iW Magazine iW Summer 2018 | Page 58

CHRONOSWISS TIMELINE 1958-1961 Gerd-R. Lang learns watchmaking at Jauns watch shop in his hometown of Braunschweig, Germany. 1988 The second catalogue features Chronoswiss' first own models, Regulator and Pacific. First Baselworld appearance. 1970 Lang collaborates on the filming of "Le Mans" with Steve McQueen and serves as official timekeeper at various Formula One races. 1964-1979 Lang works at the Heuer stopwatch and chronograph factory in Biel, Switzerland. 1980 Lang attends the master school in Würzburg and graduates as Master Watchmaker. Official timekeeper for "Swiss Timing" at the Olympic Games in Moscow. 1981 Lang opens a special wo rkshop for chronographs in Munich. 1982 Lang introduces the world's first mechanical chronograph with moon phase display and mineral crystal back. He labels it Chronoswiss. 1983 Lang founds Chronoswiss watch factory in Munich and then establishes a worldwide distribution structure. 1984 The name Chronoswiss is registered as a protected trademark. 1985 Chronoswiss distributes its first catalogue with mechanical wristwatches and pocket-watches produced in Switzerland. Chronoswiss also distributes the A. Rochat and Kelek brands. The 1990 Regulator Automatique featured exclusive manufacture Chronoswiss C.122 movement. 1990 World premiere of the Regulator Automatique with its exclusive manufacture Chronoswiss C.122 movement. Chronoswiss begins manufacture of the firm's own models in Munich. 1991 World premiere of the Kairos Chronograph, the first automatic chronograph with off-center display of the hours and minutes. 1992 World premiere of the patented split-second chronograph Rattrapante. Lang pens "Chronograph - Wristwatches, Lang/Meis". 1993 Chronoswiss debuts the Cabrio reversible wristwatch and the first serially produced white enamel dials of recent years in the Orea model. 1994 Presentation of the Grand Regulator. The first Chronoswiss Regulator (Ur-Régulateur) from 1987. 1987 World premiere of the Chronoswiss Regulator hand-wound wristwatch – the first serially manufactured wristwatch with a regulator-type dial. The typical Chronoswiss case is born. Its distinguishing characteristics include a screwed and channeled bezel, an onion-shaped crown and screwed strap lugs. 58 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | SUMMER 2018 1995 World premiere of the Opus, the first serially produced, automatic, skeletonized chronograph. Also new: the Lunar Chronograph. 1996 World premiere of the Delphis and its registration for a Swiss patent. It was the first wristwatch that combines a unique system of analogue, digital and retrograde time displays.