Introducing the Angelus Instrument de Mesures

For collectors, the name Angelus has long been synonymous with functional complications. During the 1930s and 1940s, the manufacture established a formidable reputation as a producer of sophisticated chronographs and precision timing instruments, creating watches designed not merely to tell time, but to help to measure and understand the world around them. The new Instrument de Mesures captures that spirit better than perhaps any recent Angelus creation. Produced in two limited editions of just 25 pieces each, it combines three of the most useful chronograph scales ever devised within a single remarkably elegant design. Whether measuring distance, speed, or pulse rate, every detail serves a practical purpose. Yet despite its technical complexity, the watch achieves a level of visual harmony that is as impressive as its functionality.

The Instrument de Mesures represents the culmination of a trilogy that began with the Chronographe Médical in 2023, continued with the Instrument de Vitesse in 2024, and reached a milestone when the Chronographe Télémètre won the Chronograph Prize at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève in 2025. Now Angelus combines all three concepts into a single watch.

Viewed through a box-shaped sapphire crystal, the dial reveals a carefully constructed three-dimensional architecture. The center rises gently, while a sloping intermediate section and elevated outer ring create distinct zones for each scale. The result is a remarkable sense of depth rarely encountered in modern chronograph design.

The arrangement follows a strict visual hierarchy. A telemeter scale occupies the outermost level, the pulsometer is positioned on the angled intermediate section, and a spiral tachymeter scale unfolds closer to the center. Despite the abundance of information, the display remains intuitive and surprisingly easy to read.

Angelus further enhances legibility through thoughtful color coding. The ebony-black version combines blue, orange, and cream accents, while the ivory-white edition uses blue, red, and green markings. Finely grained surfaces, crisp typography, and vintage-inspired syringe hands create an aesthetic that feels unmistakably rooted in the golden age of chronograph watchmaking.

The telemeter calculates the distance between the wearer and a visible event based on the delay between seeing and hearing it. The pulsometer allows the measurement of heart rate after counting 15 beats. The tachymeter determines average speed over a kilometer and covers an impressive range from 20 km/h to 500 km/h. All three functions are operated through a single pusher integrated into the crown. One press starts the chronograph, a second stops it, and a third resets the mechanism. The central chronograph hand immediately indicates the measurement on the appropriate scale.

Angelus houses the watch in a steel case measuring 39mm in diameter and just 9.25mm thick. The proportions are deliberately restrained, evoking the elegant chronographs of the mid-20th century. Twisted lugs flow organically from the case, while the slim bezel maximizes dial opening and ensures the scales remain the focal point of the design. The result is a watch that wears with remarkable balance and sophistication.

Powering the watch is Angelus' in-house Caliber A5000, a manually wound monopusher-chronograph movement that perfectly complements the historical inspiration of the piece. Visible through the sapphire caseback, the beautifully finished movement showcases a classical chronograph architecture highlighted by a column wheel and horizontal clutch—two hallmarks of traditional chronograph construction. Palladium-treated chronograph components stand out against bridges and plates finished in warm 3N gold tones, emphasizing the mechanism's complexity and visual depth. The A5000 offers a power reserve of 42 hours. Pricing is marked at CHF18,800 or approximately when converted to USD 22,568.

To learn more, visit Angelus, here.