Angelus Announces the Instrument De Vitesse 60 Seconds Flat

The Instrument de Vitesse, the newest addition to the La Fabrique collection, transports us back to the era of timed races. This single-pusher chronograph evokes the essence of a vintage GT car’s dashboard. With its sole timing hand – the central seconds hand – it precisely measures bursts of speed up to one minute. Tailored for aficionados of watchmaking legacy and style, the Instrument de Vitesse boasts a streamlined, retro-sporty aesthetic. Encased in a 39-mm steel case, its 4.20 mm manually wound Manufacture calibre keeps the timepiece slim at under 10mm. The Instrument de Vitesse comes with either an ivory-white or ebony-black dial, in two limited series of 25 timepieces each.

Appearances can sometimes be deceiving. At first glance, Instrument de Vitesse does not appear to be a classic chronograph. With its three central hands, it looks like a watch with three hands, but the tachymeter scale running around the outer edge of the dial shows it’s not the case. For this is a chronograph presented in its purest expression, dedicated to timing short bursts – a measuring instrument designed to take average speed readings over a maximum of 60 seconds. This, in turn, highlights the new light on the crown, which also acts as the chronograph’s single push buttonto set the centre seconds hand.

Historical Significance

The La Fabrique collection, focused on reinterpreting Angelus’s most iconic timepieces, proudly presents its latest creation: the Instrument de Vitesse, a successor to the Chronographe Médical. The brand’s rich heritage is engraved into its design, echoing classic aesthetics with a contemporary twist. Angelus envisions this chronograph gracing the dashboard of a vintage British or Italian sports car, complementing the thrilling roar of a V12 engine.

Graphic

The Instrument de Vitesse comes in two limited series of 25 timepieces each, housed within a 39mm steel case boasting an impressively thin profile of just 9.27mm. The domed dial is cleverly divided, with the outer zone dedicated to the tachymeter scale (graduated from 60 to 500 based on a 1000 unit metric). The center focuses on timekeeping, featuring a precise minute track. The La Fabrique collection’s signature typography ensures clarity and a touch of timeless elegance.

Contrasting

Choose between two distinct versions of the Instrument de Vitesse. The first boasts a midnight-blue nubuck strap perfectly paired with an ivory-white dial. Black outlined Arabic numerals on this dial create a captivating three-dimensional illusion. The second version exudes boldness with an ebony-black dial contrasted by rhodium-plated Arabic numerals in a crisp white hue, all set against a caramel calfskin strap. All hands and numerals are coated in luminescent material for optimal visibility.

Mechanics

The heart of the Instrument de Vitesse is Angelus’s in-house A5000 chronograph movement. This adaptable caliber, a cornerstone of the La Fabrique collection, is presented here in a manual-winding version without totalizers, slimming down to a mere 4.20mm. Its 3Hz frequency, column wheel, and horizontal clutch are hallmarks of a truly exceptional chronograph.