Régleur Extraordinaire
Tania Edwards, writing for Collectibility, delves into the provenance of Zibach's work, including his invention of the Patek Philippe Gyromax balance wheel.
Referred to affectionately at Patek Philippe as “les anciens”, adjusters were superstars and reportedly received about three times the pay of other watchmakers. They made their own hours, worked their own way, had their own individual methodology and did whatever was needed to win the coveted Observatory ratings.
The value encapsulated in that second sentence should not be underestimated. The freedom to work in that manner was undoubtedly integral to Zibach's successes, undergirding his ability to make creative connections and technical leaps others lacked the clarity to see.
Image credit Patek Philippe SA