The new Dakar Edition of the Chronoswiss Opus Chronograph

Founded by master watchmaker Gerd R. Lang (1943-2023) in 1983, Chronoswiss rowed against the tide of quartz to become a key player in the renaissance of mechanical watchmaking. Renowned for exceptional craftsmanship and a penchant for regulator displays, Lang’s brand released the Opus chronograph in 1995, the world’s first serially produced skeletonised automatic chronograph, revealing its fascinating mechanics on the dial. Now in the hands of Oliver Ebstein, Chronoswiss maintains many of Lang’s distinctive design elements but ups the tempo with bold colours and innovative materials. Following in the footsteps of the eye-catching 30^th anniversary Opus released earlier this year in an ultraviolet case, Chronoswiss proposes a more mellow edition with the new Opus in warm, desert-inspired tones.

With its powerful personality and strong design features, it would be hard to mistake a Chronoswiss watch for any other. Lang’s imprint can still be felt in the case of the new-generation Opus, with its drum-shaped profile and knurled bezels, large onion crown, classic pump-style pushers, and straight lugs (shortened) with exposed screws.

Like some more recent Opus models, the latest edition opts for a lightweight yet resilient Grade 5 titanium case with a 41mm diameter and a thickness of 14.8mm. Fitted with sapphire crystals front and back to reveal the skeletonised movement, it might come as a surprise to learn that the case is water-resistant to 100 metres. While the top surfaces of the case are polished, a lateral view reveals the vertically brushed flanks.

The brown CVD-coated tone selected for the peripheral track and four sub-dials suspended over the mechanics is warm and elegant. Retaining the classic Opus layout, the small seconds ring is at 9 o’clock, the 30-minute chronograph totaliser is at noon, the 12-hour chronograph counter is at 6 o’clock, and the pointer date is at 3 o’clock. Matching the white printed numerals of the counters, the sub-dial hands and the Breguet-style open-tipped hour and minute hands are also white.

Thanks to the thin bezel and deep case, every gear and bridge of the chronograph movement can be appreciated from the front and back. To assist in distinguishing the different components, the bridges have a galvanic black finish and are decorated with perlage. Powered by the calibre C.741S, a heavily reworked ETA Valjoux 7750, the black CVD-coated rotor is skeletonised and decorated with Côtes de Genève. Operating at 28,800vph, the power reserve is 46 hours.

Evoking the warm colours of the desert, the Chronoswiss Opus Chronograph Dakar is paired with a sand-coloured nubuck leather strap. The retail price is CHF 13,900. For more details, visit www.chronoswiss.com.