Hands on Angelus Chronodate, The High-End Chronograph Heritage Revived

Founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1891, Angelus earned a reputation during the 20th century as one of the most influential horological manufactures. The brand, like many others, succumbed to the Quartz Crisis and remained dormant for over 30 years. In 2015, Swiss movement manufacturer La Joux-Perret revived Angelus. Both companies are now owned by Citizen Group

Under La Joux-Perret's stewardship, Angelus has continued to innovate. In 2022, the brand introduced its first vintage-inspired product of the 1940s, the Angelus Chronodate. Rather than being a vintage re-release, the Chronodate is a classically inspired collection that contrasts with the modern futurism of other contemporary Angelus products. The Chronodate has become one of the brand's most iconic watches. The company presented it in many colors and versions, perhaps the most prominent of which was the unique piece for the Only Watch auction. Now, we have the latest additions to the Chronodate collection: the Blue Storm and Velvet Black editions.

The watches feature a separately manufactured 6-part case, feature a bezel, crown, case middle, and case back all crafted from titanium, while its bezel ring, and push-pieces are made from a durable carbon composite. The finishes exhibit a mix of satin-finished surfaces and polished chamfers, adding a touch of elegance to the robust design. With a diameter of 42.50 mm and a thickness of 14.25 mm.

This timepiece balances size and presence on the wrist. The advanced design could be seen from the case band. While it is clear that the case is made of different parts, and the lugs are skeletonized, this combination of high-tech materials and smart design makes the watch perfect on the wrist.

The box sapphire crystal is treated  with anti-reflective coating on both sides, ensuring optimal visibility, while the case back is also made of box sapphire crystal, similarly treated to minimize glare. The case offers a water resistance of 30 m.

The Chronodate collection offers a range of color combinations. Here, we have the Storm Blue and Velvet Black, which showcase black metallic subdials. For more contrast, the subdials have a snailing finish. The indices and hands on the black dial version are in a golden hue, while on the blue dial version, they are in silver.

Surrounding the dial is a sloped black minute track and, of course, the trademark date ring on the perimeter with a red triangular-tipped pointer hand, reminiscent of the original Chronodate model from 1942. While setting the date, you can enjoy hearing the sound of this mechanism.

The layout of the watch includes a small seconds sub-dial at 9 o'clock and a 30-minute chronograph counter at 3 o'clock. The large applied Arabic numerals are filled with white Super-LumiNova. The central chronograph second hand also has a red tip. The syringe-style central hour and minute hands feature a Super-LumiNova insert for optimal legibility in all conditions.

The inclusion of a chronograph movement is a nod to Angelus's heritage, as the brand was renowned for producing high-quality chronographs since the late 1930s. In honor of these traditions and in cooperation with the esteemed manufacturer La Joux-Perret, the A-5000 caliber, which powers the Chronodate collection, was created, an automatic movement.With a column-wheel chronograph movement that operates at 28,800 vph (4 Hz) and offers 60 hours of power reserve.

When you turn the watch over, the A500 caliber is visible through the slightly protruding sapphire crystal on the case back. The finishing complements the contemporary design of the watch, featuring sandblasted, micro-bead blasted, and NAC-treated plates and bridges, along with circular-grained rhodium-plated wheels. The rotor, made of tungsten, prominently displays the Angelus logo.

The watches come with a satin-finished titanium bracelet with a titanium folding clasp and also include an additional rubber strap. Both versions are priced the same, estimated at 115,600 AED.