Between transparency, contemporary materials, and in-house movements, the Geneva-based maison strives to offer mechanics that are both visible and consistent with its collections.
In 2025, the brand celebrates its 20th anniversary, a symbolic milestone that highlights the evolution of its craftsmanship.
Foundation and Vision
Founded by Sassoun Sirmakes and Antonio Terranova, Cvstos laid from the outset the foundations of contemporary watchmaking, focused on mechanical readability and a bold technical aesthetic.
Early Developments
The first collections establish the brand’s DNA: tonneau-shaped cases, dynamic volumes, and architecture-inspired design. At the same time, the Geneva workshops are organized to bring together design and prototyping.
Industrial Expansion
Cvstos gradually develops its in-house capabilities, particularly in precision machining.
Producing technical components internally allows for a direct connection between design, engineering, and manufacturing.
Expansion of the Collections
Over time, several lines have emerged: the tonneau shape remains the common foundation, becoming the framework within which each collection discovers its own identity.
The Sealiner collection immediately takes us aboard the most beautiful pleasure yachts! On the dial, wooden panels directly evoke the deck, while the deep blue of the strap recalls the open sea. Even the Bow and Stern indicators, positioned at the edges of the dial, seem to guide the eye, like a course to follow. The movement is open at 6 o’clock, like an engine visible through a technical hatch: the watch is ready to set sail with its owner!
The Metropolitan has a more everyday face: each dial is structured with vertical lines, reminiscent of a skyscraper façade. The geometric, applied, and precise indices enhance the readability of this daily watch, clear and functional. The integrated steel bracelet extends the concept of an object designed for everyday life—robust yet discreet. There are no major complications, apart from a small seconds at 6 o’clock and a date window, giving the watch a calm and steady rhythm, reflecting a well-ordered daily routine.
In the Re-Belle collection, Cvstos takes a completely different approach: the tonneau case appears in evening attire, fully adorned with a snow-set pattern. The mother-of-pearl dial plays with the light like a flowing fabric, while a moonphase—a complication whose elegance is unquestioned—takes center stage on the dial. Here, the mechanics fade into the background, giving way to the brilliance of precious stones and materials.
Cvstos Movements: Open Architecture and Aesthetic Cohesion
The calibers developed in-house by Cvstos, whether automatic or manual winding, share the principle of showcasing the mechanical structure: skeletonized bridges, visible volumes, and clear readability of the transmission components. The mechanics are an integral part of the watch’s visual identity. Moreover, this approach greatly enhances the understanding of the movement!
- Cvstos automatic calibers stand out with a visible rotor and intricately finished bridges, designed to fit the contemporary proportions of the tonneau cases.
- Manual-winding calibers emphasize a more symmetrical geometry, notably revealing the barrel, allowing for a direct reading of the mechanical energy.
A Figure-8 Tourbillon Movement
The Challenge Tourbillon embodies one of the most distinctive expressions of Cvstos’ philosophy. Its movement features an architecture built around a shape reminiscent of the number “8,” a choice that goes beyond mere aesthetics.
This vertical structure creates a strong visual axis connecting the tourbillon cage to the time display. It also allows the components to be distributed evenly along the length of the movement, giving the watch a remarkable lightness. Few manufacturers take the approach of making the very shape of the caliber an identifiable design element, giving this construction a unique character within the collection. Naturally, the entire mechanism is showcased within a sapphire case.
A Special Frequency: 2.5 Hz
The Cvstos tourbillon operates at 2.5 Hz, or 18,000 vibrations per hour.
This frequency is slightly lower than the 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations per hour) commonly chosen by other contemporary watchmakers.
This technical choice reflects a pursuit of balance between energy consumption, balance wheel amplitude, and tourbillon performance. It also helps maintain a clear view of the cage’s movement, in line with the brand’s emphasis on visual display. The balance wheel oscillates more gently, allowing the wearer to fully appreciate the dance of the tourbillon.
The Cvstos Spirit Today
Cvstos continues an approach in which mechanics are given free expression. The openness of the calibers and the use of contemporary materials contribute to a consistent identity, developed over the past twenty years.
