Chronoswiss stands as a unique testament to the enduring allure of mechanical watchmaking, founded in Munich in 1983 by the visionary Gerd-Rüdiger Lang during the height of the quartz era. Lang's unwavering belief in traditional horology led him to establish a brand dedicated exclusively to crafting high-quality, mechanical timepieces embodying Swiss precision. Chronoswiss quickly carved out a distinct identity, most notably by pioneering the miniaturization of the classic regulator display – separating hours, minutes, and seconds onto different axes – into a wristwatch format, a feature that became a hallmark of the brand. Alongside the regulator, Chronoswiss established other signature design codes, including the robust onion crown, a finely fluted bezel, and patented screw-in lugs, lending their watches an unmistakable and classic aesthetic. Throughout its history, the brand has consistently pushed boundaries, introducing numerous world-firsts such as the first serially produced automatic skeletonized chronograph (Opus) and regulator tourbillons. Although founded in Germany, the company eventually relocated its headquarters and atelier to Lucerne, Switzerland, fully embracing the "Swiss Made" standard while cherishing its heritage. Now under the leadership of Oliver Ebstein and his family since 2012, Chronoswiss continues to blend meticulous traditional craftsmanship, including intricate guilloché and enameling performed in-house, with contemporary innovation, maintaining a limited production to ensure exclusivity and exceptional quality for discerning collectors and enthusiasts worldwide.
Representing the bold, contemporary edge of Chronoswiss, the SkelTec collection pushes the art of skeletonization into a futuristic dimension. Launched in 2020, the SkelTec line deviates significantly from the brand's more traditional regulator offerings, embracing a radical design philosophy centered on maximum transparency and architectural construction. The centerpiece is the Manufacture Calibre C.304, a hand-wound movement developed exclusively for this line in the Lucerne atelier. This 166-part calibre is itself a marvel of reduction, designed from the ground up to be skeletonized, revealing its intricate gear train, open balance wheel, and skeletonized spring barrel through a striking, often X-shaped, structure. The design ethos extends beyond the movement to the case itself; the substantial 45mm, 51-part case features organic, flowing lines and uniquely skeletonized lugs, complementing the open-worked nature of the dial. Materials often include stainless steel treated with advanced coatings like black DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) or colored CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition), sometimes contrasted with elements in 18k red gold, creating a high-tech, almost sculptural feel. Limited to small production runs, typically 50 pieces per variant like the SkelTec Pitch Black or SkelTec Azur, these timepieces are a statement of modern horological art, offering a captivating "bare-all" view of the mechanics within a distinctively avant-garde framework.