Messages: 26270 Location: Washington, DC
Registered: November 2003
N E W M o d e l – Chronoswiss Imperia
Wed, 11 April 2007 09:03
Homage to Self-confident Women: the “Imperia” from Chronoswiss
Anyone who ascribes a decidedly feminine attitude to this wristwatch surely wouldn’t be in error. Its distinctively ladylike aura was entirely intentional in our day and age. Madame need only consider this watch’s namesake, a statue of whom has stood prominently in the harbor of Constance, Germany since 1993.
We’re talking about the effigy of “Imperia,” which stands 10 meters tall, weighs 18 tons, is made of cast concrete and was designed to last forever by the sculptor Peter Lenk. The historical background of this artwork is thoroughly satirical. It commemorates the Council of Constance, which took place from 1414 to 1418. In her raised hands, the seductive concrete courtesan bears two dwarflike male figures. For the artist, these homunculi are nothing more than mountebanks who have illegally seized their insignia of power.
The literary model was provided by Honoré de Balzac’s tale “La belle Impéria,” in which the beautiful lady plays an important role as the paramour of “cardinals, dignitaries, princes and margraves.” In this capacity, she functioned as the Council’s clandestine monarch.
The case, in stainless steel or 18kt gold, measures 30mm x 48mm x 9mm, the crystal is sapphire as is the display back. It is water resistant to 30 meters.
Movement is the automatic ETA caliber 2000-1 with 20 jewels; three-spoke Glycidur balance; a Nivarox-1 flat balance-spring; Incabloc shock absorption; a 40-hour power reserve; polished pallets, palletwheel and screws; bridges with Cotes de Geneva polish and circular-graining; and a skeletonized rotor.
Dials come in rose gold color or silver, with blued hands “Constance” shaped.
- Jorge Merino