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How a difficult watch sparked a career
In an interview with MONOCHROME Watches, published 1 August 2025, Prand-Stritzko recalled seeing the HYT H2 in a catalogue in November 2014, when he was 17 and studying engineering. The watch’s technical construction seemed so difficult to understand that he imagined building one himself if he could not afford it. That curiosity turned into a desire to develop movements and learn watchmaking from the ground up.
He grew up in Langau, Austria, and trained at HTL Karlstein, a technical school in the Waldviertel region. After watchmaking education, he joined the research and development team at H. Moser & Cie in Schaffhausen. In his account to MONOCHROME, his work there included the HMC 201 automatic calibre, the HMC 805 tourbillon, escapement components, Breguet overcoils and the perpetual calendar.
He later joined Hautlence as a development engineer and technical project leader, where he led a reengineering of the Hautlence Sphere. MONOCHROME’s interview says that project received a GPHG award in 2023. A regional profile published by Niederösterreichische Nachrichten on 30 April 2025 records his return to the Waldviertel after falling in love and the birth of his daughter.
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Why he launched Aurelia Horology
The name Aurelia comes from his daughter. On the official Aurelia Horology website, Prand-Stritzko describes her birth as “the defining moment that set everything in motion.” The personal turning point gave him a reason to bring together the watchmaking skills he had built in industry and his own ideas about what a fine mechanical watch could be.
His stated ideal combines a distinctive, hand-finished movement with a wearable case, enamel dial, hand-finished hands and leather strap. Friends and family encouraged him to make a small Founders Edition. Watchmaker Severin Loewert also played an important part in shaping and finishing movement components. The MONOCHROME interview describes Aurelia as a small team: components are developed in-house and made either by the team or with local partners.
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- [Mechanical Movement] This watch has manual self-winding. Please consider that mechanical watches that require manual winding can only keep time for a short time after winding. To prevent running or inaccurate time, it is advised that you verify the time periodically and wind up the chain 15–20 times.
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“It’s important for us to make the craft visible — and to put it at the centre of what we do,” Prand-Stritzko told MONOCHROME. That emphasis is reflected in the movement’s finishing as well as in the watches’ deliberate small-scale production.
What movement the Kollektiv uses
The JA97/98 is based on the 6497 or 6498, according to Prand-Stritzko. He says Aurelia retains little beyond the gear train, redesigning or rebuilding other components. The designation is a playful gloss—“Just Another 97/98”—rather than a claim that the calibre began entirely in-house.
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As he described it to MONOCHROME, the changes include redesigned bridges, an integrated crown-wheel click system, gold chatons for the jewels, a separate cap for the fourth-wheel bearing and custom screws. The finishing he cited includes grainage on bridges, polished bevels, double snailing with a polished groove on the ratchet wheel, and sunburst finishing on the shock protection. These construction and finishing details are the founder’s account; the interview does not establish them as an independent technical inspection.
A completely in-house Kollektiv base calibre remains a future goal in the interview, not the basis of the JA97/98. That distinction matters: substantial redesign and finishing do not mean Aurelia has already replaced the 6497/6498 foundation with a wholly in-house calibre.
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- CLASSIC WHITE DIAL WITH BLUE HANDS – Clean white dial with striking blue hands and bold Arabic numerals for easy reading at a glance. Vintage-inspired design that draws compliments. A timeless aesthetic that works equally well for business or casual wear. 40mm case size offers substantial wrist presence without being overwhelming
- AUTOMATIC SELF-WINDING MOVEMENT – Powered by wrist motion during wear, no battery needed. Manual winding available as backup for occasional use. For optimal performance, wear regularly or hand-wind 15-20 turns daily. Note: Power reserve may not last overnight without regular wear or winding
- SCRATCH-RESISTANT MINERAL GLASS – Reinforced mineral crystal resists scratches and scuffs from daily wear. Clear exhibition case back lets you view the intricate mechanical movement. Durable construction for reliable everyday use
- COMFORTABLE BROWN PU LEATHER STRAP – Soft, flexible PU leather strap designed for all-day comfort. Adjustable buckle closure fits most wrist sizes. 20mm strap width complements the classic dial design. (Note: For extended durability, avoid prolonged exposure to moisture.)
- VERSATILE & EASY-TO-READ DESIGN – Bold numerals and contrasting blue hands ensure quick time reading in various lighting conditions. 13mm slim profile fits comfortably under shirt cuffs. Ideal for work, weekends, travel, or casual outings. 3ATM splash-resistant for hand-washing and light rain
How Kollektiv I and II differed
The first Kollektiv designs explored two visual directions. In the founder’s description, Edition I uses a more classic layout with an arched element, while Edition II moves the crown to 4 o’clock and takes a sportier, more contemporary approach.
Prand-Stritzko told MONOCHROME that each was limited to 20 pieces and that both editions sold out within 48 hours. Those are reported launch results from the interview, not an indication of present availability. Separately, ORF Niederösterreich reported on 26 October 2025 that the first series comprised 40 watches and sold worldwide within a week, before any watch was finished. The accounts describe sales at different levels—two 20-piece editions in the interview and a 40-watch first series in ORF NÖ’s report.
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What Aurelia currently lists: Edition 3 and Edition 3s
Aurelia’s official collection page, accessed 8 October 2026, lists two current KOLLEKTIV models. It states “First delivery in May 2026” for both; the listing does not establish remaining availability or fulfillment status.
| Model | Case diameter | Listed price | Stated monthly production | First delivery stated by Aurelia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOLLEKTIV Edition 3 | 40.5 mm | €5,500 excluding VAT | Eight pieces per month | May 2026 |
| KOLLEKTIV Edition 3s | 34 mm | €4,950 excluding VAT | Two pieces per month | May 2026 |
These are manufacturer-published listing details, not a verified statement of stock or delivery timing today. The figures also update the founder’s earlier plan: in the August 2025 interview, he had discussed a February 2026 release and hoped to have a proper batch available. The official page’s later stated first-delivery month is May 2026.
The 2025 regional report provides a separate, historical production picture. ORF Niederösterreich quoted Prand-Stritzko as saying that each watch involved 100 hours of work and reported a €5,000–€10,000 price range at the time. Those figures refer to the report’s 2025 context; they are not current Edition 3 or Edition 3s prices.
What the story says about Aurelia’s approach
Prand-Stritzko’s route to founding Aurelia was not a sudden move from hobbyist to watchmaker: it ran through engineering study, watchmaking education, movement development at established firms and technical project leadership. The HYT H2 supplied the original puzzle, while his later work gave him experience to pursue his own version of fine watchmaking.
Aurelia’s current presentation carries that ambition into a small, locally connected atelier. The JA97/98 shows the distinction between reworking an established base and building a calibre entirely from scratch, while the two currently listed Edition 3 models make a clear size and price choice. The central thread, as Prand-Stritzko frames it, is making the craft—and the work behind the watch—visible.
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