1969 was an outstanding year for mankind: woodstock, the moon landing and the release of the automatic chronograph caliber were just a few of the many significant events and accomplishments.
Especially the latter had a great influence on the watch world. Mechanical calibers and their user-friendly self-winding types illustrate the special craftsmanship that goes into a watch. For many watch enthusiasts, therefore, only mechanical watches come into question.
These enthusiasts, perhaps including you, have asked us the same question over and over again: why isn’t the schallmauer available with a mechanical chronograph caliber, either hand-wound or automatic?? And this is exactly the question we would like to answer here and invite everyone to share their thoughts on the subject with us.
Few options on automatic chronograph movements
our schallmauer with its miyota quartz chronograph movement did well and sold very successfully. For the price of €300, the Schallmauer is absolutely valuable and in its price category certainly very high in terms of haptics and choice of materials. The reason that the sound barrier is not yet available as an automatic is that we have not been able to find a factory that would allow us to implement it in a similar price range and with our quality requirements.
sound barrier 2.0 = sound barrier automatic chronograph
a "normal" automatic movement (3hand + date) is offered by some manufacturers and therefore we were able to realize the primus and also the tiefsee with the modified miyota 821A according to our wishes. With a mechanical chronograph, the options are much more limited, as it is one of the more complex movement types. This makes the search for a caliber that suits us extremely challenging. But we have succeeded in planning an adequate successor that takes this family to a new, even higher level. Read on to find out more about our efforts and what’s next for the automatic sound barrier.
No find with our "in-house supplier
Our first option for the movements should actually be miyota. We are very satisfied with the quality of the calibers and the excellent price-quality ratio. They can be easily modified and by readjustment, a noticeable improvement in the accuracy is possible. In addition, maintenance can also be done well. Unfortunately, miyota simply does not have a mechanical chronograph in their assortment.
The look to china
Then we checked another interesting option due to the price: movements from the chinese manufacturer sea-gull.
These are based on classic swiss calibers and are well implemented. With chinese movements is often a certain basic skepticism associated. If one could put these aside, the ST19-series and especially the ST1940 as an automatic with 36 hours of power reserve is actually a good basis. With a deviation of approx. +/- 20 seconds a day a good starting point to have it finally refined and adjusted by our master watchmaker. Actually..
During the inspection of a test order, the bandwidth ranged from fantastic values to a defect that existed right from the start. Due to our quality requirements, it is not a viable way for us with such production tolerances and deviations.
A first option: seiko
Another reliable market giant besides miyota is seiko, who have with their caliber NE86 a caliber that comes into question in their program. with this movement everything fits at first go. The modifications needed for us were easy for our master watchmaker to implement. the movement is robust and can also be regulated to further increase the accuracy.
however, seiko already charges a price of almost 300€ for its standard version. So the price still without any refinement on movement, rotor or the date disk. Therefore, this option did not appeal to us. However, we also came to a realization: if we are already in this price range, then it can go one step further.
no compromises: the swiss heart
We realized that if we were going to make an automatic chronograph, we had to do it right. the real deal, the epitome for many watch fanatics: the swiss heart!
We discussed for a few days how we could improve an automatic version of the sound barrier besides the caliber. We planned and changed some proportions, materials and functions to finally create a worthy schallmauer automatic, which will be based on a modified sellita SW510BH. A customized date disc, an individually decorated movement and a rotor designed especially for us make the caliber very unique. We also included the option of a chronometer certificate in the planning process.
A big step for a young brand
With such a swiss movement, the purchase price for an unadapted movement is already over 400€. With modifications and a chronometer certificate one lies still clearly higher. And we are only talking about the movement. costs for case, glass, assembly, packaging, shipping etc. Have not even been taken into account yet.
In the end, such quality would have its price. The regular retail price would have to be around 1.500€ lie. As a newly established brand, to immediately charge such a price did not seem like the right way to go. Now we are ready for it.
The automatic sound barrier is approaching
The schallmauer automatics can only be called a matter of the heart. That’s why we are pleased that we are contacted again and again about this not yet existing execution. Due to the experience gained in the last year and the positive feedback from our customers, we are now ready to bring a great sound barrier automatic to life!
It will be one level higher in terms of specifications – even beyond the movement. Our plan is to present these watches in a crowdfunding campaign and offer all supporters a particularly attractive entry price.
Be up close and personal with the development
the sound barrier automatic will be something very special – the best VANDAAG that has existed so far. And you can be part of the development early on and help us in many different ways right now. if you want to support us with ideas/opinions or purchase announcements 
and/or want to follow the developments, you have the following possibilities:
1.) sign up now for our special "schallmauer automatik" newsletter and we’ll keep you up to date. We will also ask all subscribers one or two questions and take their feedback into account when making our decisions. And you will be the first to learn about the individual great specifications of the sound barrier automatic.
enter your email address here and click on the link in the confirmation email (also check your spam folder). We’ll only send you emails with content about the sound barrier automatic, we promise!
2.) answer a few quick questions for us in the following survey: