Albishorn Type 10 Classic & Sihlwald

Albishorn is proud to release its second chronograph, the Type 10—an imaginary ancestor to the renowned Type 20.

Albishorn creates vintage watches that never existed. Designed to explore imagined, exciting, and parallel histories, we call this concept “Imaginary Vintage®.”

Our timepieces can be seen as “missing links” in the history of watchmaking, fitting seamlessly into the heritage of horology while distinctly showcasing their own character.

With the Type 10, Albishorn answers the question: What might a predecessor to the iconic Type 20 chronograph, hypothetically crafted in 1948, have looked like?

Now, let’s delve into the backstory of the Type 10—the missing link in the history of military chronographs.

The imaginary history

Pilot chronograph wristwatches from the past hold a fascinating place in horological history. Born out of necessity during the early 20th century, these timepieces were developed specifically for aviators, who required accurate and reliable instruments to navigate the skies. These watches were not only tools but also symbols of the adventurous spirit and technological progress of the time.

The origins of pilot chronographs can be traced back to World War I, when aviation was rapidly evolving and pilots needed precise timekeeping devices to calculate flight durations, synchronize maneuvers, and plan navigation.

Many iconic models emerged in the 1950s, which all became enduring symbols of aviation timekeeping.

From all these chronographs, the Type 20 is certainly the epitome of pilot chronographs. The Type 20 was manufactured for the French Army by various watchmakers such as Breguet, Vixa, Auricoste, and Dodane. It was designed as a tool watch for pilots, featuring a flyback function, a rotating bezel, and anti-magnetic properties. It gained popularity due to its robustness, functionality, and elegant design.

Unfortunately, the Type 20 does not have a direct predecessor. However, let's imagine how an earlier model, an elusive ancestor of the Type 20, developed during the end of 1940s might have looked like.

The Watch

The challenge was to develop a timepiece that would be period correct and aligned with the era of the 1940s, while meeting the requirements and expectations of pilots of that time. That’s how the chronograph “Type 10” was born: a monopusher military chronograph, featuring a unique and innovative design and a patented movement.

Dial

Like all pilot chronographs, the dial of the Type 10 was designed with a focus on legibility and functionality. Its striking grained finish serves as a backdrop for the contrasting luminous numerals, ensuring easy readability in various lighting conditions, making it highly suitable for pilots who require quick and accurate time readings during their flights.

To further ensure excellent legibility and unlike any other mechanical chronograph wristwatch (including the Type 20), the Type 10 boasts two sub-dials positioned at 4:30 and 7:30, showcasing the running seconds and the elapsed minutes respectively. The inclusion of two counters at the bottom of the dial contributes to a clear and well-organized “dashboard type” design. In addition, it features a unique and patented chronograph function indicator at 12 o’clock.

The hands are filled with luminous material (Super-LumiNova®) as well, allowing for easy reading in low-light conditions, critical for night flights.

Case

With a sleek stainless steel case of only 12 mm height (sapphire box crystal included!), the Type 10 reflects a seamless blend of robustness and elegance. The alternance of brushed and polished surfaces provide a subtle contrast, accentuating the watch's overall presence.

All edges of the case have been chamfered and polished, offering a sophisticated haute horlogerie aesthetic.

One of the standout features of the Type 10 is its black turning bezel. Made from DLC-coated steel, the bezel was designed to rotate in a bidirectional manner. The black color not only adds a bold and distinctive touch to the watch's appearance but also offered a high contrast against the case, enhancing legibility.

The rotating bezel features engraved graduations alternately filled with lacquer and luminous material, enabling aviators to perform various calculations related to flight planning and navigation. The conical shape of the bezel adds a dynamic element to the watch's design, further enhancing its aesthetic appeal.

Positioned at 10:30 on the case, the crown allows for easy winding and time-setting while keeping it clear of any obstructions during crucial maneuvers. The crown is specifically crafted from steel or bronze, depending on the model. The choice of bronze emphasizes the prototype aspect of the watch and adds character and visual distinction to the timepiece. Over time, it will develop a patina, giving the watch a unique, aged appearance.

Adjacent to the crown, at 9:30 on the case side, is a red aluminum pusher, discreetly integrated into the case design. The location at 9:30 allows the pusher to be activated by the thumb, which is considered the best finger for operating a chronograph. The overall design and the large size of the pusher simplify the operation and add a touch of uniqueness to the watch. This innovation is a testament to the Type 10's commitment to practicality and usability, as its simplicity in operation perfectly aligns with the Type 10's intended purpose as a reliable tool for professional pilots.

The concept of a single pusher chronograph is also reminiscent of early chronographs that featured a single button for starting, stopping, and resetting the chronograph function. This single pusher controls all the chronograph functions —start, stop and reset—allowing pilots to measure elapsed time with precision.

