This year, Angelus is releasing the Chronographe Télémètre as a limited edition of two sets of 25 steel timepieces and a further 15 in 18-carat yellow gold. Measuring 37 mm in diameter, with a vintage-inspired dial and a mono-pusher set into the winding crown, this short-interval timekeeping instrument contains countless tributes to Angelus’ rich history and particularly its speciality in crafting chronographs. Its noble hand-wound mechanism, historical roots and superior finishes give this chronograph a wildly elegant retro aesthetic.
After the Instrument de Vitesse and the Chronographe Médical, the La Fabrique collection welcomes a new masterpiece that recalls the functional and aesthetic history of Angelus. Founded in 1891 in Le Locle by the Stolz brothers, Angelus quickly specialised in alarm clocks, minute repeaters and, above all, chronographs. One of its iconic models already inspired the revival of the Chronodate collection 80 years later.
Distance and time
A telemeter is one of the measurement scales that are linked to a chronograph’s sweep seconds, a category that also includes pulsometers, tachymeters, decimal scales, fixed or rotating countdown scales, and asthmometers, a speciality of Angelus. Telemeters are used to measure the distance of an event. The chronograph is started when the event is seen, then stopped when it is heard. The scale is finely graduated in kilometres and corresponds to the duration divided by the speed of sound (approximately 1,240 km/h).
Body and face
With a diameter of 37 mm, 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 complex shape of the lugs. These dynamic details contribute to the characteristic vintage signature of the timepieces in the La Fabrique collection.
The dials are available in three colours: a rose that borders on bronze, a titanium grey and for the yellow gold timepiece, a white 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 centre of the dials. These finishes are illuminated by a delicate diamond-polished thread that separates the two areas. The small seconds and 30-minute totaliser counters are snailed, while the appliqué hour-markers and Arabic numerals have been given either a black treatment or a 3N gold finish.
Heart and soul
The Chronographe Télémètre is powered by the in-house A5000 calibre. This chronograph movement, with an integrated mono-pusher, presents a two-tone finish: the elements of the mainplate and the bridges are golden-finished, while the components of the chronograph function are finished in palladium. The overall effect is completed by pronounced bevelling and stretching.
With its hand-wound movement and a 42-hour power reserve, a small seconds at 9 o’clock and a 30-minute totaliser at 3 o’clock, the A5000 calibre is an extremely flexible technical cornerstone for Angelus. It has a slim profile of 4.20 mm and a diameter of 24 mm (10½ lignes), making it the perfect match for the 37 mm case of the Chronographe Télémètre. Last but not least, its regulating group oscillates at a frequency of 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations per hour) and the chronograph function is controlled by a column wheel with a horizontal clutch, just as it was in chronographs produced between the 1940s and the early 1970s.
