It’s very rare that a watch review starts with the price, unless the intention is to shock with its sheer extravagance. I start this review of the Ice Cliff model from Emile Chouriet, which I have been wearing for a number of weeks, with the price for the exact opposite reason. Priced from just 1,120 Swiss francs, the Ice Cliff is among the cheapest Swiss Made watches of its kind on the market today. Its 40mm case in stainless steel skillfully mixes polished and brushed surfaces to create an understated look. One thing worthy of note after weeks of wear is the finish of the case, with well-rounded and softened edges – I quite recently tried a watch that retails for several times the price of the Ice-Cliff and was disappointed to find some very sharp, cuff-destroying edges on the lugs.
Sadly for this price you do not get to benefit from Emile Chouriet’s in-house calibre that the company’s founder, Jean Depéry (a direct descendant of watchmaker Emile Chouriet) has perfected over the past few years. Instead you get the self-winding EC9316 movement with a central hour, minute and seconds display and a date window at 3 o’clock. The use of sapphire crystal on the front and back of the watch is also a bonus at this price.
It is, however, the dial that makes the Emile Chouriet Ice Cliff stand out. Here we see the alpine inspirations that have given the watch its name. Against a sunbrushed silver dial background, an interior flange in black rises up to form peaks and valleys, into which the applied hour markers are set. Apart from the Roman numerals at the four quarters, each baton hour marker is flanked by orange indications to aid reading, and the applied hour markers, as well as the hands, are filled with luminescent material for excellent legibility in low-light conditions.
The clasp, often a source of problems on an unfamiliar watch, is a cinch to operate, thanks to double pushbuttons and a symmetrical butterfly opening. On the wrist, the bracelet thus forms an interrupted succession of links and the symmetry of the clasp ensures optimum comfort (even on my relatively small wrist). 
The Ice Cliff is water resistant to 50 metres and is therefore by no means intended as a diver’s watch. Yet its crown is nevertheless discreetly protected by the slightly elongated and rounded flanks of the case at 3 o’clock. The Ice Cliff is available with this single dial configuration with a choice of stainless-steel bracelet or black Cordura strap and is priced at 1,120 Swiss francs.
Notre concours de février met en jeu une montre Ice Cliff d'Emile Chouriet. Vous avez enore quelques jours pour y participer et tenter de la gagner!
