Presented in 2010, the then-new Edox WRC Chronorally (ref. 36001 3 NIN) was one of the first chronographs powered by Soprod‘s new Calibre 16 TwinMotion quartz movement. While still needing some time to prove its advertised reliability and build quality, the mechanism still looks interesting with its overwhelming choice of functions and higher than average precision.
While most second-tier brands keep on feeding us with (let’s face it) mediocre jobs featuring same movements, same dial layouts, and same functionality, Edox offers us a timepiece that not only looks great but also comes with many functions rarely seen before. In two words, it’s an ultra-luxury G-Shock competitor that so many customers were looking for since the beginning of the Quartz Revolution.
Inspired by the world of rally sports, the WRC Chronorally comes equipped with a reworked version of a Soprod quartz caliber that is now called Edox 36.
In its press release Edox does not elaborate on the device, but, judging by the layout of the dial and on some other bits and pieces of information available on the Net, I can make an educated guess that the watch uses pretty recent Soprod Calibre 16 TwinMotion “mecatronic” quartz movement. Employing the concept of modular design, the movement offers an almost infinite number of customizations (both mechanical and software) depending on customer’s demand.
The whole gamut of functions includes a real-time compass, thermometer, altimeter, weather forecast, perpetual calendar, moonphase indication, and automatic change for day-light saving time, equation of time, and so on, and so forth.
The movement may also be preprogrammed to calculate different complex events, like, say, counting points in tennis or golf, or, like in our particular case, different sorts of timing used in rally racing.
According to the Swiss company, the new Edox WRC Chronorally’s functions include measuring accumulated stage time, recount/replay mode, countdown mode, and chronograph. All of these are operated using a pair of standard chronograph push-pieces at 2 (start) and 4 o’clock (reset) and an oversized pusher at 9 o’clock that sets different rally timer modes: time, race, replay, t.time, countdown, and chronograph.
Unfortunately, due to inherited limitations of the movement, this ref. 36001 3 NIN lacks a normal seconds hand.
Although the movement looks rather compact (it is only 36 mm in diameter and is fairly thin,) the WRC Chronorally is delivered in a massive stainless steel case 48 mm in diameter and 15.2 mm in height. That was probably done to make it more in proportion with the oversized push-pieces designed to be operated with “the gloved hands of a rally driver.”
Yeah, right.
See also: Chopard Grand Prix de Monaco Historique Time Attack MF digital / analogue timepiece
WWR Verdict
Originality 4/5
Build Quality: 5/5
Usability: 4/5
Overall Legibility: 4/5
Nighttime Legibility: 4/5
Value for Money: 2/5
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Photos: Edox, Soprod
Edox WRC Chronorally (ref. 36001 3 NIN) specification
Price: €3070 (MSRP)
Movement: Edox 36, based on Soprod Calibre 36 TwinMotion mecatronic movement, quartz, 36 mm diameter, Swiss Made
Jewels: 12
Complications: Chronograph, countdown, stage timing, accumulated stage timing, replay
Power reserve: A couple of years
Case: Stainless steel
Shape: Round
Size: 48.00 mm
Case height: 15.20 mm
Dial: Black carbon
Numerals: Arabic
Hands: Steel
Water resistance: 100 meters
Strap: Black rubber strap
Crystal: Sapphire, anti-reflective
Back: Solid, stainless steel, engraved
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Bought my first mechanical watch in 1986 and it took me ten more years to realize that I have a problem: at some point in time watches became my passion. Well, it could be worse.