Chronoswiss is a high-end watchmaker situated in the picturesque location of Lucerne, Switzerland.
Over the last thirty years the company has become synonymous with the production of high quality mechanical timepieces. In 1983 the dynamic Gerd R Lang established the brand. Prior to founding this business he had developed work for Heuer Stopwatch, collaborated on the filming of “le Mans” (starring Steve McQueen) and become official timekeeper at the Olympic games in Moscow.
In the present world of horology large groups own many of the well-known watch brands. Realistically this makes it harder for smaller companies to compete on a marketing level. Fortunately Chronoswiss have retained their independence and exclusivity. With a limited yearly production, all of their watches are meticulously hand finished. In my opinion this gives their timepieces a superior appearance.
Generally all of the company’s watches are easily identifiable. When you buy a Chronoswiss watch there are normally no surprises as they conform to a certain size and shape. The only exception I have encountered is the imposing Wristmaster. This phenomenal watch measures a staggering 84mm x 42.20mm x 16.60mm and has two separate movements. In one of my previous articles entitled ‘Multiple Time Zone Watches’ I featured this wonderful timepiece. Unfortunately Chronoswiss discontinued this model last year to concentrate on different new designs.
The Régulateur 30 was released this year to celebrate the company’s 30th anniversary. With modest dimensions of 40mm x 9.65mm it is at a completely different end of the spectrum to the Wristmaster. Undoubtedly these classical proportions will appeal to the wide majority of buyers and potentially the unisex market. Recently I have reviewed a few watches of this size and have found them very comfortable to wear. Presently this timepiece is available in two case materials, stainless steel and luxurious 18-karat red gold. Even though this watch could be worn on a daily basis I feel it would be more suitable with formal attire rather than casual.
Visually the Régulateur 30 has a very classy and opulent appearance especially with the 18-karat red gold case. The dial is constructed from solid sterling silver with sublime chessboard and barleycorn guilloché patterns. This opulent background perfectly showcases the Feuile shape blue hands. Seconds and minutes are displayed on different counters whilst hours are presented in a digital format through a window positioned at 12 o’clock. Other delicate features include the ornate thread turned bezel and intricate trademark crown. Overall the attention to detail and finishing on this timepiece is first rate.
Beneath the refined exterior lies the highly proficient Caliber: C283. This self-winding movement comprises 21 jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. The mechanism also has an Incabloc shock protector and gold plated skeletonized rotor with côtes de Genève decoration. All these exquisite details are visible through the timepieces sapphire crystal case back. The Régulateur 30 features hours, minutes, seconds and a power reserve of 42 hours.
The Régulateur 30 has a Louisiana crocodile leather strap with matching pin buckle or folding strap. Numbers are limited to 300 pieces in stainless steel and 130 18-karat red gold. The prices range from: €6,400-€13,800 (approximately $8,795-$18,964).
You can read more of Steve’s reviews on his own website: www.totalwatchreviews.com