Measuring the Speed of Sound: Angelus Revives a Bygone Era with the Chronographe Télémètre

Angelus, founded in 1891 in Le Locle by the Stolz brothers and known for its expertise in chronographs in the first half of the 19th century, unveils the Chronographe Télémètre as a limited edition as part of the La Fabrique collection— two runs of 25 models in stainless steel, plus a rarefied 15-piece offering in yellow gold. With its vintage-inspired dial, mono-pusher chronograph operated via the winding crown, and a deliberately compact case, the Chronographe Télémètre distills Angelus' horological heritage into a wristwatch that is both technically accomplished and stylistically restrained, bridging the past and present with verve.

With a diameter of 37mm and a notably thin height of 9,25mm, the Chronographe Télémètre is the smallest contemporary Angelus model. The case middle presents characteristic curves that run from lug to lug. The polished edges, plunging at the top and twisted on the flanks, highlight the shape of the lugs. These dynamic details contribute to the characteristic vintage signature of the timepieces in the La Fabrique collection.

The luminescent dials are available in three colors: a rose one that borders on bronze or the sought-after salmon, a titanium-gray and for the yellow gold timepiece a white watch face that evokes the subtle shine of nickel. The satin-finished flange echoes the finish of the case and contrasts with the grained effect in the center of the dials. These finishes are illuminated by a delicate diamond-polished thread that separates the two areas. The small seconds and 30-minutes sub dials are snailed, while the applied hour-markers and Arabic numerals have been given either a black treatment or a 3N gold finish.

The name giving telemeter is positioned on the flange. A measurement scale linked to a chronograph’s sweep seconds, telemeters are used to measure the distance of an event. The chronograph is started when the event starts, then stopped when it is heard. The scale is finely graduated in kilometers and corresponds to the duration divided by the speed of sound (approximately 1,240 km/h).

The Chronographe Télémètre is driven by the in-house calibre A5000, a mono-pusher chronograph movement featuring a column-wheel mechanism and horizontal clutch. Measuring just 4.20 mm in height and 24 mm (10½ lignes) in diameter, its slim profile is perfectly proportioned for the watch’s elegant 37 mm case. True to Angelus tradition, the movement is exquisitely finished: the mainplate and bridges are adorned with a warm golden finish, while the chronograph components are treated with a contrasting palladium finish to highlight their mechanical role. This interplay of materials is further enhanced by meticulous bevelling and fine horizontal brushing, underscoring the movement's refined craftsmanship.

The Chronographe Télémètre is available with a steel blue, anthracite gray, or sage green calfskin strap, secured by a pin buckle in either polished stainless steel or yellow gold (3N). Pricing is CHF 17,900 (approx. $21,224) in stainless steel and CHF 32,300 (approx. $38,300) in 18-carat gold, VAT included.

To learn more, visit Angelus, here.