The Chronoswiss Delphis Watch: Timekeeping Twist Times Two

The Chronoswiss Delphis watch is a great example of how attractive alternative time displays can be. What is particularly appealing about the Delphis, though, is the fact that it features not one–but two such displays.   Instead of ordinary hands wheeling about the dial, this Chronoswiss timepiece treats you to a jumping hour in conjunction with retrograde minutes.  It is a true visual treat to watch the retrograde hand gradually travel through its arc, and see it instantly pop backwards to zero at the dawn of the next hour, complete with an instantaneous digital leap of the hour in its small window.  All of this is accomplished by a clever underdial mechanism that is mated to the Chronoswiss C.22 automatic movement–a refinement of the classic Enicar 165 movement from 1967.   

Certainly, this classic Chronoswiss watch offers one of the most beautiful dials in current production. Crafted from solid silver, it bears several distinctive guilloche textures, including a “satine circulaire” pattern in the minute scale, a stunning scalloped “decor flamme” radiating pattern on the primary surface, and a fine “panier” pattern on the the small seconds subdial. 

This breathtaking example of skilled guillochage is made all the more splendid by the lustrous blued steel hands–most especially that gorgeous minute hand, with its svelte waisted profile.