Chronoswiss Small Second Jasper
Chronoswiss’ New Small Second Stone Collection Turns Geological Time into Mechanical Time
Every mechanical watch is a story about time. With its latest release, Chronoswiss reminds us that some stories began long before watchmaking itself.
By Sébastien Aeberli
Design, Content & Social Media
Today, the independent Lucerne-based manufacture Chronoswiss introduces the new Small Second Stone Collection, marking the first time natural stone dials have appeared on one of the brand’s timepieces. Limited to just 50 pieces each, the Small Second Jasper and Small Second Serpentine pair millions of years of geological history with the rhythmic precision of the manufacture’s automatic Caliber C.6000.
More than a decorative exercise, the collection feels deeply connected to the brand’s own identity. Founded in Munich in 1983 before relocating to Lucerne, Chronoswiss has chosen stones sourced from Germany and Switzerland, two landscapes that define its past and present. It’s an elegant way to tell the brand’s story without a word.
Highlights
• First Chronoswiss collection to feature natural stone dials Jasper represents the brand’s German heritage, while Serpentine celebrates its Swiss home
• Powered by the Chronoswiss Manufacture Caliber C.6000 automatic movement
• Limited to only 50 pieces for each model worldwide
When Nature Designs the Dial
Natural stone dials are hardly new to haute horlogerie, yet each execution brings its own personality. Chronoswiss approaches the concept with restraint, allowing the minerals themselves to become the protagonists.
The Small Second Jasper features German jasper, a stone known for its warm earth tones and naturally layered patterns. Shades of ivory, caramel, and deep brown resemble aerial landscapes or desert rock formations, earning jasper its long-standing nickname as the “painted stone.” Because every slice reveals a different composition, each watch is effectively one of a kind.
Its sibling, the Small Second Serpentine, takes an entirely different direction. Cut from Swiss serpentine sourced near Zermatt and the Matterhorn, the stone displays rich green hues traversed by intricate veins formed over millions of years as ancient seabeds were pushed skyward into the Alps. Under changing light, the polished surface reveals new textures and subtle color shifts that continuously transform the dial.
Rather than covering these stones with excessive decoration, Chronoswiss frames them with its signature hand-guilloché small seconds display at 9 o’clock. On the Serpentine, the sub-dial receives a finely sandblasted galvanic 5N finish, while the Jasper pairs its warmer palette with a contrasting black galvanic treatment. Slim feuille hands filled with Super-LumiNova preserve excellent legibility without competing with the dial’s natural complexity.
Familiar Chronoswiss, Fresh Perspectiv
The stone dials sit inside the familiar Chronoswiss architecture, a design language that has become unmistakable over the years.
The case measures a contemporary 40mm across and 11.5mm thick, balancing everyday wearability with classic proportions. Hallmark details remain intact, including the polished fluted bezel, oversized onion crown, domed double anti-reflective sapphire crystal and exhibition caseback.
The Jasper embraces simplicity with a fully polished stainless-steel case, allowing the dial’s earthy character to take center stage. The Serpentine, meanwhile, adopts a two-tone construction that pairs stainless steel with 18-karat red gold, creating a warmer and more luxurious contrast against the vibrant green stone.
Matching calfskin straps – brown for Jasper and green for Serpentine – complete the composition without drawing attention away from the dial.
Mechanical Substance Behind the Stone
Beneath the natural artistry lies a thoroughly modern manufacture movement. Both references are powered by the Chronoswiss Caliber C.6000, an automatic movement beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz) with a 55-hour power reserve.
Rather than chasing increasingly complex complications, Chronoswiss focuses on refinement. Through the sapphire caseback, the movement reveals Geneva-striped bridges, polished screws, a ruthenium-plated bridge and an openworked tungsten rotor.
Technical elements such as the Glucydur balance wheel, Nivarox hairspring, Incabloc shock protection, and its excenter fine regulator reinforce the movement’s robust engineering credentials while remaining true to the brand’s independent spirit.
A Lasting Impression
The appeal of the Small Second Stone Collection isn’t simply that every dial is unique. It’s the dialogue between two very different notions of time.
Inside the watch, the Caliber C.6000 measures seconds with relentless mechanical precision. On the dial, jasper and serpentine record an entirely different chronology, one written over millions of years by volcanic activity, tectonic pressure and erosion.
In an industry increasingly drawn to exotic materials and technical spectacle, Chronoswiss chooses a quieter form of storytelling. The result isn’t a watch that shouts for attention, but one that rewards a closer look. The stone dials provide individuality, the manufacture movement delivers substance, and together they create a compelling expression of the brand’s contemporary interpretation of traditional Swiss watchmaking.
Both the Small Second Jasper and Small Second Serpentine are limited to 50 pieces each and will be available through the brand’s boutiques, authorized retailers, and the Chronoswiss website.
Specifications & Price
• Case Size: 40mm
• Thickness: 11.5mm
• Movement: Chronoswiss Manufacture Caliber C.6000, automatic
• Power Reserve: 55 hours
• Materials: Stainless steel (Jasper); stainless steel & 18ct red gold (Serpentine); natural Jasper or Serpentine dial; calfskin leather strap
• Water Resistance: 30 meters (3 bar)
• Price (Jasper): CHF 11,500 / EUR 12,700 / GBP 12,200 / USD 13,900
• Price (Serpentine): CHF 16,900 / EUR 18,500 / GBP 17,900 / USD 21,300
Chronoswiss Small Second Serpentine
