Chronoswiss’ Delphis model is one that I haven’t thought about for a long time. At one point this design, with three forms of display in a single timepiece – digital hour, retrograde minutes, and analogue seconds, was ‘the’ dress watch of the brand.

Now, there is a revitalised 2023 version. The Delphis Oracle features the same basic time display format (with red gold-plated hands) but this time, in a 42mm sized 18 carat red gold case and with, as its highlight, an attractive curved gold hand-guillochéd enamel dial.

Visible through the open case back, the Delphis is their first watch to feature the new automatic Calibre C.6004 which beats at 28,800 VPH and has a power reserve of 55 hours. The skeletonised rotor is ruthenium and finishing-wise, it features perlage and hand -polishing.

Limited to fifty pieces, the new Chronoswiss Delphis Oracle has an RRP of CHF 38,000.

For those for whom their last memory of the Delphis was a more classically conservative look, this new piece, which is part of the brand’s 40th birthday celebrations and marks the beginning of a ‘new Delphis’. If this example sets the tone, it will be interesting to see what other ‘arts’ might make an appearance on the Delphis dial, and if a more bold personality will come to the fore.

Categories: Chronoswiss, Limited Editions, Switzerland, Watch Profile, watches, Watches & Wonders Geneva 2023