Introducing The Chronoswiss Regulator Classic Carbon Racer

Today we have the latest addition to Chronoswiss's Regulator Classic watch family to introduce. While far from common, watches of the regulator type follow a design template that emphasizes readability first and foremost, and they have long been represented in Chronoswiss's lineup. Presenting the hours, the minutes, and the seconds in three separate areas, regulator displays have traditionally been used in situations where accuracy and legibility are of utmost importance – for example, in a watchmaker's workshop as the reference time against which all other timepieces were to be "regulated." While not typically associated with racing, one could certainly argue that this type of watch, with its emphasis on at-a-glance legibility, could fit very well behind the wheel.

The Regulator Classic Carbon Racer aims to do just that, introducing design elements associated with automotive watches and applying them to the traditional regulator display. Carbon fiber forms the dial, heavily accented in racing red, and both the minutes chapter and the sub-dial for the hours instantly recall a speedometer and rev counter. Inside is the the caliber C 295 with stop seconds, an essential feature for setting a watch to the second.

Way back in the mid-aughts, one of the first watch brands I encountered was Chronoswiss. This was back in the days when its founder, the red-bespectacled Gerd-Rudiger Lang (who deserves a place alongside names like Rolf Schnyder and Jean-Claude Biver in the history of the mechanical watch renaissance), was still associated with the company. Under Lang's leadership, Chronoswiss debuted the first wristwatches with exhibition casebacks, a huge innovation when you consider it, and his book Chronograph Wristwatches remains one of the best resources I've encountered on the subject of the chronograph.

Looking at the Regulator Classic Carbon Racer, it's easy to see the trademark constrasts of the Chronoswiss brand that made it stand out in its early days. The large onion crown is a classic design cue that you'll find in many of their watches, but there is also a (relatively) new watchmaking material in the form of the carbon fiber and the use of bright red accents. And that carbon fiber dial, if you look more closely, has a guilloché-style sub-dial. 

Brand: Chronoswiss
Model: Regulator Classic Carbon Racer
Reference Number: CH-8773-CARE

Diameter: 41mm
Thickness: 12.7mm
Case Material: Stainless steel with satin finish and polished bezel and partial knurling
Dial Color: Carbon dial
Lume: Yes
Water Resistance: 100 meters
Strap/Bracelet: Stainless steel bracelet or rubber strap

Caliber: Chronoswiss caliber C. 295 automatic with stop seconds
Functions: Hours, minutes, and seconds in regulator display
Diameter: 25.6mm
Thickness: 4.35mm
Power Reserve: 42 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 vph
Jewels: 27

Price: $4,750

For more, visit Chronoswiss.