As its latest new release for Geneva Watch Days 2023, Angelus has introduced a new colorway for its signature Chronodate sports watch. Due to the notoriety of its archives within vintage collecting circles, the modern Angelus brand offers a number of different reissue pieces, although it also produces highly modern designs that place an emphasis on open-worked displays and contemporary materials. Sitting somewhere in the middle between these two drastically different sides of the brand’s catalog is the Chronodate, which offers a distinctly modern appearance, while still being quite a bit more traditional than the super avant-garde models that also exist within its lineup. While the Chronodate has been offered in a fairly wide variety of different colorways and configurations in the relatively short amount of time since making its debut in 2022, the latest iteration is the Angelus Chronodate Titanium Storm Blue, which brings a crisp ice blue dial to the titanium version of the brand’s pointer date chronograph.
At a quick glance, the new Angelus Chronodate Titanium Storm Blue (ref. 0CDZF.U03A.M009T) is largely the same watch as the existing models from 2022, which means that it features an angular and distinctly modern titanium case that measures 42.5mm in diameter by 14.25mm thick. While the partially open-worked middle case, bezel, crown, and caseback are all crafted from titanium, the internal case, bezel ring, and chronograph pushers are made from lightweight carbon composite. Box-shaped sapphire crystals are fitted to both the dial side of the watch and its display-style caseback that is secured by four small screws, and despite the model’s relatively sporty overall appearance, water resistance for the Chronodate Titanium Storm Blue comes in at the same 30 meters as the rest of the collection.
Given that the case of the new Angelus Chronodate Titanium Storm Blue is more-or-less identical to what can be found on other titanium models from the series, the feature that sets this particular watch apart from its siblings is its pale blue dial. While the overall design and layout have been carried over from the existing Chronodate models, the dial now appears in the model’s signature “Storm Blue” color, and it is punctuated by a pair of black snailed registers and bright red accents. Similar to the “Fern Green” version that was just announced earlier this year at Watches & Wonders Geneva 2023, the contrasting black chronograph registers create a slightly more dynamic overall appearance, while the red arrow-shaped pointer date hand indicates the current value for the month against a calendar track printed along the outermost periphery of the dial.
Just like its siblings from the Chronodate collection, the new Angelus Chronodate Titanium Storm Blue is powered by the brand’s in-house Caliber A-500 automatic chronograph movement, which is inspired by one of its historic designs from the early 1940s that also paired a chronograph complication with a pointer date display. Running at a frequency of 28,800vph (4 Hz) and offering users a power reserve of approximately 60 hours, the Angelus Cal. A-500 features sandblasted plates and bridges that are finished with a gray NAC treatment, and the movement winds itself with a skeletonized tungsten rotor that sits on full display through the box-shaped sapphire window in the caseback.
Similar to the other titanium models from the Chronodate collection that are fitted with black and green dials, the new Angelus Chronodate Titanium Storm Blue is available with the option of either a matching titanium bracelet or a black textured rubber strap. The bracelet is the same as what can be found on other Chronodate watches, and it features a single flat-link design with a brushed finish that is completed by a butterfly-style folding clasp. Meanwhile, the black rubber strap is identical to the style found elsewhere within the collection, and it is finished with a titanium deployant clasp that operates with a double push-button release. Despite offering somewhat of an integrated appearance with the angular skeletonized lugs, the strap, and bracelet are easily interchangeable thanks to a quick-release system that is built into both the end links and tips of the rubber strap.
When purchased on its matching titanium bracelet, the textured rubber strap is included as an alternate option, and the Angelus Chronodate Titanium Storm Blue is accompanied by an official retail price of $25,200 USD. However, for collectors who have no desire to own the bracelet, the Chronodate Titanium Storm Blue can also be purchased with just the rubber strap for $23,100 USD. Given that this new model is essentially just a dial variation of the existing series, the new Angelus Chronodate Titanium Storm Blue costs the exact same as its titanium siblings from the collection, and it is also worth pointing out that the brand has resisted the urge to increase the price of the Chronodate since the original models first made their debut last year in 2022. For more information on the Angelus Chronodate Titanium Storm Blue, please visit the brand’s website.
