CHRONOSWISS
Chronoswiss is a Swiss watch brand based in Lucerne in Switzerland.
Founded in 1983 by Gerd-R. Lang, Chronoswiss began its horological adventure in Munich in Germany by introducing mechanical wristwatches and pocket-watches produced in Switzerland.
Gerd-Rüdiger Lang began his career at a renowned chronograph manufacturer (Heuer) in Switzerland in 1964. He arrived in Munich to serve as the authorized representative of the manufacturer’s German subsidiary in 1974.
When the “Quartz Crisis” put a forced end to this business in 1981, the man who had chosen Munich to be his new home continued to operate a repair service as a freelancer. He also repaired mechanical timepieces for friends and acquaintances. Meanwhile, an idea was gestating in his mind: he longed to create a collection of his own watches, which he would christen “Chronoswiss.”
In the hard times of the Swiss watch industry Gerd-R. Lang bought surplus stocks of watches and mechanical movements because he loved the traditional art of watchmaking.
In 1983, he turned his passion into a profession and founded the Chronoswiss Company in Munich. At the beginning, the company produced watches in series by using modern calibres and manufacturing limited specialities whose production has been suspended for many years.
In 1987, the company launched Régulateur hand-wound wristwatch, their first serially manufactured wristwatch with a regulator-type dial. In 1990, Chronoswiss started manufacturing of its own models in Munich and introduced the Régulateur Automatique watch with its exclusive manufacture Chronoswiss C.122 movement.
In 2002, Chronoswiss established a subsidiary in Switzerland to handle production and logistics. In 2006, the company moved into a new manufacture building in Karlsfeld in the outskirts of Munich for uniting development, production, sales, marketing and shipping under one roof.
Since February 2012, Chronoswiss has been under the ownership of Ebstein family. The brand celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2013 by launching the Régulateur 30 limited edition collection. In June 2014, Chronoswiss moved into its new HQs located in Lucerne, Switzerland.
Chronology
1958-1961: Gerd-R. Lang learns the watchmaker’s metier at Jauns watch shop in his hometown of Braunschweig.
1962-1963: Apprenticeship at the Gross firm in Burg/Fehmarn.
1964-1979: Heuer stopwatch and chronograph factory in Biel, Switzerland.
1980: Attends the master school in Würzburg and graduates with the title of “Master Watchmaker.”
1981: Founds a special workshop for chronographs in Munich.
1982: Introduces the world’s first mechanical chronograph with moon phase display and mineral crystal back under the “Chronoswiss” name. This presages the renaissance of mechanical timepieces.
1983: Gerd-R. Lang founds Chronoswiss watch factory in and establishes a worldwide distribution structure.
1984: The name “Chronoswiss” is registered as a protected trademark.
1985: First Chronoswiss catalogue with mechanical wristwatches and pocket-watches produced in Switzerland. Distribution of the A. Rochat and Kelek brands. First appearance at Inhorgenta trade fair in Munich.
1987: World premiere of the “Régulateur” hand-wound wristwatch – the first serially manufactured wristwatch with a regulator-type dial. The typical Chronoswiss case is born. Its distinguishing characteristics include a screwed and channeled bezel, an onion-shaped crown and screwed strap lugs.
1988: The second catalogue features Chronoswiss’ first own models – “Régulateur” and “Pacific.” First appearance at the worldwide trade fair for watches and jewelry in Basel.
1990: World premiere of the “Régulateur Automatique” with its exclusive manufacture Chronoswiss C.122 movement. Beginning of the exclusive manufacture of the firm’s own models in Munich.
1991: World premiere of the “Kairos Chronograph” – the first automatic chronograph with off-center display of the hours and minutes.
1992: World premiere of the split-second chronograph “Rattrapante” (Swiss patent number 682201-0). Author of the specialized book “Chronograph – Wristwatches, Lang/Meis.” The third catalogue (“Chronoswiss – Faszination der Mechanik”) is published. It exclusively features the firm’s own models.
1993: Presentation of the “Cabrio” reversible wristwatch (European patent number 0562522). Presentation of the first serially produced white enamel dials of recent years in the “Orea” model.
1994: Presentation of the “Grand Régulateur,” (international patenting number 030021). 1st prize from the Italian watch magazine “Orologi”, Vicenza, in the category of “young successful enterprises.”
1995: World premiere of the “Opus” – the first serially produced, automatic, skeletonized chronograph. Launching of the “Lunar Chronograph”
1996: World premiere of the “Delphis” and its registration for a Swiss patent – the first wristwatch that combines a unique system of analogue, digital and retrograde time displays. First prize and award of “Watch of the Year” title from Armbanduhren magazine, Heel publishers, for the “Opus” skeletonized chronograph.1st prize for Thomas Schnelle as the national and federal winner of apprentices awarded by the Central Association of the German Watchmaker Craft.
