When discussing funky timepieces, Chronoswiss immediately springs to mind as a brand that embraces chromatic audacity with unbridled enthusiasm. The new ReSec Snake exemplifies this philosophy, delivering a venomous combination of color, texture, and unconventional design that either delights or bewilders—rarely anything in between.
Part of the brand’s expansive Open Gear collection featuring 48 models, this limited edition represents Chronoswiss at its most gloriously unrestrained.
Serpentine Sophistication
The foundation for this serpentine creation rests on a time-tested case design that has served Chronoswiss since its earliest days. Clearly inspired by Breguet’s classical aesthetics, the case features signature scroll lugs and knurled bands around the top and bottom sections, while the midcase maintains sleek, polished surfaces.
For the Snake variant, grade 5 titanium receives a green PVD coating that deliberately evokes the menacing hue of a poisonous tree serpent.
Measuring to 100-meter water resistance with sapphire crystal protection and the brand’s characteristic onion crown, the case demonstrates surprising restraint compared to the explosion of color awaiting within.
The fitted white rubber strap with titanium folding clasp presents an intriguing juxtaposition—rubber straps typically suggest sporting intentions, yet here they complement a regulator display that traditionally embodies classical watchmaking elegance.
The dial reveals Chronoswiss’s complete abandonment of horological conventionality. Hand-guilloché green base coating mimics reptilian scales, while blue PVD components create striking contrast throughout the regulator layout.
An orange retrograde seconds hand demands attention as it sweeps across its dedicated arc, while the signature Open Gear beneath the substantial minutes hand glows purple—creating a rainbow of mechanical madness that somehow maintains cohesive appeal.
Regulator Heritage Meets Modern Manufacturing
Central to understanding Chronoswiss lies appreciation for their regulator obsession—a complication defining the brand since 1987, just four years after founding. While most Chronoswiss regulators feature traditional 6 o’clock small seconds, the ReSec models showcase retrograde seconds mounted on signature arced bridges, creating dynamic visual movement that enhances the dial’s theatrical presentation.
The ceramic indices appear to utilize Lumicast technology—ceramic Super-LumiNova blocks rather than traditional lume paint—providing robust luminescence that matches the watch’s bold personality. This technical choice reinforces Chronoswiss’s commitment to unconventional solutions that prioritize visual impact alongside functional performance.
Powering this chromatic celebration is the Swiss manufacture Caliber C.6005, produced exclusively for Chronoswiss by La Joux-Perret. Introduced in 2023 with the Delphis model, this automatic movement delivers 55-hour power reserve at 28,800 vibrations per hour. The skeletonized tungsten rotor and ruthenium-plated three-quarter bridge with sunray striping provide appropriate mechanical theater visible through the display caseback.
What makes Chronoswiss fascinating is their complete transformation from elegant Breguet-inspired classical watches to today’s ebullient creations that provoke immediate emotional responses. The brand has essentially “molted” its conservative skin to reveal a far more exciting, distinctive design philosophy that celebrates horological exuberance over subdued sophistication.
The ReSec Snake Manufacture (Ref. CH-6924T.1-GRBL) commands CHF 14,900 and is limited to 100 pieces worldwide. For collectors seeking timepieces that reject conventional wisdom in favor of chromatic boldness and mechanical theater, this serpentine creation represents Chronoswiss at its most authentically uncompromising—a watch that proudly wears its colorful complexity as a badge of horological independence.
