Regulators have been a Chronoswiss trademark for over 30 years. Inspired by yesteryear precision master clocks, their characteristic display separates time indications for precision time reading. The Lucerne-based watchmaker has designed various iterations of this traditional watch type, and now present a 50-piece limited edition in bright electric blue.
Founded in the 1980s, Chronoswiss made a name for itself with its regulator watches, with their characteristic separate time indications inspired by the master clocks of yesteryear. At Baselworld 2019, with the Flying Grand Regulator Open Gear ReSec (for retrograde seconds), Chronoswiss demonstrates that it still actively develops this signature display with a model boasting […]
Chronoswiss is almost synonymous with regulators, embracing this old-school dial display with separate registers for the hands since 1987. The brand recently launched a new, modern take on the style with the Flying Regulator Open Gear, a sophisticated, contemporary shift from their more traditional pieces like the Regulator Classic Date. Various derivatives soon followed like the futuristic Flying Grand Regulator Skeleton Limited Edition. One of their latest creations is the Flying Regulator Night and Day, which adds a date window and 3D day/night display to the Open Gear base. The new limited edition adds some pizzazz to the Night and Day with an intricate guilloché dial that’s galvanized in blue. It’s not uncommon for Chronoswiss to release special editions or new colour schemes of existing models, and this is an excellent example. Let’s take a closer look.
While the Calatrava collection mostly comprises simple, 3-hand watches (automatic or not, with or without date), it barely features complications… Except that one watch that is so unique in the collection, first because of its display and unique combination of complications, but also because of its movement itself (at least, back when it was introduced). As a preview to what will come at Baselworld 2019, meet the new rose gold version of the Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Regulator, reference 5235R.
Regulator watches have a special place in my heart, echoing a bygone era with a unique setup of independent registers for the hands. We’ve recently looked at some quirky ones, like the Hamilton Jazzmaster Regulator Cinema and Baume HRS Limited Edition Automatic, but when it comes to serious pieces, Chronoswiss has embraced the style in […]
When I think of Hamilton and movies, I always picture Will Smith wearing a Hamilton Ventura in Men in Black. The company’s affiliation with the film industry goes much farther back, however, to the Golden Age of Hollywood. The 1932 classic, Shanghai Express, was Hamilton’s first brush with fame as it shared the screen with movie stars of the day (Marlene Dietrich and Clive Brook). Hamilton watches have since appeared in over 500 feature films, including on the wrist of Elvis Presley in Blue Hawaii and approaching Europa in 2001: A Space Odyssey. In 2006, the brand created the Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards, honoring the off-screen talents that make movies possible (screenwriters, set designers, prop masters, costume designers, etc.). And to celebrate their tenth awards show and 86 years in films, Hamilton launched the movie-themed Jazzmaster Regulator Cinema.
Chronoswiss hit a home run with the Flying Regulator Open Gear last year and it quickly became their most popular model. The design is a contemporary and almost futuristic take on the centuries-old regulator setup (a style that Chronoswiss embraces) and many variations form a broader Flying Regulator series – the Night and Day and Grand Regulator are good examples. The company out of Lucerne, Switzerland celebrated its 35thanniversary in 2018 with a limited Flying Regulator Open Gear Anniversary Edition and has added two additional models for 2019, now in Metallic Orange or bright Blue.
It’s not easy designing a watch that really differentiates itself from the crowd. Obviously, there’s more to a watch than an outward appearance and I’m generalizing, but I’ve always liked brands that have a distinct style that’s easily recognized. You know a Panerai, Rolex or Roger Dubuis when you see it, for example. You’ll also spot a Chronoswiss in the crowd with their knurled cases and oversized onion crowns, and a style they arguably do best – the regulator. I recently wrote a hands-on article about the Flying Grand Regulator Skeleton Limited Edition, which was an almost futuristic take on the regulator setup. Their Regulator Classic Date is a more subdued and traditional piece, yet maintains the Chronoswiss DNA throughout. Let’s take a closer look at the silver edition of a future classic.
Regulators have been a Chronoswiss trademark since the brand presented its first regulator wristwatch in 1987. With its 44mm case, the Grand Regulator has been one of the flagship models of the Chronoswiss collections for years. In 2017, the model got a facelift with the Flying Grand Regulator and a skeleton version – which we reviewed here. The addition of a 3D dial adds a sense of depth to the model and the impression that the regulator complication is floating above the dial. This year, the Lucerne-based brand adds a splash of colour to the model with two limited editions packaged in DLC-coated steel cases.
There are certain watch brands that are unmistakable at first sight. Panerai and Richard Mille come to mind. Chronoswiss is another such brand with its signature regulator displays, side knurled cases and large onion crowns. Since 1987, Chronoswiss has celebrated this regulator design and built a brand identity around it. Following up on recent regulator models, such as the Flying Regulator Open Gear and Flying Regulator Night and Day, the relatively young brand of 35 years has introduced a limited edition Flying Grand Regulator Skeleton in steel. The dial has been scaled back to the bare essentials and provides an almost unfettered view of the skeletonized movement. It’s a bold and modern addition to the series.