Chronoswiss Sirius Répétition à quarts Watch Review
Angus Davies reviews the new Chronoswiss Sirius Répétition à quarts, a timepiece equipped with a guilloché dial and quarter repeater.
This detailed review of the Chronoswiss Sirius Répétition à quarts includes live images, specification details and price.
As I grow older, I find that I often repeat myself. It is ironic that in my youth, I found it humorous to hear one of my parents duplicate an aforementioned remark. Now, I have become that older person and my children laugh at ‘Dad’ attempting to regale them with a tale they have already heard.
The repeating of information can prove annoying to a young generation. However, with the onset of years and diminished hearing, I now find repetition among my peer group provides a further opportunity to hear a phrase I failed to catch the first time.
Recently, I had the absolute joy of spending a few days in the company of a timepiece from Chronoswiss, the Sirius Répétition à quarts. This watch not only imparts the time with conventional hour and minute hands but also, on demand, conveys the hours and quarters with a series of melodic chimes, repeating the time aurally.
A minute repeater employs hammers and gongs to acoustically announce the time in a sequence of hours, quarters and minutes, whereas a quarter repeater forgoes the chiming of minutes. These complications can trace their origins to a time when street lighting was not commonplace and the reading of a dial proved difficult outside of daylight hours.
Chronoswiss has recently revisited its existing Sirius Répétition à quarts and subjected it to a facelift.
The dial
The dial is made of solid sterling silver, adorned with a guilloché motif. The pattern consists of curving lines emanating from the fulcrum of the dial. They are reminiscent of the lines of wisdom gracing a mature face and accord the dial with a significant quotient of visual interest.
The feuille shaped hour and minute hands are open-worked at their centres and their slender tips point to the hour and minute circles with laser like accuracy.
Above 6 o’clock, a recessed subdial resides, displaying small seconds. The periphery of the subdial is decorated with satiné circulaire, whilst the central portion is adorned with a basket pattern.
Chronoswiss has masterfully exploited the potential of guilloché to bestow differing dial depths and ensnare light with eye-catching results. The dial remains simple to interpret and I appreciate its graceful appearance and gentle demeanour.
Aesthetically, the dial of this latest iteration of the Chronoswiss Sirius Répétition à quarts is very different from its predecessor, which featured a smooth lacquered dial and Breguet Conique Squelette hands. In reality, I find myself drawn to the felicitous faces of both versions.
The case
Measuring 41mm in diameter, the Chronoswiss Sirius Répétition à quarts avoids excess, proffering dimensions which should appeal to a broad section of the watch-buying public. The timepiece measures a significant 14.30mm in height, but I did not find this proved unduly obtrusive or prone to catching on surfaces.
The Chronoswiss Sirius Répétition à quarts is available in a choice of 18-carat red gold or stainless steel. I wore the latter version and found the reserved tones of its case very agreeable and, with a commensurately lower asking price, I would probably err towards the greyish hues of this particular case option.
The highly polished bezel sharply arcs from the horizontal plane of the sapphire crystal to the vertical flank of the caseband. Where the bezel meets the caseband, it is knurled, again introducing texture to this horological composition.
Vertical satin-brush graces the caseband and accords a pleasing contrast with the other surfaces presented. The lugs of the case sharply taper downwards, providing a neat appearance.
Typical of other Chronoswiss timepieces, the Sirius Répétition à quarts is equipped with an onion-shaped crown. Despite its bulbous profile I never suffered any wrist abrasion and its styling didn’t mar wearer comfort. Moreover, one notable benefit of its styling is the welcome ease of adjustment and winding.
The pushpiece, positioned at 10 o’clock, responsible for actuating the repeater sequence, has been updated on this latest version. Its styling is neater, protruding less from the sides of the case. It is oval in shape and features a treble clef on its vertical plane.
The caseback is flat, nuzzling the wrist comfortably. It is equipped with a sapphire crystal according a view of the self-winding movement.
The movement
Chronoswiss has collaborated with complications manufacturer, Dubois-Dépraz, to create a module for the quarter hour repetition. This module is teamed with the Chronoswiss Caliber C.126 self-winding movement. Dubois-Dépraz are held in high esteem within the watchmaking industry, supplying many watch brands. The company is based in the Vallée de Joux, a region synonymous with repeater watches.
The open-worked oscillating mass is adorned with Côtes de Genève motif, whilst beneath this, the eyes are indulged with a vista of perlage gracing some of the bridges and the mainplate.
Closing remarks
I have always liked the notion of repeater watches. Sadly, minute repeater watches have always proved beyond my financial grasp. By offering the Sirius Répétition à quarts, Chronoswiss has provided the opportunity for potential ownership to a much broader audience.
The updated version of the Chronoswiss Sirius Répétition à quarts exquisitely exploits texture to sublime effect. I wanted to sample each surface with an inquisitive forefinger. The case and crown sated this desire, whilst the dial, shrouded by its sapphire crystal, left me craving to touch each undulating ridge of its gorgeously executed dial.
Ultimately, I return to the mellifluous voice of the Sirius Répétition à quarts. It repeats the time with a delightful aural quality and should the wearer fail to hear the exquisite chimes on the first occasion, a simple press on the pushpiece at 10 o’clock will repeat the necessary information with cheerful tone.
Further reading
Technical specification
- Model: Chronoswiss Sirius Répétition à quarts
- Reference: CH-1653 stainless steel
- Case: Stainless-steel; diameter 41mm; height 14.30mm; water resistant to 3 bar (30 metres); sapphire crystal to front and caseback.
- Functions: Hours; minutes; small seconds; quarter repeater.
- Movement: C.126 Caliber; self-winding movement; frequency 21,600 vph (3Hz); 38 jewels; power reserve 35 hours
- Strap: Alligator leather strap presented with a steel pin buckle
- Price: £15,270 (RRP as at 6.1.2016)
- Note: Also available in 18-carat red gold, Ref CH-1651R – £24,890 (RRP as at 6.1.2016)