Hands-On With The Full-Titanium Chronoswiss Pulse One Sand: An Integrated-Bracelet Sports Watch With A Twist
Chronoswiss is by no means the biggest name in watchmaking, but the brand from Lucerne is always instantly recognizable. For instance, it has a reputation for using the biggest crowns in the business. Joking aside, Chronoswiss’s use of XL onion crowns, coin-edge bezels, and regulator-style dials in bold and bright colors made the brand stand out in the watch universe. The Pulse One Sand has all the recognizable elements, but Chronoswiss reworked them and used them in its first watch with an entirely new design featuring an integrated bracelet and case. Is this a future-proof design or a jump-on-the-bandwagon creation?
Well, what do you know? After writing an article titled “Stop Releasing Sports Watches With Integrated Bracelets,” I reviewed the MeisterSinger Kaenos Open Date and liked that watch. Was this a bad case of strong opinions loosely held or admirable open-mindedness? The Chronoswiss Pulse One Sand (ref. CH-6823T-BRSI) is the next completely new watch with an integrated bracelet about which I need to form an opinion. The Pulse One might be a completely new model, but everything about this watch says “Chronoswiss.” And that’s good because, although it comes in the (overly) popular integrated-case-and-bracelet style, the watch’s identity and origin are crystal clear.
Hands-on with the full-titanium Chronoswiss Pulse One Sand
Of course, I’m biased. I have been in love with my Chronoswiss Timemaster CH 6233 LU for more than two decades, so the brand has a special place in my heart. But you’re also more critical of the things you love than the ones that leave you indifferent. That’s why I look at the new Pulse One Sand with love and scrutiny.
Compared to my Timemaster, the Pulse One Sand looks small and modernist. The Grade 5 titanium case has a 41mm diameter, 46.27mm length, and 12.75mm thickness. It’s also water resistant to 100 meters. Because everything is cyclical in the world of watches, size S is contemporary again, and L is old-fashioned, but Chronoswiss did more than create a “small” watch. The design of the matte, media-blasted case shows signs of a significant design update, including flowing lines and delicately shaped crown protectors. The knurled bezel shows a polished finish and is more geometric and angular than in previous Chronoswiss models. Nevertheless, this design language stays true to the DNA of Chronoswiss. It mixes updated shapes with the characteristic/traditional onion crown and creates a harmonious watch.
One of the highlights of the watch is arguably the integrated titanium bracelet. It’s not one that immediately makes you think of famous creations by the leading brands in this category, which is worthy of a compliment, as is the design and finishing of this organic-looking, Chronoswiss-designed bracelet. It integrates seamlessly with the case and displays matte and polished finishes. The vertical and horizontal lines of the bracelet give it a very dynamic look and provide excellent comfort on the wrist.
A three-dimensional regulator
Two versions of the Pulse One are available — Sand and Blue. The Pulse One Sand that arrived at Fratello HQ has a regulator-style main dial in a sandblasted natural brown color. The flange and elevated sub-dial for the hours have the same tone as the case. This combination of gray and sandy brown is warm and stylish. Sometimes, Chronoswiss goes overboard when using color — do you remember the Open Gear ReSec Electric Blue? Thankfully, the blue details on the gray and brown dial of the Pulse One sand are just right. There aren’t too many, and they aren’t too bright. The blue CVD-coated applied hour markers and hands don’t come across as too much — yes, that’s even true of the large blue central minute hand with a bold, modern shape.
The contrast between the modern shapes and details and the retrograde seconds indicator is sublime. The delicate black lettering on the sandy-toned main dial has a historical quality that doesn’t clash with the avant-garde styling of the rest of the watch. Instead, it adds traditional values and tells of the long history of regulator timepieces. The integration of the brand name and the unique edition number in the sub-seconds register deserves a compliment; it’s exquisite and clever.
Fast-moving retrograde seconds
The retrograde seconds are a very energetic element on the Pulse One’s three-dimensional dial. Every 30 seconds, the hand jumps back to zero. Responsible for this is the 4Hz caliber C.6001, an in-house-designed and La Joux-Perret-manufactured automatic movement with a 55-hour power reserve.
This movement debuted in 2023, and it displays a ruthenium plating, tungsten rotor, and Côtes de Genève finishing radiating from the center through the see-through case back.
Final thoughts and price of the Chronoswiss Pulse One Sand
You guessed it: I like the Chronoswiss Pulse One Sand. I appreciate the modernized looks and can live with yet another watch with an integrated bracelet because the combination looks organic. On top of that, the bracelet has small polished areas between the brushed links that create motion and draw attention. They also tell you about the manufacturer’s attention to detail, as does the use of screws in the links instead of pins.
The Pulse One is a joy to wear because of its moderate case size, the organic and supple bracelet, and last but most definitely not least, the butterfly clasp that sinks into the underside of the links. This keeps the bracelet thin and very nice to wear.
The Chronoswiss Pulse One Sand is a limited edition of 100 pieces, but I’m sure Chronoswiss will shortly release more variations or new watches in the brand’s latest style. What do you think of the price of €12,900 / CHF 11,800? Before you answer that, take another look at the case details, the bracelet with its hidden clasp, and the angled rehauts of the hour and minute dials.
