cazalea
[Seiko Moderator]
20806
One more story - the day I met Gerd Lang - May 2006
My local watch shop was having an event and my saleslady told me Chronoswiss was bringing its founder over for a visit. Because he liked Jaguar cars, they wanted to impress him, and lined up a silver XK140.
NIce, but it blended in with the pavement color, so I arranged another 140 from my pal Steve.
We really stopped traffic that day
Including Mr Lang who loved the cars. That's my Lotus behind him
I didn't take a wide shot from across the street due to an extremely intrusive telephone pole in the center of the shot (seen here)
He really knew his Jaguars - because he owned one like this at that time
I didn't take a wide shot from across the street due to an extremely intrusive telephone pole in the center of the shot (seen here)
He really knew his Jaguars - because he owned one like this at that time
Eventually he came in, talked to everyone (this is his daughter), and signed those little green books for us
Cazalea
Does anyone know if Chronoswiss use hand-guilloche for their dials or CNC?
Question for the experts here. Does Chronoswiss use hand-guilloche or CNC for their dialwork? I've been thinking about acquiring a Chronoswiss Delphis. This was one of the first watches that really drew me into this hobby. So, while I've now been collecti...
It'd be better if dial was from angle but my thoughts are...
Likely CNC. As CNC use a rotary tool/drill bit, the "valleys" formed will be rounded. Meanwhile, a rose-engine guilloche uses a physical hardened engraving/cutting tool which enables sharply defined, V shaped valleys Regards, Skyeriding
Thanks skyeriding.
This is the best side view of the dial pic I could find (from the Sold archive of European Watch Company dot com). I hope they don't mind I use their pic to illustrate this comment. What do you think? ...
I would not think that hand made dial decoration is possible at the price point of Chronoswiss
And if so Chronoswiss would not miss to mention this marketing and quality aspect of this model.
Thanks, Count
I think you must be right but from the information online, Chronoswiss do seem to mention guilloche dials as their main distinguishing feature and seem to imply it's hand-guilloche, unless I am mistaken.
Machine stamped
Chronoswiss' DNA lies in Regulatuer style dials, coin edge bezel, onion crown etc, so you are on the right track. At this price point, machine stamp guilloche is actually quite acceptable. Along my horological journey, in the early days, I bought a few Ch...
THanks Horo.
Yes, I read the G Lang green book too ;-) That was one of the very first watch-related books I read. It helped to get me hooked on horology. When you suggest a Chrono, do you mean one of these OPUS ones? ...
I can go to Chronoswiss HQ and ask them
They are now based in Lucerne since a few years - in easy walking distance from my home. I am not really familiar with Chronswiss and I don't know anybody there, but I can go there and ask them. What I remember is that they display samples of guilloche an...
Thanks, Stefan.
If you could verify with Chronoswiss directly that would be AMAZING. Them having samples of guilloche and enamel in their window is exactly the sort of thing I am trying to clarify. To me, that implies they are proud of doing guilloche - but is it hand gu...
Will do but you have to be patient... I am heading eastward and I am now some six hours flight away from Switzerland.
End of next week should be possible. Best Stefan
Of course!
I appreciate your help with this very much. Looking forward to hearing what you find out. Thanks
Got confimation by Chronoswiss that the Delphis dials had been stamped with a guilloche tool
Dials of the artist collection are hand guilloche at their Lucerne atelier, but the dials of the regular collection are all stamped. best Stefan
Dear Stefan. Thank you for investigating this for me.
I really appreciate the effort you took! Kind regards
I believe they used both.
I am not sure how the things are now, but I remember reading long time ago that Deplpis was the only Chronoswiss model with hand guilloche dial. On the rest of the models the guilloche pattern was stamped.
Cool. Thank you!
Maybe hats where my confusion lies. Delphis is the model I REALLY want.
Check their site
The description for this model, for example, explicitly state "Solid sterling silver (925), guilloche and fire enameled by hand". www.chronoswiss.com
Does anyone own a Chronoswiss?
The SS watches looks interesting. Quarter Repeater for low low price. Jumping Hour that is a tenth of a Zeitwerk. Petite Hour watch that is a rival for Bovat. Hmmmm.
I went to Chronswiss HQ today and asked them the question about the guilloche dials
The answer is yes and no. Chronswiss has however an inhouse atelier for hand guilloche and enamel dials at their HQ in Lucerne - see from the photos below. They use hand guilloche for their Artist collection, and you can order custom-made dials. Regarding...
OKAY
Thanks for the time and effort you invested. Looks interesting. Very decent prices for SS models.
Dear Stefan, THANK YOU!
What a great review of the brand and thank you for the tip about the Delphis. Really appreciate the time and effort you invested in this! HAGWE
What a brilliant forum.
Do not have a Chronoswiss but read this thread with interest. Really impressed with the support and guidance offered by everyone.
+1.
Absolutely! The kindness and dedication of the members here is wonderful. This is a terrific community, isn't it!
Sorry to be responding so late; I have Chronoswiss watches
At the moment I just have two - the "classic" regulator and the chronograph. I never bought a Delphis for the reason mentioned earlier - I am a bit wary of a movement feature that involves jumping components ... Regulator dial (also comes in black with wh...
One more story - the day I met Gerd Lang - May 2006
My local watch shop was having an event and my saleslady told me Chronoswiss was bringing its founder over for a visit. Because he liked Jaguar cars, they wanted to impress him, and lined up a silver XK140. NIce, but it blended in with the pavement color,...
That's awesome.
Thanks so much for sharing that story. Cheers PS That red Jag really is SOMETHING!!!
Thanks, cazalea!
That skeleton Chrono is really something. Particularly YOUR one previously belonging to Thomas too. Actually that model seems to be quite significant. I listened to an episode of the " On Time" podcast where the guest mentioned this particular model as an...
Thanks, but a clarification
I didn't buy Thomas' watch ... but my wife knew that I loved the skeleton so she bought me a new one for my birthday no long afterwards. I can't remember how I got the "beads of rice" bracelet, but this morning it's on the original strap. ...
Great story
Really a nice story of meeting Mr Lang and his daughter. And the Jag's are phantastic! Thanks fir sharing Stefan
Nice story, and a really nice touch with that beautiful red Jaguar.
Not Chronoswiss-related, but I bought my first nice watch, a Rolex Sub, way back around 1991 from Leo Hamel Co. Cheers, John