The vintage-styled Chronoswiss Balance Double Retrograde Chronograph features a display that resembles wings of a butterfly. Powered by the new La Joux-Perret Caliber 8310 self-winding movement (actually, Chronoswiss has become the first brand to actually implement the caliber,) the new timepiece features a perfectly balanced combination of a chronograph with a pair of retrograde indicators.
As you can see in the photo below, the vintage-styled mechanism that reminds me of those late 19th-century beasts that powered expensive pocket watches is nicely decorated. The bridges feature neat Geneva stripes patterns and are attached to the main plate with polished screws. Some may find the open-worked rose gold oscillating weight a bit too simple, but, to my taste, it complements the whole layout of the movement in the best way possible.
Frankly, I would be even more satisfied if the balance cock featured some hand engraved decor similar to those we always see on mechanisms manufactured by A. Lange & Sohne (when it comes to a luxury timekeeper that is sold at about $22,000, give or take, it possibly would affect the manufacturer’s profit in a big way), but, well, maybe in a next model.
The symmetric dial sports a pair of chronograph indicators (30-minute totalizer at 12 o’clock and a 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock) as well as a pair of retrograde sub-dials: a retrograde seconds display at 9 o’clock and a retrograde date indicator at 3.
While the way the date display operates doesn’t look especially spectacular (it just back to position one just once a month), the retrograde seconds hand actually moves in a mesmerizing way. You can actually spend minutes watching the way it ticks upwards and then instantly jumps back to zero every thirty seconds.
While a monopusher device would probably look more organic here, the traditional pair of chronograph push-pieces, too, looks good. Even the deliberately oversized setting/winding crown doesn’t look too massive here. In fact, it feels just right.
The whole composition is displayed on a heavily guilloched solid Sterling silver dial that features a number of different motives. To keep the watch in style, it is also equipped with Breguet-style blued steel hands.
Its 43 mm round case is available both in 18-karat rose gold (ref. CH-7541BR, pictured) or stainless steel (ref. CH-7543B.) While the first version looks more expensive and, well, luxurious, the one in steel is more balanced and somehow more appealing.
Although at 43 millimeters in diameter the case of this beautiful Balance Double Retrograde Chronograph may sound like compact enough (at least, on paper) in reality, the watch takes a lot of space on a normal wrist.
The culprits here are the lugs. They look great and classy, alright, however, together with the oversized body, the horns increase the total length of the timekeeper (something that is usually called “lug-to-lug” width by about a 1/4 to almost 54 millimeters). Even for my relatively large wrist, this is a bit too much and on a normal wrist, it may be a real disaster.
See also: Chronoswiss Pacific Collection
WWR Verdict
Originality 4/5
Build Quality: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Overall Legibility: 3.5/5
Nighttime Legibility: 1/5
Value for Money: 4/5
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Photos: Chronoswiss
Chronoswiss Balance Double Retrograde specification
Price: $11,000 (MSRP, stainless steel, ref. CH-7543B) / $22,000 (MSRP, 18-karat rose gold, ref. CH-7541BR)
Movement: Automatic, Caliber La Joux-Perret 8310, Swiss Made
Movement decoration: Geneva stripes, open-worked oscillating weight in rose gold, polished screws
Functions: Hours, minutes, retrograde seconds, chronograph, retrograde date
Power reserve: 46 hours
Jewels: 39
Frequency: 28,800 vph
Case: Rose gold / Stainless steel
Shape: Round
Size: 43.00 mm
Case height: 14.75 mm
Dial: Solid Sterling silver, guilloche
Hands: Breguet, blued
Water resistance: 30 meters
Strap: Black or brown leather strap with pin buckle in matching metal
Crystal: Sapphire
Back: Sapphire
Yep, this is me. Just had my beard trimmed.
I am a founding father of this weblog since 2008.
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.