Angelus Brings Vintage Motoring Style Into the Present with the Chronographe Tachymètre

The early, pioneering days of motoring provide the inspiration for Angelus’ latest creation. The new Chronographe Tachymètre joins the brand’s La Fabrique collection of measurement timepieces, combining a compact case, a vintage-inspired tachymeter scale and a hand-wound chronograph movement. Its design draws on the famous Angelus chronographs from the 1930s through the 1950s, while three tasteful color combinations give the new model a contemporary character.

Founded in Le Locle in 1891, Angelus developed a long tradition of functional watches, including chronographs, alarm watches, and repeaters. The new Chronographe Tachymètre continues that history of measurement-focused timepieces. The launch also follows the brand’s success at the 2025 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, where the Chronographe Télémètre received the Chronograph Watch Prize.

Compact Bodywork

Measuring 37mm in diameter and a svelte 9.25mm thick, the Chronographe Tachymètre is the slimmest and most compact model in Angelus’ contemporary collections. Its case band follows a characteristic curve from lug to lug, while the elongated lugs sweep downward and appear to twist along the sides. Together, these details give the watch a pronounced vintage character.

The three iterations combine the case materials and dial colors in distinctly automotive-inspired configurations. The 3N yellow-gold model features a golden dial with British racing green details. The two steel versions offer either a coral-pink dial with steel-gray accents or a pearl-gray center framed by a petrol-blue flange and counters. The grained dials are complemented by finely snailed small-seconds and 30-minute counters. The applied hour markers and Arabic numerals as well as the syringe-style hands are coated with luminescent material for night-time readability. 

Measuring Speed

The tachymeter is the defining feature of the Chronographe Tachymètre. Positioned on the flange and calibrated to a base of 1,000, the scale allows the wearer to determine the speed of a moving object over a known distance. The chronograph is started via a pusher integrated into the crown as the object passes a reference point and stopped after one kilometer or mile. The central chronograph seconds hand then indicates the speed directly on the tachymeter scale. Starting at 500 km/h, the scale emphasizes the watch’s connection to high-speed motoring. A 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock records elapsed time.

A Vintage-Inspired "Engine"

The Chronographe Tachymètre is powered by Angelus’ A5000 hand-wound chronograph caliber, whose architecture and meticulous finishing and beveling echo the brand’s historical movements. At just 4.20mm thick, the caliber fits neatly within the watch’s compact 37mm case and provides a power reserve of 42 hours. Its main plate and bridges are gilded, while the chronograph mechanism is rhodium-plated, creating a subtle contrast between the movement’s different surfaces. The A5000 operates at 3 Hz and controls the chronograph via a column wheel and horizontal clutch. 

Three Limited Editions

Angelus offers the Chronographe Tachymètre in three limited editions. The 3N yellow-gold version with yellow dial is limited to just 15 pieces, while the steel model with pink dial is produced in 30 pieces. The steel version with a gray dial is limited to 50 pieces. The yellow-gold Chronographe Tachymètre (ref. 0CHCQ.H01A.V1168Q) is priced at CHF34,600 or approximately $41,600. Both steel versions (refs. 0CHCS.P02A.V1156S and 0CHCS.U01A.V1155S) are priced at CHF18,500 or approximately $22,240.