12.21.2005
CRONOSWISS's "Opus Chrono Skeleton Steel" - $9950 Retail
"Opus, the Latin word for "work," is an apt name for this remarkable Chronoswiss timepiece. Hailed as the first skeletonized automatic chronograph, one voyeuristic look will reveal to you that much work went into the design and creation of the Opus. The skeletonized wonder is the winner of numerous awards, including First Prize "Watch of the the Year 1996" by readers of Armbanduhren ("Wristwatches") and "Watch of the Year 1998" in Japan by World Photo Press magazine.The Chronoswiss Caliber C.741 S, a modification of Caliber ETA 7750, was handmade using a pantograph (mechanical device used to copy a figure or plan on a different scale) and stencils. These tools allowed for inessential metal to be cut away, thus the entire movement has been skeletonized to the max, allowing you a front seat view of nearly every movement within. Blued Breguet Losange hands move around the gold-plated dial, which displays hour, minute, second, analog date, chrono center second, 30-minute register, and 12-hour register. Wear the fluted steel case and complication on a genuine Louisiana crocodile leather strap.
Crystal: Anti-Reflective Sapphire
Movement: Automatic Mechanical
Warranty: 2-year
Water Resistance: 3 ATM / 30 M / 100 F." [Post Via elighters.com]
