Desert Light, Frosted Light: Chronoswiss Doubles Down with Two Stunning Novelties

Debuting today, the Pulse GMT Frosted Guilloche Gold and Opus Dakar Sundown from Chronoswiss both make strong use of red-gold’s warmth for their cases, but their varied dial designs and intents create two very different flavors for your wrist.

Let’s sit back, relax, and take in these two lovely horological “sunsets.”

According to the watchmaker, the overall design language of the Pulse GMT, which was introduced earlier this year, represents one of the most progressive developments in the brand’s history.

More specifically, by taking a decidedly modern approach to a GMT “travel” watch, Chronoswiss’ designers presented an elevated combination of a sleek, almost sporty, appearance while still maintaining the watchmaker’s signature classically derived design codes. The new Pulse GMT Frosted Guilloche Gold continues to embrace this progressive design.
 

So, while this new 41mm, 18k red-gold Pulse GMT’s case carries the tell-tale Chronoswiss oversized, protected onion crown and coin-edged bezel seen in many of the brand’s creations, its disruptive dial mechanics (GMT time is relayed not by a dedicated central hand, but on an elegant 24-hour domed sub-dial at 9 o’clock) creates an unorthodox, but visually effective, time-telling approach that stands apart from other travel watches.

Minutes and seconds are tracked by the two central hands, but the home hour is displayed in its own 12-hour domed sub-dial at 3 o’clock: this three-part reference serves to create a greater degree of connection between your chosen time zones as you “triangulate” what time it is, and where, in your travels.
 

This design automatically pushes some obvious mechanical modernity into the watch, but it also gives the flavor of a regulator-style approach; that unexpected contemporary angle is further augmented by a clean black rubber strap that is integrated into the red-gold case.
 

However, this outlier GMT approach gets an additional dose of classicism via a stunning frosted guilloché radiating pattern on the central dial created both through traditional guilloché work and a special sand-blasting process, which, for the first time, introduces minute particles of synthetic corundum to the dial, bringing a new level of shimmering “frost” to the exacting etching work Chronoswiss has been so renowned for. Guilloché goes crystalline, if you will.
 

Based on a Chronoswiss Manufacture Calibre C. 6002 automatic movement created in exclusive partnership with La Joux-Perret (visible through the caseback), the Chronoswiss Pulse GMT Frosted Guilloche Gold is offered in a limited edition of 50 examples and lists for $51,000.

While the bi-metal, 41mm case of this latest execution of Chronoswiss’ skeletonized Opus Dakar chronograph (which we first saw in 1995) is crafted from both 18K red gold and stainless steel, not a whit of the gold’s “sundown” warmth is lost in the process.
 

The watchmaker released a desert-inspired titanium Opus Dakar model in concert with its 30^th anniversary last year, but the Chronoswiss Opus Dakar Sundown draws a new line in that inspirational sand, though it use of noble metal, of course, but also in its overall presentation.

Like the Opus Chronograph Dakar released in October 2025, expect the splendid skeletonized Chronoswiss Manufacture Caliber C.741S movement, delivering a 46-hour power reserve, as this timepiece’s beating heart.
 

Also expect the Opus Dakar’s distinctive four-sub-dial display, which sees a central chronograph seconds hand working in concert with a 30-minute chrono sub-dial at 12 o’clock and a 12-hour elapsed time tallier at 6 o’clock when you spark the upper mushroom pusher. A permanent small seconds indicator at 9 o’clock and a date sub-dial at 3 o’clock harmoniously join this circular quartet of indicators.

While this sounds like a lot of information for a dial face, the “tucked in” orientation and visibility through the sub-dials do not detract from the overall skeletonized intent, with an even more unobstructed view of the movement through the exhibition caseback.
 

Furthermore, its onion crown, chronograph pushers, and upper dial might present an elegantly subtle hue, but sturdy steel lugs give way to a sandy Nubuck leather strap that meshes beautifully with the golden and brown tones of the dial’s CVD-coated skeleton construction. Plus, this new piece’s bi-metal case design and classically appealing skeletonization, an approach that is often prone to an overdose of fussiness, is delivered in an aptly tough and sporty design, true to the Opus Dakar Sundown’s adventurous nature.
 

Named for the infamous endurance car rally, it’s easy to picture sipping a refreshing “sundowner” cocktail after wearing this watch racing across shifting sand dunes and fighting the blazing desert sun all day behind the wheel. It’s a handsome, artful chronograph execution, based more on design contrasts than pure mechanical capabilities.
 

Priced at $33,000, the new Chronoswiss Opus Dakar Sundown debuts today, without production limitations. To find out more about these new releases, visit the Chronoswiss website.