The New Schwarz Etienne 1902 Petite Seconde Heure Dorée

Schwarz Etienne’s 1902 collection has evolved through a broad range of interpretations, including the Petite Seconde, Power Reserve and GMT models, all united by the Manufacture’s focus on in-house movement development and production in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The collection is a platform for trying out different functions and dial configurations while retaining its distinctive contemporary design language. The new 1902 Petite Seconde Heure Dorée comes in a Grade 5 titanium case with a black multi-layer DLC coating and a deep-black dial punctuated by gold-toned details, thus taking the familiar model into darker territory, playing on the contrast between shadow and the light of the final hours of the day.

The case measures 39mm in diameter, 10.90mm thick and 45.8mm from lug to lug. It is made from Grade 5 titanium and receives a multi-layer black DLC coating, giving the lightweight case a distinctly darker appearance while retaining titanium’s practical advantages. The bezel has a circular satin finish, while the lugs alternate between satin and polished surfaces and curve downwards towards the wrist. The titanium crown is also DLC-coated and engraved with the Schwarz Etienne logo. Water resistance is 50m.

The dial construction combines a silky grained centre with a black opaline upper plate, creating a contrast that becomes more apparent as light moves across the surface. The small seconds occupies its traditional position at 6 o’clock. Against the black background, the applied indices and lancine-style hour and minute hands are rendered in 4N PVD. The hands combine sandblasted and polished surfaces. A polished 4N gold-toned Schwarz Etienne logo is applied to the dial; the minutes and small-seconds tracks use the same colour.

The sapphire crystal caseback reveals the Schwarz Etienne ASE 300.00, an automatic movement with a micro-rotor developed, produced and assembled in-house in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The calibre comprises 191 components and 29 jewels, operates at 21,600 vibrations/hour, and stores an 86-hour power reserve.

For this edition, the movement has been treated in anthracite and ruthenium tones to complement the dial. The bridges feature circular and concentric Côtes de Genève, while the sandblasted mainplate receives polished bevels and tone-on-tone engraving. The micro-rotor is polished and satin-finished, with a hand-polished bevel, and is treated in 4N PVD to echo the dial. The ratchet wheel features hand-finished decoration, is engraved with the limited-edition designation, and is filled with anthracite lacquer.

The watch is worn on a black Cordura strap with a black rubber lining, closed with a Grade 5 titanium pin buckle, also treated with multi-layer DLC coating. The 1902 Petite Seconde Heure Dorée is a limited edition of 8 pieces; the price is EUR 21,890. More information at schwarz-etienne.ch.