Movement

The Type 10 incorporates a robust and reliable proprietary mechanical chronograph movement, meticulously tested and certified by the COSC (Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute). This manual-winding chronometer chronograph movement, hidden beneath a solid caseback, is expertly crafted in La Chaux-defonds, Switzerland, to ensure accurate timekeeping and flawless functionality. Once fully wound, it offers an astounding 65 hours of power reserve. A further standout attribute of Albishorn's movement is its remarkably low height of only 5.70 mm, enabling the production of particularly thin chronographs reminiscent of the 1940s and setting it apart from its competitors.

Albishorn specifically developed this movement to showcase the brand's distinctive and unique dial layout, featuring a patented chronograph operating indicator at 12 o’clock and two sub-dials positioned at 4:30 and 7:30 respectively. This very specific dial layout is a wristwatch take on a dashboard look. Especially the chronograph function indicator is inspired by aircraft clocks. It allows to check if the chronograph is functioning correctly. The indicator displays the three chronograph states: reset, start and stop in three different colors: black, red and white respectively. This display has been designed so that the chronograph seconds hand covers it when the chronograph is in reset mode, and reveals it when it is engaged. This small detail underlines the infinite care given to every detail of the watch and shows how the movement has been designed to perfectly fit the overall aesthetic of the watch.

Versions

Albishorn introduces two versions of the Type 10: the Classic and the Sihlwald.

The Type 10 Classic embodies the purest form of the Type 10, while the Sihlwald takes the concept even further with the addition of a green fumé dial, red chronograph hands, and a bronze crown.

Price and availability

The price of the Type 10 is CHF 3,950, excluding taxes and shipping. The Type 10 will be available exclusively online at www.albishorn-watches.ch. While not a limited edition, only 25 pieces of each version will be released initially. Sales will open on Monday, October 21, 2024, at 9:00 AM (EDT) / 3:00 PM (CET).

Technical specifications

Albishorn Type 10 Classic

Limited edition of 25 pieces

Case

• Material: 316 L stainless steel case with polished and satin finished surfaces and with chamfered and polished edges
• Diameter: 39 mm
• Lug-to-lug: 47.70 mm
• Case thickness: 12 mm (with sapphire); 11.1 mm (without sapphire)
• Box sapphire crystal with antireflexive coating
• Bidirectional rotating bezel in DLC coated stainless steel with engraved and lacquered figures and Super-LumiNova® indexes: 60 clicks
• Bezel diameter: 41.70 mm
• Stainless steel winding crown with engraved Albishorn logo
• Pusher in red anodized aluminum
• Water-resistant to 100 meters

Dial and hands

• Black textured dial with beige Super-LumiNova® figures
• White painted hour, minute and second hands filled with beige Super-LumiNova®
• White chronograph second and minute hands filled with beige Super-LumiNova®

Movement

• Patented proprietary chronograph caliber ALB02 M
• COSC certified chronometer (Contrôle Official Suisse des Chronomètres)
• Manual winding
• Monopusher
• Diameter: 30.00 mm
• Height: 5.70 mm
• Frequency: 28'800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz)
• Number of jewels: 21
• Power reserve of 65 hours

Functions/Indications

• Hours and minutes
• Running seconds at 4:30 o’clock
• 60-second counter in the center
• 30-minute counter at 7.30 o’clock
• Patented chronograph operating indicator at 12 o’clock
• Stop second device

Strap and buckle

• Black leather strap with Albishorn buckle
• Beige Leather strap with Albishorn buckle
• Lug width: 20 mm

MSRP: CHF 3'950

Technical specifications

Albishorn Type 10 Sihlwald

Limited edition of 25 pieces

Case

• Material: 316 L stainless steel case with polished and satin finished surfaces and with chamfered and polished edges
• Diameter: 39 mm
• Lug-to-lug: 47.70 mm
• Case thickness: 12 mm (with sapphire); 11.1 mm (without sapphire)
• Box sapphire crystal with antireflexive coating
• Bidirectional rotating bezel in DLC coated stainless steel with engraved and lacquered figures and Super-LumiNova® indexes: 60 clicks
• Bezel diameter: 41.70 mm
• Bronze winding crown with engraved Albishorn logo
• Pusher in red anodized aluminium
• Water-resistant to 100 meters

Dial and hands

• Green fumé, textured dial with beige Super-LumiNova® figures
• White painted hour, minute and second hands filled with beige Super-LumiNova®
• Red chronograph second and minute hands filled with beige Super-LumiNova®

Movement

• Patented proprietary chronograph caliber ALB02 M
• COSC certified chronometer (Contrôle Official Suisse des Chronomètres)
• Manual winding
• Monopusher
• Diameter: 30.00 mm
• Height: 5.70 mm
• Frequency: 28'800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz)
• Number of jewels: 21
• Power reserve of 65 hours

Functions/Indications

• Hours and minutes
• Running seconds at 4:30 o’clock
• 60-second counter in the center
• 30-minute counter at 7.30 o’clock
• Patented chronograph operating indicator at 12 o’clock
• Stop second device

Strap and buckle

• Black leather strap with Albishorn buckle
• Green Leather strap with Albishorn buckle
• Lug width: 20 mm

MSRP: CHF 3'950

For more information, please visit albishorn-watches.ch