be positioned as ‘the best of the 50s’, it features some modern-day refinements and, more pertinently, its composition is ideally suited to the here and now.

It is always interesting to read a press release and note the vocabulary employed and the product’s intended positioning. The latest horological creations from Münster, the MeisterSinger NEO 36 and NEO 40, are said to embrace ‘classic modernism’ and, the case in particular, is described as ‘typical of the 50s’.

Certainly, the hardened acrylic glass infuses the composition with a vintage vibe. Likewise, the slender case profile harks back to an era when slim watches represented elegance and refinement. Finally, the degradé dial is reminiscent of timepieces from yesteryear.

So, everything is retro, teddy boys and Elvis? Not quite. The dial is presented in a gloriously vibrant raspberry-coloured hue. Moreover, the movement, the Sellita SW200, is automatic, well-proven and unequivocally modern. And the size? Traditionalists are well-served with the 36mm case option, however, MeisterSinger also offers a 40mm option, meeting the needs of many modern-day buyers.

In summary, the MeisterSinger NEO 36 and NEO 40, can best be described as a bit 50s, a bit modern, unequivocally stylish and most definitely MeisterSinger.

A design of classic modernism

With a case design typical for the 50s, the NEO takes us back to a time when the world still seemed to be a good place. Letters and invoices were still written by hand, telephones were attached to a cord either at home or in a phone booth. The quartz movement had not yet been discovered – and the Internet? Forget it! With the NEO we have recreated the beautiful and the good for the benefit of our modern era and equipped it with state-of-the-art watchmaking technology.

Clarity and balance

The two-piece case design allowed us to make the edge of the case incredibly narrow, making the NEO look as if it were nothing but a dial. Just like it used to be when this type of watch was popular.

Although the term "Bauhaus" is overused, it actually describes the NEO model series rather well. Its key features are clarity, balance, and a coherent design. But here comes the crucial factor: The NEO has a completely unmistakable dial.

Excitement right up to the edge

Another feature prevalent in the 1950s was the colour progression from light in the centre to black at the edge of the dial. The technique, which is known as degradé (French) or gradient (English), looks captivatingly beautiful with its strong, radiant, raspberry-coloured sunburst finish.

Escapement is an online magazine owned and operated by Angus Davies and his wife, Heidi Davies.