Graham Chronofighter Vintage Nose Art Ltd. Kelly, for Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is fast approaching, and there is another victory girl in the Graham pin-up series. The concept of the vintage-inspired pilot chronograph, with its bold lefty-case, combined with painted dials depicting Nose Art is now a signature style for the brand, and there’s a new “babe” on her way. She goes by the name of Kelly, she is Asian, and she wears a long red floral dress. Here’s an early hands-on look at the Graham Chronofighter Vintage Nose Art Ltd. Kelly.

Nose-art is a decorative painting on the fuselage of an aircraft. Its most common representation is linked to WWII aircrafts and the pin-ups painted on the nose of military planes. Guys, let’s admit it, it is way cooler than a military identification number to recognize one’s plane… Specializing in the creation of aviation-inspired watches and in an attempt to capture the bygone glamour of the 1940s, Graham has incorporated pin-ups on the dial of its emblematic Chronofighter.

Graham introduced its successful Nose Art concept at Baselworld 2017 with a series of four pin-ups: Sally, Anna, Lilly and Nina. Merry was unveiled at the occasion of Christmas. It is now time for the charming Kelly to join the brand’s pin-up squad and enjoy the limelight on the blue dial of a Chronofighter. Unveiled to coincide with the Chinese New Year, Kelly is Asian, she wears a long red floral dress, and she is accompanied by a dog, the symbol of 2018 in the Chinese calendar. Legibility is not optimal, but it is bold (like all Grahams) and cool.

The 44mm steel case features the instantly recognizable Chronofighter trigger protecting the knurled onion-shaped crown. This lever on the left-hand side allows the wearer to start and stop the chronograph with ease with the thumb, the fastest of all fingers, even when wearing aviator gloves. The mushroom pusher at 11 o’clock allows resetting the chronograph.

The exhibition case back showcases the movement decorated with Geneva stripes. Like previous Nose Art Chronofighters, Kelly is powered by the Graham Caliber G1747, based on the trustworthy ETA Valjoux 7750. This cam-and-lever activated workhorse operates at 4Hz and can store up to 48-hours of power reserve. In addition to the time and chronograph functions, it displays the day and the date at 9 o’clock via two rectangular apertures.

A straight-cut navy-blue calfskin leather strap with off-white hand-stitching and a steel pin buckle provide the finishing touch. For more information, visit graham1695.com.