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Chronoswiss meets Audi Design = Der Tachoscope!
Tradition and Innovation: The Audi Centennial Timepiece
A very special anniversary. A very special chronograph. 100 Years of Audi will be celebrated with the Tachoscope®, a high-quality, exclusive timepiece with a limited production of just 100 watches. Audi chose to collaborate with Chronoswiss, as both companies share a passion for technical perfection. The fruit of their labour: a watchmaking masterpiece that combines precise mechanical engineering and innovative functions with sporty Audi design. You’ll be delighted by this unique homage to 100 Years of Audi.
At the start of last century, August Horch was one of those legendary engineers who made automotive history with their courage, inventive talent and passion. In 1909 he founded the August Horch Automobilwerke GmbH in Zwickau, which was renamed Audi Automobilwerke GmbH in 1910. From the beginning Audi has stood for innovative automobiles, produced top-of-the range vehicles and achieved notoriety through motorsports victories.
In the 1930s the Silver Arrows of the Auto Union celebrated countless Grand Prix victories. In the early 1980s Audi introduced the quattro® permanent all wheel drive to rallye driving, marking the dawn of a new era. And since 1999 Audi drivers have demonstrated, through a series of victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, that the phrase “Vorsprung durch Technik” is more than just a promise. From Audi's earliest successes to the super Audi R8 LMS sports car: Audi engineers are constantly setting new standards in automotive manufacturing. Audi have now made 100 spectacular years of automotive history.
A wristwatch makes a very personal statement. It is often an exceptional piece of jewellery that symbolically communicates this message. The Tachoscope® presents its wearer as sporty yet elegant, both devoted to tradition and refreshingly open-minded. As fascinated by technology and speed, who treasures precision, skilled craftsmanship and repose. As someone confident and casual, yet committed to conventional values. As a connoisseur, a lover of beauty and exclusivity – an aesthetic purist drawn to life‘s exciting moments. The Tachoscope® embodies all this and more. It is a subtle homage to 100 Years of Audi that provides its wearer with the confidence of owning an enchanting chronograph that is as unique as the reason behind its creation.
Timepiece with regulator face, chronograph function with integrated push piece and Auto Union Type C inspired tachometer scale. Passion and precision at its finest moment. Audi design meets Chronoswiss watchmaking is the seamless combination of tradition and innovation, an exceptionally successful embodiment of time.
A prime mover featuring a V16 mid-engine with 357/382 kW (485/520 PS) and a top speed of 340 km/h. The Tachoscope® from Audi and Chronoswiss – a testimonial to the Grand Prix victories of the 1930s.
*SOME DESIGN SKETCHES*
Thorough athleticism, clear functions, premium quality – the technical and aesthetic ideals of two companies, impressively realised in one luxury item.
Original Photograph showing the cockpit of an Auto Union race car. The Tachometer for engine RPM display was the inspiration for the watch design
Layout of the Tachoscope® dial and its functions. - Classical elegance. Clear contours. Innovative functions.
The decentralised hour hand on the Tachoscope®’s exclusive regulator face ensures an optimal view of the small second hand. The face and hands are reminiscent of the tachometer display on the Type C and D Grand Prix racing cars of the 1930s. A particularly chronographic feature of the watch is its ability to measure speed. When the stopwatch mechanism is activated, the speed travelled over a defined distance can be measured by the position of the red chrono centre second hand. The speed can then be read off the red Tachoscope® (Greek for “speed display”) display in the outer area of the face. Speeds of up to 400 km/h can be measured. Beyond that, just rely on your own senses.
*please see this link on an explanation of how to use a tachymeter scale is used to measure speed:
en.wikipedia.org
The chronometric accuracy relies on the quality of the Glucydur balance of the manufactory movement of the Tachoscope®, which carries out 21,600 oscillations per hour with its auto-compensating flat hairspring. The result is 1/6 of a second stopwatch accuracy, impressive functionality and a special homage to Audi‘s motorsport success.
Inside the Tachoscope® the exclusive Chronoswiss manufactory calibre C.125 is at work. By means of a complex mechanism it enables the chronograph to be operated using only one push-piece, which is integrated in the crown (“monopulsante” principle).
* THE HEART OF THE TACHOSCOPE ® *
Since 1844, a small heart-shaped cam has made it possible to instantaneously reset the chronograph display from every position. This is the achievement of watchmaker Adolphe Nicole from Vallée de Joux in Switzerland, who perfected the art of timekeeping. And today the Tachoscope®, in the grand tradition of classic chronographs, still makes use of this invention. And Chronoswiss still mount the complex under-dial work directly on the front side of the plate of the exclusive automatic C.125 manufactory calibre.
