The latest collection of new watches from Chronoswiss for 2024 is the Strike Two series, which debuts with two models. Both the Chronoswiss Strike Two H20 (blue dial) and Stike Two Golden Gear (black dial) are limited editions of 100 pieces, but future variants of the Chronoswiss Stike Two are sure to come, as Chronoswiss has put a lot of effort behind this refined regulator wristwatch package. According to Chronoswiss, the new Strike Two collection is inspired by the brand’s older “Tora” collection. The Strike Two is meant to offer a smaller wearing package compared to most Chronowiss watches. And it’s intended to further usher in the use of Chronoswiss’s new caliber C.6000 movement family that it developed in collaboration with La Joux-Perret. Finally, the Strike Two is meant to reinforce a key aspect of Chronoswiss’ brands: the regulator-style display.
Speaking of the regulator-style display, the Strike Two Chronoswiss switches the typical vertical orientation to a horizontal one. It maintains the same subdials for the hours and seconds, but with the “bi-compax” layout, the regulator has a novel look. And Chronoswiss does not treat both subdials equally. The left subdial features an authentic hand-operated guilloché machine-engraved dial, while the right subdial for the hours is slightly “openworked” featuring a moving gear underneath a classically inspired dial featuring Roman numeral hour markers. The shapes, textures, and styles of the Strike Two all try to evoke a theme that Chronoswiss feels is visually important for the brand. How does it work, in your opinion?
Many people will appreciate the smaller 40mm-wide steel case, which is very much like that of other Chronoswiss watches but down-sized a bit for excellent comfort while maintaining key features important to the brand, including the broad lugs, coined edging, and larger pilot watch-style crown. The case is only water resistant to 30 meters, and the thickness is 12.7mm. Over the dial is a domed sapphire crystal, while the overall fit and finish are very good. The highly decorative dial is also quite legible, with added luminant on the hands, as well as some points around the dial (though lume-painted hour markers would’ve been helpful).
Chronoswiss introduced its C.6000 automatic movement in the Delphis collection of 2023. The C.6000 replaces the older (probably ETA-based) movement architecture with some of its own modules. The C.6000 appears similarly modular but has a more attractive and larger architecture that better fits watches of this style. The 4Hz movement has 55 hours of power reserve and an attractive bridgework and automatic rotor design that, in this instance, is given an anthracite-gray color. The rotor is made of tungsten and winds quietly and efficiently on ball bearings.
Chronoswiss watches are always supposed to be a quirky way of enjoying classic designs, and the Strike Two is very much that, though with much more of a refined twist than some of the brand’s more colorful fare, of late. Surely there will be more wild versions of the Strike Two in the future, but the blue H20 and black with gold tone Golden Gear are handsome and conservative starts for this appealing new collection of niche neo-classical watches from the Chronoswiss brand. Price for the Chronoswiss Strike Two Golden Hour and H20 limited edition watches (of 100 pieces each) is $10,800 USD. Learn more at the Chronoswiss watches website.
