In the heart of Saxony’s renowned watchmaking valley sits Bruno Söhnle Glashütte/SA. Known for offering more affordable timepieces compared to its neighbors and highly regarded among enthusiasts for its refined quartz watches, a rarity in Glashütte. Since establishing its roots in this historic town in 2000, the comparatively young company Bruno Söhnle has successfully combined traditional Glashütte craftsmanship with modern design, making quality watches accessible to a wider audience.
Today we will take a closer look on the versatile dark grey Bruno Söhnle Turin Automatik 17-12230-840. The watch also exists with a fresh off-white-, classic dark green- and stunning neon green dial. Let’s take a closer look at this sporty timepiece and what makes it so special.
History of Bruno Söhnle: A Journey from Quartz to Mechanical Watches
Bruno Söhnle, a passionate watchmaker coming from Wurmberg in southern Germany, founded his namesake brand with a focus on creating high-quality, affordable timepieces. What began as a modest venture soon grew into a well-regarded name within the watch industry. Initially, the brand focused on quartz watches, mainly ladies watches like the Turin II Small, setting itself apart in the Glashütte region, where mechanical movements typically dominate.
The first mechanic caliber: Case back of the Bruno Söhnle – Mechanik Edition X – Limited Edition – 17-11100-228 powered by an Atelier Caliber BS 283
However, in 2008, Bruno Söhnle expanded its horizons by introducing mechanical watches, including both hand-wound and later automatic models. All movements follow to the strict standards outlined in the Glashütte Regulation of 2023, ensuring a high degree of value-added work within the region.
A Legacy Continued: Stephanie Söhnle’s Vision for Bruno Söhnle Glashütte
Since 1997 Stephanie Söhnle, daughter of the founder, has played a crucial role in the company’s evolution. In 2009, she stepped into the role of CEO, bringing with her a deep commitment to her father’s vision of producing exceptional yet accessible watches. Under her leadership, Bruno Söhnle Glashütte has continued to innovate, expanding its mechanical watch offerings and developing new models with bold designs, while staying true to its roots.
CEO Stephanie Söhnle wearing a Turin Automatik – 17-12230-440
Bruno Söhnle Turin Automatik 17-12230-840 on the wrist
The manufacturer is known for its rather large watches and has finally answered the community’s request for a smaller timepiece with the Turin Automatik. With a diameter of 39.5mm, the watch wears more like a 38.5mm, likely due to its compact, short lugs and inner black ring on the dial. The design balances between sporty and modern without being overly flashy, maintaining a sleek, almost technical Bauhaus sports watch aesthetic, especially with a dark-grey or off-white dial.
Bruno Söhnle Turin Automatik 17-12230-840, wrist circumference: 18 cm / 7″ – Picture: Watchbandit
At 11.8mm thick, with a slightly domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inside, clean bezel, and steeply angled lugs, the Turin Automatik sits comfortably on the wrist.
Bruno Söhnle Turin Automatik seen from the side, wrist circumference: 18 cm / 7″ – Picture: Watchbandit
Turin Automatik in Detail
The dial of the Turin Automatik offers a lot of detail while maintaining a modern and clean appearance. A steep outer ring in the dial’s color, featuring a minute track, frames the dial, followed by a black ring with another minute track and polished, applied indices at every five-minute mark.
The grey dial itself has a subtle, fine-grained texture, giving it a smooth, matte finish that’s not immediately noticeable to the naked eye but adds depth to the design. Adding a pop of contrast, the “10 BAR” water resistance marking is printed in red, standing out against the otherwise monochrome palette.
The applied indices are equipped with Swiss SuperLuminova, glowing green in low light for excellent visibility.
The bracelet is a standard stainless steel Jubilee with solid end-links and a folding clasp. While it complements the watch and makes it a little bit more dressy, it would be great to see additional options, such as an Oyster-style bracelet, which would better match the watch’s modern and sporty character.
Fortunately, the watch is highly versatile and pairs beautifully with WB Original straps, offering plenty of customization potential.
Bruno Söhnle Atelier Automatic Caliber BS175
Two years after launching their first manual winding caliber, the BS 283, Bruno Söhnle introduced their first automatic movement in 2010, the Atelier Caliber BS 175. The trained eye will see, that the movement is based on the well-known Swiss Sellita SW 200-1. It offers several key advantages: it’s reasonably priced, easy to service by most watchmakers, and spare parts are readily available.
To meet the Glashütte Rule standards (a watch protected under the Glashütte Regulation must have completed at least 50 percent of its “essential manufacturing stages” in Glashütte, ensuring the high standards of watchmaking in that area), the automatic movement features a specially designed rotor for winding the spring, developed over two years to balance its skeletonized design with functionality. The movement also showcases hand-finished details like perlage on the base plate, gear train, and automatic bridges, all assembled with thermally blued screws.
In addition to the 3-hand BS 175, Bruno Söhnle offers mechanical movements with complications, such as a power reserve indicator (BS 509 G) or a regulator (BS 509 R), achieved by adding modules to the base movement.
Conclusion
The Bruno Söhnle Turin Automatik is a convincing choice for those looking for Made in Glashütte craftsmanship and modern, versatile design. Its compact 39.5mm case wears comfortably on the wrist, offering a refined balance between sporty appeal and understated elegance. The watch’s slim profile, detailed finishing and versatility in strap options make it suitable for both everyday wear and more formal occasions. While the standard Jubilee bracelet adds a touch of retro-vibes, its versatility allows it to customize it with different straps for personal expression. Overall, the Turin Automatik stands out as a well-crafted, stylish and sporty timepiece that honors Bruno Söhnle’s legacy and affordability.
Discover the mechanical collection of Bruno Söhnle Glashütte/SA. here.