Unlike in modular designs, the plate of the Tachoscope® is specially processed for this purpose. It features specially milled slots and boreholes that perfectly accommodate the intricate components of the mechanism. The three functions – start, stop and reset – of the central chrono seconds are controlled via the push-piece integrated in the winding crown, and internally by a classic ratchet wheel. This wheel turns on the axle of the permanently running second hand. A Chronoswiss innovation is the chrono wheel on ball bearings. It is one of 38 parts that are manufactured by Swiss specialists for Chronoswiss.
More than two hundred years after its invention, the automatic winding mechanism is experiencing an unforeseen renaissance. The reason: technical watchmaking expertise and the endurance of traditional values go hand in hand. But few watches manage to unite both handmade tradition and progressive innovation. The Audi Tachoscope® is one such watch. Its brilliance is confirmed just by looking through the window on the screwed case base, which reveals the C.125 manufactory movement, produced according to precise watchmaking standards. Geneva stripes and circular graining decorate all the larger visible and non-visible parts of the movement. The most delicate components such as screws and cogs are polished, blued or gilded. Chronoswiss performs all these refinements by hand with exceptional skill. A special part of the movement is the automatic mechanism’s rotor, which enables the movement to harness power from every kinetic act. Specially crafted by Audi Design for this anniversary watch, with every move you make it pays tribute to 100 years of Vorsprung durch Technik.
START-STOP-RESET Sequence of the Monopusher Chronograph - Column Wheel Control of Chronograph
The self-winding Chronoswiss Caliber C.125 represents a refined incarnation of the classic Enicar 165 caliber, which Chronoswiss has modified for its purposes; these include the implementation of a regulator hour display, a sophisticated mono-pusher activation for all of the chronograph functions, and a column wheel to govern the chronograph start-stop-return sequence.
Eye-pleasing perlage and Cotes de Geneve decorations add distinctive charm to the plates and bridges of the movement, as well as the skeletonized rotor. Fully wound, the C.125 caliber will run for approximately 35 hours, when removed from the wrist.
For exceptional design chronograph with regulator dial, Chronoswiss has reworked the plate of the movement in order to mount the switching mechanism at the front. The three chronograph functions (start, stop and return to zero) are triggered via a pushpiece that is integrated into the winding crown rather than by separate pushers.
Original Enicar 165 Movement Shown here:
The Chronoswiss version of this movement far surpasses the standard Enicar factory finish. Geneva stripes and perlage of different sizes take the place of subtle sunburst pattern with matte-gilding. In addition, the ratchet wheel has been given polished beveled teeth. However, Herr Lang did not stop there - he has replaced the bidirectional automatic winding system with a completely new unidirectional design, and in the process has increased the number of jewels from 24 to 30.
*SPECIFICATIONS & INFORMATION *
*Model*
Tachoscope®
Automatic chronograph wristwatch with regulator face, tachometer display and the monopulsante push-piece integrated in the crown.
*Reference*
CHA 1520 (Platinum) and CHA 1521 W (White Gold)
*Patent*
Number 1243984 (European Patent).
*Displays*
Hour, minute, second, chrono centre seconds, tachymeter scale.
*Case*
Massive 26-part case; special Audi-style crown with integrated push-piece (monopulsante) with replaceable seal; massive crown in case material; Ø 42.80 mm; height: 11.80 mm; screwed, polished bezel with bevelled edge and sapphire glass, antireflective on one side; solid screwed back and sapphire glass, antireflective on one side; screwed strap attachment
bridges with patented Autobloc system and special screws (Audi design), water resistant up to 3 atm incl. at setting mechanism; midsection with horns and brushed finish; upper part of case, pushpiece, surface of midsection and bevelled edge all highly polished.
*Movement*
Chronoswiss manufactory calibre C.125; enlarged rotor with Ø 28.00 mm (11 3/4”’); design exclusive to Chronoswiss; automatic winding mechanism; 30 jewels; Incabloc shock protection; 35-hour power reserve; 3 Hz; 21,600 A/h (oscillations) ratchet mechanism (built on face side) with kinetic drive; central chrono wheel on ball bearings (ball diameter 0.4 mm), a first in chronograph construction; enlarged, skeletonised Audi-designed rotor, individually numbered and engraved with the years 1909 – 2009 as well as the Audi rings.
*Face*
White gold Tachoscope® with face made from solid sterling silver (925); Platinum Tachoscope® with genuine enamelled face. Printed Arabic numerals (special Audi font); recessed chapter ring and hour display; tachometer scale, accuracy of measurement 1/6 second graduations (360 graduations in total); blue steel hand.
*Limited Edition*
Total number: 100 pieces, of which 65 are in white gold and 35 in platinum.
*Scope of delivery*
The Tachoscope® is delivered in a case with piano black finish, which also contains a watchmaker’s magnifying glass and a special screwdriver for changing the strap. A brochure and operating instructions are included.
*INTERVIEW WITH Mr WOLFGANG EGGER (Head of Audi Design)*
Wofgang is the head of Audi Design and the interview was conducted on 20 Feb 2009.