1997: Chronoswiss is the official timekeeper for the STW Cup (Super Touring Car Cup). Third prize and award of the “Watch of the Year” title from Armbanduhren magazine, Heel publishers, for the “Delphis” model.
1998: World premiere of the “Pathos” – the first skeletonized, self-winding, split-second chronograph (Swiss patent number 682201-0).First prize and award of the “Golden Balance” title from Uhrenmagazin for the “Delphis” model. First prize and award of “Watch of the Year” title from World Photo Press magazine in Japan for the “Opus” model. Finalist Award, The New York Festival for the “Personality” advertising campaign. Founding of the first own Chronoswiss subsidiary in Bellport, Long Island, USA.
1999: First prize and award of the “Innovation Prize” from Chronos magazine for the “Pathos” model.
2000: First prize and award of the “Golden Balance / International Watch Award” from Uhren magazine for the “Tora Chronograph” model. “Signs of the times – Tick-Talk: A Timely Book” is published in German as Chronoswiss’ fourth catalogue.
2001: World premiere of the “Chronoscope” – the first automatic chronograph with Regulator-dial. An exclusive homage to the pioneers of the Chronograph.
2002: Third price and award of the title “Golden Balance/ International Watch Award” by watch magazine “Uhrenmagazin”, Ebner publishers for the “Opus” model. Gerd-R. Lang wins the Hungaria Classic 2002 with co-driver András Noszvai in the Jaguar XK 120 “C-Type”. Chronoswiss establishes a subsidiary in Switzerland. The Chrono SA subsidiary located in Niedau close to Biel is responsible for production and logistics.
2003: Presentation of the “Répetition à Quarts” at the Jewelry and Watch Trade Show in Basel, that tells the time exactly to the 15 minutes by the push of the pusher via a striking mechanism. First prize “Watch of the Year” title from Armbanduhren magazine, Heel publishers, for the “Chronoscope” model as well as award of the “Watch of the Year” by Horologes Magazine, Netherlands. Second prize and award of the “Golden Balance / International Watch Award” from Uhren Magazin for the “Delphis” model.
2004: Presentation of the “Régulateur à Tourbillon Squelette” at the Jewelry and Watch Trade Show in Basel, the first skeleton and hand-engrave Tourbillon with regulator dial, limited edition in 200 pieces.
2005: Third prize and award of the “Golden Balance / International Watch Award” from Uhren Magazin for the “Répétition à quarts” model. 4th place “Golden Balance” for the model “Chronoscope” and 8th place for the model “Orea handwinding”. The first Chronoswiss Classics takes place first time in September 2005 at Lake Starnberg. Presentation of the “Digiteur” (limited edition) and “Perpetual Calendar” at the Jewelry and Watch Trade Show in Basel. September 23, 2005 cornerstone was laid for the new production facility with the entire Chronoswiss staff and all 40 international distribution partners.
2006: Debut of the “Grand Régulateur”, “Timemaster Chronograph Date” and “Perpetual Calendar” at the watch and jewelry fair in Basel. 2nd place “Watch of the Year 2006” for “Digiteur” by the readers of Armbanduhren special-interest magazine + Welt am Sonntag.4th place “Golden Balance/International Watch Award” by Uhrenmagazin, Ebner Publishers for the “Digiteur” model and 6th place for the “Régulateur” model. 1st place “Advertisement of the Month” in Uhrenmagazin special-interest magazine for the “Take Your Time” motif in June and July/August and for the “Time is a Present” motif in December, and 2nd place “Advertisement of the Month” for the “Time in Flow” motif in the April issue. Diner’s Club Magazine confers its “Visionary of the Year” award on Gerd-R. Lang. Move into Bavaria’s first wristwatch factory in December.
2007: 1st place “Golden Balance/International Watch Award” by Uhrenmagazin, Ebner Publishers and Focus Online for the “Chronoscope” model, 5th place for the “Timemaster Day + Night” model, 8th place for the “Perpetual Calendar” model and 5th place for the “Répétition à Quarts” model.
2008: 3rd place “Golden Balance/International Watch Award” by Uhrenmagazin, Ebner Publishers and Focus Online for the “Grand Régulateur”, 3rd place for the “Répétition à Quarts”, 4th place for the “Perpetual Calendar” and 5th place for the “Imperia”.
2012: The Swiss entrepreneurial family Ebstein (Oliver Ebstein and his wife Eva Maria) acquires the assets of Chronoswiss from founder Gerd-Rüdiger Lang. Oliver Ebstein will be the new CEO. Founder Gerd-Rüdiger Lang will continue to support the company also in the future.
2013: Chronoswiss celebrates its thirtieth anniversary and creates a new limited edition of the Régulateur – the Régulateur 30. Chronoswiss presents Artist’s Collection, a watch line characterized by craftsmanship that is created exclusively in the brand’s own workshop in Lucerne.
Official website: http://www.chronoswiss.com
