Chronoswiss have made the regulator complication their hallmark, and since the release of their first regulator watch in 1988, we have seen the feature combined with a wide range of colours, materials and other complications. Back in 2000 for the celebration of the brand’s 20th anniversary, Maik Panzieram Head of Design at Chronoswiss created a limited edition Chronoswiss Open Gear Flying Tourbillon with the familiar regulator set-up paired with an electric blue case, guilloche dial and a hypnotising half skeletonised flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock. Today, that same display is revived in three new colours: Paraiba, Meteorit and Sunset.
Named after the brand’s Open Gear Regulator collection, the new series of Chronoswiss Open Gear Flying Tourbillons rediscovers the familiar “floating” regulator set up which sees the dial carefully constructed across several layers making it seem as though the hours and minutes are flying over the main hand guilloche base. This guilloche decoration is produced entirely in-house by the Swiss watch manufacturer and contrasts perfectly to the opposing blue-coloured raised rings, skeletonised train bridges and the funnel-like construction for the hour display. Like most classic regulators, the hours are placed at 12 o’clock while the minutes are displayed traditionally at the centre. At 6 o’clock, where the seconds can usually be found, is the new novelty of the Chronoswiss Open Gear Flying Tourbillon watches, a flying tourbillon which captivates with its half-skeletonization.
Starting with the Chronoswiss Open Gear Flying Tourbillon Paraiba, this colourway has been seen before in the brand’s Open Gear ReSec collection, taking its name from the Paraiba tourmaline gemstone which changes its colour depending on the light and angle it is facing. To replicate this same intoxicating iridescence, Chronoswiss experimented relentlessly with different colours to achieve the exact hue found on the design. Placed with a short-wave guilloche pattern and nano-decorative CVD coating, the turquoise dial changes colour with every movement of the wrist, first seeming blue and green before encouraging shades of yellow and purple.
Meanwhile, the Chronoswiss Open Gear Flying Tourbillon Meterorit opts for a much more technical and contemporary colour palette, taking inspiration from the cold yet mesmerising hue of meteorite stone. This time, grey handmade guilloche takes up the centre and pairs with the same blue CVD hardware and Trigono-shaped Superluminova coated hands as its Paraiba and Sunset counterparts. Speaking of the Chronoswiss Open Gear Flying Tourbillon Sunset watch, this might just be our favourite of the trio as it calls to our (and the world’s) current love for bold dial designs. The vivid orange-coloured hand guilloche centre creates a whole new aesthetic when paired with the dark blue hardware perfectly mimicking the hues of a tropical sunset.
All three Chronoswiss Open Gear Flying Tourbillon watches follow suit in their case specifications, electing stainless steel to engineer their 44mm diameter and 13.35mm height. The case is created using a total of 17 different components, some of which include a partly polished and partly vertical satin finished onion crown, a polished screw down bezel, curved and double coated anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass and a screw down case back offering a glimpse into the automatic winding movement within.
The movement responsible for powering each of the Chronoswiss Open Gear Flying Tourbillon watches is the Chronoswiss manufacture C.303 calibre, a manual-winding movement developed in-house by the brand. It promises a frequency of 28,800vph, a power reserve of 60 hours and 23 jewels. Chronoswiss have never been one to neglect artistic decoration on their movements, and the C.303 calibre is no different. Through the exhibition case back, you can see the blue CVD coated main plate with Côtes de Genève decorated joined by skeletonized bridges with circular satin finish, a balance wheel in galvanic anthracite, a skeletonized spring barrel and polished screws.
Completing each Chronoswiss Open Gear Flying Tourbillon watches is a hand-sewn alligator leather strap. The Paraiba model opts for a leather band in blue, the Meteroit in black and the Sunset in orange. All the straps are adorned with tone-on-tone stitching and close by a classic stainless steel pin buckle.
If you’d like to learn more about the new Chronoswiss Open Gear Flying Tourbillon watches and order one of the 15 limited edition pieces for yourself, head over to the Jura Watches website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
