Hands-On With Qian GuoBiao’s Split-Seconds Chronograph

This was the first time I had ever seen one of Qian GuoBiao’s watches in real life. I’d never seen one at watch shows, quickly behind glass, or even in a passing moment at a collector event. I’ve long admired Master Qian’s watches through my laptop screen, but this encounter with his Split-Seconds Chronograph was truly my first time with his work in hand.

That context matters. Master Qian’s watches are not pieces you can fully absorb at a glance. They demand time, curiosity, and a willingness to engage with the mechanics as much as the aesthetics. Seeing the Split-Seconds Chronograph in the metal and then wearing it immediately made it clear that this is a watch designed to be lived with, not just observed through a computer screen.

Color, personality, and intent

The first thing that struck me was the color. On paper, a saturated red/purple dial paired with pale yellow scales and a green strap sounds almost willfully provocative. Without seeing the combination for yourself, you may well ask, “What maniac was in charge of colors?” Fair point. It sits far outside the restrained, more monochromatic palette many of us associate with Qian GuoBiao’s work to date.

In person, however, it makes sense. The colors feel confident rather than loud, expressive rather than chaotic. Somehow, going against all logic, it works. And not only does it work, but it also results in a surprisingly cohesive package. There is a sense here of GuoBiao allowing himself a bit of freedom, even a sense of fun, without undermining the seriousness of the watch itself. The dial does not feel decorative for the sake of it. Color is used to define space, separate functions, and guide the eye.

Importantly, the mechanics remain the main event. The color simply frames them, giving this chronograph a slightly different emotional tone while staying unmistakably part of the same creative lineage.

Wearing the Split-Seconds Chronograph

With a 40mm diameter and 14.5mm thickness, the stainless steel case lands in a very comfortable place for a watch of this complexity. Those numbers suggest presence, but on the wrist, the watch feels balanced and pretty well judged. The proportions work, helped by a 47.7mm lug-to-lug length that keeps everything under control.

The inverted pump pushers are particularly satisfying. They nod to traditional chronograph design without feeling nostalgic, and their placement makes the chronograph intuitive to operate. The watch feels reassuringly solid, not precious or delicate, which encourages you to actually use the complication rather than admire it passively. Given the cutout exposing the rattrapante clutch on the dial side, I feel like I’d be doing that a lot.

Watching the mechanism come alive

On that note, the engagement of the chronograph is where the Split-Seconds Chronograph truly reveals itself. Seeing the pliers clutch mechanism in action never gets old, and the split-seconds ratchet system is mesmerizing to watch. This is not a complication you simply know is present. It’s one you actively experience every time you press a pusher. That’s the thing with a chronograph. I would bet that every chronograph owner enjoys using it, sometimes just because. But when you can really see what’s going on? I feel like that brings the magic to life that little bit more.

GuoBiao has always shown a talent for making the specialness of his watches visible on the dial side, and this piece takes that idea further than anything I’ve seen from him so far. Interestingly, this dial layout was not the original plan. Early in development, GuoBiao intended to place the hour and minute hands at the center of the dial, in line with conventional chronographs. However, it didn’t take long to realize that doing so would dilute what makes this watch special. The pliers clutch mechanism, the very heart of the split-seconds function, deserved more space and more attention.

Moving the time to 12

The solution was to relocate the time display and 30-minute counter to 12 o’clock. This allowed the split-seconds hands and clutch system to take center stage, both visually and mechanically. It is a decision that feels obvious when you see the watch in person, but it was far from a simple tweak behind the scenes. It required recalibrating the proportions of the sub-dial gear train and even modifying the bridge structure of the movement’s main plate — not simple work.

Relocating the time display and 30-minute counter to 12 was clearly the right decision, though. Legibility is preserved, but the chronograph mechanism remains the focal point. Nothing feels compromised. Instead, the dial feels carefully resolved, with every element earning its place.

The Split-Seconds Chronograph uses an ETA base, but not as you know it

Turning the watch over reveals an all-metal case back, which might cause some to raise an eyebrow. In practice, it makes sense. Inside is a heavily modified ETA base, and while there is nothing inherently wrong with that, the real story of this watch is happening on the dial side.

This is not “just another ETA” in any meaningful sense. The rattrapante system, the layout, and the movement’s visual identity are clearly authored in-house. The transformation is extensive enough that directing attention to where it can be seen, understood, and appreciated feels honest rather than evasive.

Value, rarity, and positioning

At CHF 29,000, the Split-Seconds Chronograph occupies an interesting position. It is significantly more accessible than some of Master Qian’s earlier releases, but I feel it’s also one of his most technically ambitious watches to date. That balance becomes clearer the more time you spend with it.

Production is limited to just five pieces in this colorway. Whether additional versions will follow remains unknown, but five is a rather small number. Still, I guess this is one of the few cases where rarity has substance, not just scarcity as a marketing tool. I also can’t see these watches sticking around, looking for new homes for very long. Master Qian’s work has lengthy waiting lists, so let me pre-emptively congratulate these new owners. I truly wish I were one of them.

Reflecting on seeing Qian GuoBiao’s Split-Seconds Chronograph in hand and on the wrist

Spending (limited) time with the Qian GuoBiao Split-Seconds Chronograph left a strong impression. It is technically serious, visually engaging, and deeply rewarding to interact with. It also feels like an evolution in GuoBiao’s work — not a departure but, rather, a loosening of the reins. While I really liked his last two launches, Facing The Sky 2.0 and Double Balance Wheel, this is the first one that makes me feel a more personal connection. It’d be the watch for me, that’s for sure. I also feel it’s a mark that GuoBiao is starting to find his rhythm in what his brand really is. After all, he started off making one-off prototypes under his name for fun rather than a commercial opportunity.

There is confidence here, a willingness to explore color and personality without sacrificing rigor or intent. As a first-ever in-person experience with his watches, this was an eye-opening one. If this chronograph is any indication of where his work is heading, the prospect of seeing what comes next becomes all the more compelling.

If you want to pull the trigger on one of these beauties, you’ll need to drop the team an email or get in touch via the brand’s Instagram page. Good luck!