Chronoswiss Tachoscope Audi Centennial edition

Audi, which is busy celebrating the 100th anniversary of the marque, partnered with Chronoswiss to present a branded version of the last year’s Tachoscope chronograph watch. Just like all Audi’s (except, perhaps, the gorgeous R8 sports car) the watch looks, well, just like an overpriced watch.

While the original Chronoswiss Chronoscope with its silvered dial, blued Poire hands and vintage fonts, looked like homage to early chronograph watches, the Audi edition looks like just another modern watch.

Yes, the watch has retained its basic layout with centrally positioned minute hand and its vertically aligned hour and seconds sub-dials are still located at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock respectively. And its only chronograph counter is still operated with a single pusher protruding through the winding crown. However, the new hands and numerals look just too simple. Although said to be inspired by instruments of the 1930s Auto Union race cars, in reality they make this, err, product look more like a sophisticated pressure gauge, rather than an exquisite timekeeper that it initially was.

Want to know how a real vintage-inspired chronograph must look like? Check the Doxa Chateau des Monts 120th Anniversary model revealed earlier this month. That is the living classics in my humble opinion.

And they charge €14,900 and €24,900 for the white-gold and platinum versions of this. Well, somebody will even buy it, I suppose.

The original Chronoswiss Chronoscope watch:

Chronoswiss Tachoscope Audi Centennial edition watch’s specification :

Price range: €14,900 to €24,900
Movement: Caliber C.125 based on the Enicar 165 movement
Complications: Chronograph
Power reserve: 35 hours
Case material: white-gold or platinum, transparent caseback
Case dimensions: 38 mm
Case height: N/A
Dial: White
Water resistance: N/A
Strap: Black alligator strap with a folding clasp
Crystal: Sapphire