The original Chronographe Suisse - no relation to any modern incarnation of the brand name - was at one time a major parts supplier to a number of the big houses of Swiss watchmaking. Leading up to the quartz crisis of the late 1970s, which shuttered a tremendous percentage of the industry, Chronographe Suisse was manufacturing manual-winding timepieces like this one for a number of retailers throughout Switzerland and greater Europe, sometimes with their company names printed on the dials, but often completely unbranded.
These timepieces were relatively plentiful from the 1940s-1970s and featured a variety of casing materials, movements, and dial designs. Most Chronographe Suisse models were gold plated or plain steel, but a few were produced in solid gold. They were particularly popular with tourists visiting Switzerland in the 1950s and 1960s, looking to take home a piece of fine Swiss watchmaking on a budget - they looked like a million bucks back then, and they still do today!
Although Chronographe Suisse are relatively plentiful on the market today, this particular example caught our eye instantly! Finished in solid 18K Rose Gold and mated to a stunning black dial (a rarity in its own right), it makes for a very unusual and rare combination which is tremendously fetching. The patina to the Telemetre Scale printing is eye-watering, and its 38mm size makes it infinitely wearable on the modern wrist. If you've been captivated by the "oversized" chronographs from brands such as Universal Geneve, Longines, and Tissot which have become super hot on the market, you'd do well to consider Chronographe Suisse as an alternative - all the looks and vintage appeal, at a fraction of the price.
One word of warning: Many of these chronographs were fitted with fickle movements - in some cases the internals were outright shit. Our example is fitted with the Landeron 248, a much more robust option than others used, and has of course been serviced and timed, as with all our timepieces. Act fast, this one won't last!
