Although
ChronoSwiss is a relatively young company in the grand scheme
of things it has achieved much success in the years since its
inception in 1983. This success has been built on the uncompromising
commitment to only producing pieces of the highest technical
quality and the ingenuity and creativity of owner Gerd-Rudiger
Lang.
Mr. Lang brought
to the company a great love of horology along with his skills
as a master watch maker and a belief that he need not follow
the crowd to be successful. Beginning with out of date and surplus
movements from other companies who were caught up in the quartz
watch craze of the 80’s, he has worked diligently to build
a company which now produces an extensive line of highly complex
watches.
Further the
ChronoSwiss marketing strategy is not tied to publicity campaigns
and celebrity endorsements but instead in built on the quality
of the product and the desire of watch connoisseurs to own his
creations.
Beginning
with only one model, Lang has expanded the company to produce
some of the most technologically advanced watches available in
today’s market. His creations have won multiple awards
and earned him a reputation as one of today’s master watch
creators.
The company
is based in Munich, Germany however since many of its watch components
are manufactured in Switzerland they have the right to label
their pieces as Swiss Made, a notation that is recognized world
wide as the hallmark of the finest made watches.
Company production
is limited to approximately 7000 pieces per year and are sold
in through various general agents world wide. It is this limited
production that is at least in part a component of their exclusivity.
Lang insists
that each piece be first produced as if it were to be his personal
watch. He feels that in doing so he can imbue each piece with
the high quality standards he seeks in his own time pieces. Lang
holds to the theory that a watch should have a lifetime value
not just be a product of today’s consumer preferences.
This adherence to the principles of early watch making is what
makes his pieces so valuable to those who purchase them.
He compares
them to the experience many of us had as children when we sat
upon our grandfather’s knee and were enchanted by listening
to the gentle tick of a pocket watch. For most of us that experience
is one that lasts us a lifetime and so, he hopes will the experience
of owning a ChronoSwiss watch.
ChronoSwiss Replica
Watches - A Brief History
As a child Gert Lang developed
a passion for all things mechanical. It is not surprising then that he trained
as watchmaker and eventually became obsessed with accurately keeping time.
In 1982 Lang established
the ChronoSwiss company in Munich, Germany. It was a point in history where
quartz watches were in vogue and Lang was thought by many to being foolish
by not following that extremely popular trend. Lang however followed a different
path purchasing limited edition and surplus mechanical movements and proceeded
to embellish and improve upon them. Soon the experts recognized the value
of his work and his pieces found almost immediate popularity.
Using his immense skill
Lang quickly developed a series of highly technical watches and innovations
many of which are still in use today. In 1988 ChronoSwiss successfully transferred
the regulator dial used for large precision clocks to a wrist watch. This
feat produced a watch that quickly became a signature piece for the ChronoSwiss
line. A number of models including the Pacific, Kairos, Hora and Oria quickly
followed.
Beginning in 1990 the
brand began to manufacture its own models and in 1992 they produced the patented
two handed Rattrapante. This was followed by the first skeltonized self winding
chronograph in 1998 and Tourbillion Regulator in 2001. Each of these creations
has won international awards and in some cases multiple awards.
In 1992 Lang also co-authored
a comprehensive history called “Chronograph Wristwatches, to Stop Time” and
endeavor that is reflective of his love of chronographic watches in particular.
The company is very open about it’s production processes even producing
a a video called “The Fascination of Watch Making” which is available
from ChronoSwiss USA.
The search for timeless value is one of the underlying principles in the manufacture
of ChronoSwiss time pieces. Lang has been quoted as saying “I have a
very simple philosophy: I begin by designing every ChronoSwiss watch for me
and me alone. In order to perfect the timeless design of antique watches, I
need one thing above all else: time - lots and lots of time! Only by taking
plenty of sweet time can I indulge myself in the luxury of never having to
compromise quality or aesthetics.”
ChronoSwiss today is widely known for its innovative and technically superior
time pieces. These pieces are released in limited numbers each year and are
highly sought by watch enthusiasts and collectors world wide.
