Chronoswiss Unveils the Small Second Stone Collection
Two eye-catching stone dials, with jasper sourced in Germany and serpentine in Switzerland, adorn the brand’s slimmest model.
Founded in 1983 in Munich by the late Gerd Lang, Chronoswiss acquired renown for introducing the first serially produced regulator wristwatch in 1987. Now in the hands of Oliver Ebstein, with headquarters in Lucerne, the brand has been given a 21st-century visual punch, reinterpreting classics with vivid colours and multi-layered dials. In a departure from its off-centred regulator dials, Chronoswiss recently introduced the Small Second, a simpler timekeeper with central hour and minute hands. Uniting the two-nation history of the brand, the Small Second Jasper pays tribute to Chronoswiss’ origins with an eye-catching natural jasper stone dial from Germany, while the Small Second Serpentine references the brand’s new location with a Swiss-sourced serpentine stone dial.
Although the Small Second is one of the most straightforward watches in the brand’s current portfolio, the horizontal layout is similar to that found on the Strike Two Regulator. Smaller than most Chronoswiss models, the 40mm case is the slimmest, with a height of 11.5mm. Still complex and beautifully finished, the 17-part case construction preserves essential elements of Lang’s distinctive design language. The vintage-inspired onion crown is retained but has been streamlined to match the slimmer case height. And naturally, the signature fluting is featured below the bezel and caseback. The case is mostly polished, but the recessed area of the lugs is sandblasted. Fitted with domed sapphire crystals front and back, the case has a 30m depth rating due to the redesigned crown that does not screw down.
The fascinating colours and swirling patterns of the Small Second Jasper edition, often referred to as the “painted stone of the Earth”, evoke a desert landscape of beige, brown, yellow and ivory tones, framed by the stainless steel case. Originating in the region surrounding the Matterhorn and Zermatt, serpentine is a rich green stone that once formed part of the ocean floor. The vivid mottled green Serpentine edition is housed in a more luxurious two-tone steel and red gold case. As natural stones, no two dials will ever be alike.
The small seconds sub-dial is located at 9 o’clock with a hand-guilloché interior and a 5N sandblasted finish for the two-tone model. The outer track of the small seconds sub-dial echoes the dots and numerals of the peripheral minutes flange. Particularly striking are the stylised Breguet-style Arabic numerals applied directly to the stone. The central leaf-shaped hour and minute hands are treated with Super-LumiNova.
Powering the Chronoswiss Small Second models is the automatic calibre C.6000, developed in collaboration with La Joux-Perret for the Delphis line in 2003. This movement, with an openworked tungsten rotor, has dark, ruthenium-plated bridges and plates and radiating Côtes de Genève. It has a 55-hour power reserve and an operating frequency of 28,800vph.
Each edition is limited to 50 pieces. The Small Second Jasper is paired with a brown calfskin strap and retails for CHF 11,500 or EUR 12,700; the two-tone Small Second Serpentine comes with a green calfskin strap and retails for CHF 16,900 or EUR 18,500. More information at chronoswiss.com.
Facts Only
* Chronoswiss introduced the Small Second stone collection.
* Dials are made of jasper (sourced in Germany) and serpentine (sourced in Switzerland).
* The brand was founded in Munich in 1983 by Gerd Lang.
* Chronoswiss introduced a serially produced regulator wristwatch in 1987.
* The Small Second features central hour and minute hands, contrasting with off-centered regulator dials.
* The Jasper Small Second uses a natural jasper dial referencing German origins.
* The Serpentine Small Second uses a serpentine dial referencing the Swiss location.
* The watch case measures 40mm in height (11.5mm).
* The movement is the automatic calibre C.6000, developed with La Joux-Perret in 2003.
* Each edition is limited to 50 pieces.
* Small seconds sub-dial is located at 9 o’clock.
* Small Second Jasper retails for CHF 11,500 or EUR 12,700.
* Small Second Serpentine retails for CHF 16,900 or EUR 18,500.
Executive Summary
Chronoswiss has introduced the Small Second collection featuring stone dials made from jasper and serpentine, sourced from Germany and Switzerland, respectively. The brand, founded in 1983 in Munich, was known for introducing a regulator wristwatch in 1987 and now operates with Oliver Ebstein as headquarter in Lucerne. The Small Second line features a simpler timekeeper design with central hour and minute hands, departing from the brand's off-centered regulator dials. The Jasper edition utilizes a natural jasper dial referencing German origins, while the Serpentine edition uses a Swiss-sourced serpentine stone dial referencing the new location.
The physical design of the Small Second is slim, featuring a 40mm case height of 11.5mm and a 17-part construction that maintains elements of Gerd Lang’s design language. The case features a vintage-inspired onion crown and fluting below the bezel and caseback. The Jasper dial evokes desert tones derived from the Matterhorn/Zermatt region, while the Serpentine dial is a mottled green stone. Both models feature a small seconds sub-dial at 9 o’clock with hand-guilloché interiors. The movement powering these watches is an automatic calibre C.6000, developed with La Joux-Perret for the Delphis line in 2003. Limited to 50 pieces, the Jasper model retails for CHF 11,500 or EUR 12,700 with a brown strap, and the Serpentine model retails for CHF 16,900 or EUR 18,500 with a green strap.
Full Take
The narrative constructs a bridge between heritage and contemporary design by deploying natural materials as symbolic anchors. The framing deliberately links the physical origins of the stones (German jasper, Swiss serpentine) directly to the brand’s historical trajectory (Munich founding, Lucerne headquarters), creating an elevated sense of provenance for a new product line. This strategy positions the aesthetic shift—moving from complex regulators to simpler timekeeping—not as a reduction in complexity, but as a reinterpretation rooted in deep material history. The implied pattern is establishing authority through association: linking rarity (limited editions) with geological significance ("painted stone of the Earth") and geographic identity reinforces luxury perception.
The tension lies between the tangible reality of the materials and the marketing’s conceptual layering. While the factual specifications detail the movement and construction, the persuasive weight rests on the evocative descriptions of the stones—earth tones versus deep green—which function as emotional cues rather than purely objective data points. The pattern suggests that perceived value is significantly amplified when physical objects are explicitly tied to mythological or geographical narratives (desert landscape vs. ocean floor). This moves beyond mere product features into establishing a meta-narrative about artisanal rarity and historical continuity for the luxury consumer.
What aspects of this materialized history are being deliberately left unstated? If the focus remains on the aesthetic marriage of stone and location, it risks minimizing the mechanical innovation represented by the C.6000 movement or the engineering choices in the case construction. Further inquiry must explore whether this material storytelling serves primarily to justify premium pricing or if it truly deepens the appreciation for the horological mechanics themselves. How does the deliberate scarcity of 50 pieces interact with the narrative of natural rarity?
Sentinel — Human
The text reads like a professionally written press release or high-end editorial piece, effectively blending factual product data with rich, descriptive narrative about materials and heritage.