BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
Chronoswiss is a brand that specializes in making regulator-styled watches, and the brand’s current catalog is replete with both traditional and modern regulator offerings. The new Chronoswiss Open Gear Re Sec Black Ice falls in the latter camp and is fully dressed in black, featuring a black PVD coated case and textured black dial.
If we talk about overall functionality and design, the ReSec Black Ice is identical to the ReSec Big Wave watch we went hands-on with a short while back. Two details steal the show on this watch. First is the raised skeletonized hour display at 12 that reveals the underlying gears for the wearer to enjoy. And, second is the cool retrograde second’s indicator at 6, which is a joy to be seen in action as the second’s hand jumps instantly from the 30-second mark back to zero. The base dial has been presented in deep black color and features a nice texture to make things visually interesting. The minute track is printed on the outer flange, which also houses luminous cylinders at intervals of five to enhance low light visibility. All the text on the dial and the luminous paint is white to offer a high contrast against the black background and make the dial highly legible.
To give the watch a cohesive and stealthy look, the case, which is made from stainless steel, has been given a black PVD treatment. The dimensions and silhouette of the case remain familiar to existing Open Gear ReSec models. It measures 44mm in diameter and has a thickness of around 13.3mm. The signature design touches include long lugs, an oversized onion crown, and the knurled bezel on both the top as well as the back. The case is water-resistant to a healthy 100 meters which implies that you could enjoy some light swimming with this black beauty tied to your wrist.
Powering the watch is the Chronoswiss calibre C.301, which is a heavily modified ETA 2895 movement. It beats at a frequency of 4 Hz and provides a respectable autonomy of around 42 hours. The movement is visible through the exhibition glass and has been nicely decorated using Geneva stripes, perlage, and blues screws.
Following the all-black theme, the Chronoswiss Open Gear ReSec Black Ice comes attached to a black neoprene strap with matching black stitching. The watch will retail for USD 10,600.
