Chronoswiss is the watch brand of the regulator dial: hours, minutes and seconds each on their own scale, the layout once used on the precision clocks of watchmakers' workshops. Add onion crowns, coin-edge bezels and hand-guilloché dials, and you have one of the most distinctive brands in Swiss watchmaking. We have 88 Chronoswiss watches in stock, from $2,200 to $83,600.
A short history
Chronoswiss was founded in 1983 by the watchmaker Gerd-Rüdiger Lang in Munich, Germany, at a time when quartz watches dominated and mechanical watches seemed old-fashioned. In 1987 it introduced the Régulateur, one of the first regulator wristwatches made in series, which became the brand's signature. Chronoswiss later moved to Lucerne, Switzerland, where it now designs and makes its watches.
How to read a regulator dial
On a normal watch the hour and minute hands share the same centre. On a regulator:
- The minutes are shown by the long central hand, on the outer scale.
- The hours are shown on a separate small dial, usually at 12 o'clock.
- The seconds have their own small dial, usually at 6 o'clock.
Watchmakers used this layout on workshop clocks because it makes the minutes very easy to read precisely. It takes a day or two to get used to.
Signature details
- Onion crown: a large, layered crown that is easy to grip.
- Coin-edge bezel: a fluted bezel inspired by the edge of a coin.
- Guilloché dials: dials engraved with fine patterns on traditional machines.
- Open-worked and skeleton models that show the movement.
The main lines
Chronoswiss collections include the classic Regulator, the Open Gear and Skelett models with exposed mechanisms, Flying Regulator designs with raised sub-dials, chronographs, and modern pieces such as the Neo Digiteur, which shows jumping hours in a window.
What Chronoswiss costs
Our prices run from $2,200 to $83,600, with a median of $12,230. New pieces start at $5,325 and pre-owned at $2,200.
References we stock most
- CH-5023-GRSI — 3 in stock, from $8,625
- CH-1663T-BLSI — 2 in stock, from $31,680
- CH-6823T-BLSI — 2 in stock, from $9,680
What to check before you buy
- Guilloché dials. They are delicate; check for marks or moisture.
- Straps. Most Chronoswiss are on leather straps; check the condition and the original buckle.
- Service. Regulator and open-gear movements should be serviced by experienced watchmakers; ask about the history.
- Our pre-owned checklist covers the rest.
Frequently asked questions
What is a regulator watch?
A watch that shows the hours, minutes and seconds on separate scales, with the minutes on the long central hand, like the precision clocks of watchmakers' workshops.
Is Chronoswiss Swiss or German?
It was founded in Munich in 1983 and is now based in Lucerne, Switzerland.
What is an onion crown?
A large, layered crown shaped like an onion, a Chronoswiss signature that is easy to grip when winding.
How much is a Chronoswiss?
Our Chronoswiss watches start at $2,200.
