Chronoswiss Introduces the Small Second Stone Collection with Jasper and Serpentine Dials
Carved by geological time and shaped by modern watchmaking, two limited editions bring natural German and Swiss stone to Chronoswiss's Small Second collection.
PRESS RELEASE | 416 WORDS | 3 MINUTE READ
Photo Courtesy: Chronoswiss
Chronoswiss introduces the Small Second Stone Collection, marking the first use of natural stone dials in the brand's Modern Mechanical era.
The collection comprises two limited-edition timepieces: the Small Second Jasper and Small Second Serpentine. Each brings together millions of years of geological history with more than four decades of independent mechanical watchmaking.
The two watches also establish a connection between the origins of Chronoswiss and its contemporary home. The Jasper edition features natural stone from Germany, the birthplace of the brand, while the Serpentine edition uses Swiss stone associated with the region surrounding Zermatt and the Matterhorn.
From Munich to Lucerne
Founded in 1983 by master watchmaker Gerd Rüdiger Lang, Chronoswiss began its journey in Munich with a focus on preserving and advancing mechanical watchmaking.
Today, the brand continues its independent approach at the Atelier Lucerne, where traditional craftsmanship is combined with contemporary mechanical design.
The Small Second Stone Collection reflects this history through materials that connect Chronoswiss's German origins with its Swiss present.
Where Geological Time Meets Mechanical Time
The concept behind the collection begins long before the creation of a watch.
The natural stones used for the dials were formed through geological processes lasting millions of years. Each stone carries its own patterns, colours and structures, making the resulting dials inherently individual.
This creates a direct relationship between geological time and mechanical time: ancient natural materials become the canvas for contemporary watchmaking.
Small Second Serpentine: A Fragment of the Alps
The Small Second Serpentine features a natural green Serpentine stone originating from the region surrounding Zermatt and the Matterhorn.
The stone has a particularly remarkable geological history. Once part of an ancient ocean floor, these rocks were transformed during the collision of continental plates and eventually incorporated into the Alpine mountain range.
Its name derives from the Latin word serpens, meaning serpent, referring to the stone's characteristic patterns that can resemble snakeskin.
The natural green surface reveals varying structures and depths as the light moves across the dial.
Chronoswiss complements the stone with a two-tone case combining stainless steel and 18ct red gold, adding warmth and contrast to the vivid green dial.
Small Second Jasper: A German Connection
The Small Second Jasper pays tribute to Chronoswiss's German origins through its natural Jasper dial.
Often described as the "painted stone of the Earth," Jasper is known for its broad spectrum of colours and naturally occurring patterns.
The German region of Idar-Oberstein has a particularly strong tradition of stone cutting and gemstone craftsmanship, with generations of artisans working with natural minerals.
The Small Second Jasper showcases warm beige, brown and ivory tones, with naturally occurring formations that can evoke desert landscapes and geological rock layers.
The stone is housed within a refined stainless-steel case, creating a more understated interpretation of the collection.
Every Dial Is Unique
One of the defining characteristics of the collection is the individuality of its stone dials. Each dial begins as a carefully selected slice of natural stone. The location and direction of the cut determine which veins, colours, textures and formations become visible.
As a result, no two dials are identical.
This means that each Small Second Jasper and Small Second Serpentine possesses a naturally individual appearance, turning the geological material itself into part of the watch's identity.
The Small Second Architecture
The two watches retain the characteristic design language of Chronoswiss's Small Second collection.
The watches feature:
40mm case diameter
11.5mm case profile
Polished fluted bezel
Signature onion crown
Curved sapphire crystal
Decentralised small-seconds display at 9 o'clock
Natural stone dial construction
The restrained architecture allows the stone to remain the visual focus while maintaining the distinctive character associated with Chronoswiss.
Manufacture Calibre C.6000
Behind the stone dials is the Chronoswiss Manufacture Calibre C.6000, an automatic movement offering approximately 55 hours of power reserve. The movement features a skeletonised tungsten rotor, Geneva-striped bridges and refined finishing visible through the sapphire crystal caseback. The decentralised small-seconds display at 9 o'clock provides a balanced counterpoint to the natural irregularity of the stone dial. Mechanical finishing remains an important part of the collection, ensuring that the watches offer visual interest from both the front and rear. Each reference is limited to 50 pieces, making the complete collection limited to just 100 watches.
Availability
The Chronoswiss Small Second Jasper and Small Second Serpentine are available through Chronoswiss's official website and authorised points of sale, subject to availability.
For further information, visit: https://chronoswiss.com/
