When the Chronograph Makes Perfect Sense

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When the Chronograph Makes Perfect Sense - Eberhard & Co.
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Why jumble the counters up, when you can put them all in a row?

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Eberhard’s Chrono4 collection is perhaps the most intuitive chronograph on the market today. Typically, chronograph counter formations come with two counters at three and nine o’clock, or three counters at three, six, and nine o’clock. No one had thought about displaying them linearly until former Eberhard CEO, Palmiro Monti, had a brainwave to put them in a row. At last, no one needed to be squinting at the counters to figure out what was what!

When the Chronograph Makes Perfect Sense

The result was not only more logical in terms of reading elapsed time, but it was also aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The chronograph seconds hand is in the centre, while the subdials from left to right indicate the elapsed minutes, elapsed hours, 24-hour clock, and small seconds. 

It is one thing to have an idea, and quite another to make it all work. Figuring out the mechanical side was no easy feat, but Eberhard found a solution with an additional plate connected to the base movement. The brand patented the concept and presented it to the world’s press and watch lovers in 2001 and the success was immediate.

When the Chronograph Makes Perfect Sense

Since then, there have been a number of impressive editions, starting with the Géant (Giant in English), a 46mm steel and titanium version in full black that came in different limited editions for the celebration of the collection’s 10th anniversary. 

The Chrono4 Temerario (Fearless in English) came in a completely different tonneau-shaped case with the chronograph counters descending on the right side of the dial. This unique chronograph can be seen on the wrist of Jackie Chan who chose a limited-edition version for his 60th birthday in 2014. Another famous Chrono4 owner is world motorcycling champion Loris Capirossi, a.k.a. Capirex, who had a version made for him in 2008.

When the Chronograph Makes Perfect Sense

For the 130th anniversary of the brand, Eberhard also created an Haute Horlogerie version with a skeletonized dial and sapphire crystal upper bridge that revealed beautifully crafted, DLC-treated gears beneath. 

Several new models are joining the collection for the 20th anniversary in 42 mm polished stainless-steel cases, the most popular size for sporty chronographs. There are two editions with matching polished stainless-steel bezels, and two with black ceramic bezels. There is also a large selection of dials, including blue, black, and white Clous de Paris patterns and white or air force gray sunray versions. 

Twenty years is quite a milestone, but in watchmaking terms, the Chrono4 is still quite young, so here’s to many more editions to come. 

 

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