Wednesday, July 14, 2010

The Ernst Benz ChronoScope

The newest version of the Ernst Benz ChronoScope timepiece honors the tradition of the authentic aviation chronographs and famous wrist timers worn by pilots in the 1940’s.

The automatic Valjoux 7750 movement measures elapsed time in seconds, minutes and hours, while displaying the day and date. The dial is housed in a brushed and polished stainless steel case and is available in 47mm, 44mm and 40mm. The dial comes in no fewer than 11 colors and styles and strap is available in leather or steel.

The ChronoScope was initially created in response to the demands the Swiss watch brand received from aviators for a reliable and easily legible chronograph. It has evolved since its release, both aesthetically, while maintaining the styling and character of the original model.

Legibility was one of the most important criteria of timepieces in the 1940s. The dials were designed to resemble those of the era’s aviation instruments while their diameter allowed for large numerals and oversized hands for instant readability. A highly functional timekeeper and also a visual experience, a chronograph is a complicated watch, endowed with an additional mechanism enabling it to calculate the duration of an event.