Editor:
What makes the Audi Tachoscope® so special?
Wolfgang Egger, Audi Design:
First of all, I think the idea of owning a product of which there are only a hundred worldwide is thrilling! And then it‘s the watch‘s extraordinary design that makes it seem so desirable to me, of course. The Tachoscope® represents a hundred years of company history without coming off as old fashioned.
Editor:
Yes, let‘s talk a little bit about the design. What inspired you and how can you describe this product?
Wolfgang Egger, Audi Design:
Quite simply a fascination with mechanical engineering. The movement of the Tachoscope® has an incredible aesthetic. The proportions of the in house movement defined the basic architecture of the case. The design is typical Audi: our design philosophy translated to watch design. The case is characterised by its distinctly convex glass. That in combination with its precise edges together defi ne the case‘s structured look. The crown resembles a gear. We even found a solution typical of Audi for the screws on the watchband. The inspiration for the watch face was our Grand Prix racing cars of the 1930s. The typography is borrowed from the instrument cluster. We‘ve only modified it for use on the watch, because this 70-year-old font can still claim to be modern. In short, our design stands for the longevity and continuity of the Audi premium brand.
Editor:
Why should an automotive manufacturer introduce such a top-of-the-range watch onto the market?
Wolfgang Egger, Audi Design:
In parallel with automobile design, we also design products for daily use – due to our passion and drive to improve things. But also to apply our design expertise in areas outside of the automotive sector. We find appropriate partners to realise our designs and place them in various markets. The results are exclusively top-quality products and of course always made in the spirit of Vorsprung durch Technik.
Our goal Is to redefine the term state-of-the-art in each segment with all of our products. That‘s our claim. And it‘s obvious, I believe, those kind of results can‘t be achieved in lower price brackets.
Editor:
Is it still appropriate to produce and sell such luxury objects in the current climate?
Wolfgang Egger, Audi Design:
We don’t believe that people will abandon their desire for prestige and luxury in the future. And now both concepts are taking on a new meaning. We know that from conducting market research worldwide as well. Concepts like sustainability, customisation, minimalism, etc. play a central role here. But always at the very highest level of quality – at the premium level.
Editor:
And looking hypothetically into the future – where do you see Audi in 100 years time? Will there still be automobiles – and how do you see the design developing?
Wolfgang Egger, Audi Design:
I believe there will always be individual passenger traffic in vehicles that resemble what we today call automobiles. And not least due to pure emotion. Innovations will result from urbanisation and the desire associated with that for more individual, more urban mobility. New drive train technologies require formal equivalents, in other words matching designs. Our brand design will achieve all of that, but always in the context of our core values: sportiness, progress and high quality. The brand is sacred to us.
Editor:
Thank you very much for your time, Mr. Egger!
*ABOUT CHRONOSWISS & GERD R. LANG*
Gerd R Lang:
Even as a child, German-born Lang had a passion for mechanical things. He pursued a career in watchmaking and was obsessed with tracking time precisely. In 1983, this watchmaker extraordinaire founded Chronoswiss in Munich, Germany, and embarked on a quest to make the most extraordinary mechanic timepieces. He purchased limited-edition- and out-of-use movements that he could embellish and improve. His watches were immediately recognized for their classical elegance and technical prowess.
In 1988, Chronoswiss surprised the world when it unveiled its stunning regulator wristwatch—which carried the oversized regulator dial that heretofore had only graced the faces of pocket watches and clocks. In 1990, the brand began to manufacture its own models and in 1992, it again caused an international stir when it presented its patented two-handed Rattrapante.
Indeed, Chronoswiss has regularly unveiled mechanical masterpieces that have garnered the brand international acclaim. Among them are the patented, reversible Cabrio watch, which was launched in 1993, followed a year later by the patented Grand Regulateur. In 1995, the Opus automatic skeletonized chronograph made its debut and in 1996, the Delphis watch with a unique system of analog, digital and retrograde time-displays made a profound impression on the world of mechanical watchmaking.
The first skeletonized self-winding fly-back chronograph, called the Pathos, made its debut in 1998 and in 2001, the Tourbillon Regulator stole the limelight with its beauty and technically advanced movement. Each of these creations has won at least one international award, with many winning multiple honors.
Lang relentlessly pursues the fine art of mechanical watchmaking and has thereby propelled his brand into the 21st century with a gusto that is, perhaps, unmatched. Chronoswiss believes in exclusivity and produces only approximately 7,000 watches per year for global distribution.
Every component of Chronoswiss watches is masterfully produced and the watches are hand finished to Lang’s exacting specifications.
Obsessed with the measurements of time intervals, Lang has affectionately been called “Mr. Chronograph” by friends and colleagues.
For decades he has restored many exotic chronograph movements, and he has regularly imbued these treasures of timing with additional functions and complexities.
Chronoswiss meets Audi Design = Der Tachoscope!
