time-keeper


Carl F. Bucherer remakes ’50s chronograph with Heritage BiCompax Annual

March 2024


Carl F. Bucherer remakes '50s chronograph with Heritage BiCompax Annual

A contemporary update to a nostalgic timepiece, the latest limited edition retains all the qualities watch enthusiasts adored about its design, first introduced in 2019 to pay tribute to the original 1950s chronograph styling, now featuring a new dial color and additional strap options.

A

lready a best-selling timepiece that exemplifies Carl F. Bucherer’s storied history, engineering panache and Swiss watchmaking excellence, the new Heritage BiCompax Annual is available in a stylish new option.

This timepiece reinterprets a watch from CFB’s archive that dates back to the 1950s. As a chronograph, the original watch characterised the era’s pioneering spirit and sense of optimism. Preserving its core aesthetic and functionality, this limited-edition watch features a new dial colour and strap options, created with modern design aficionados in mind.

The latest Heritage BiCompax Annual preserves all the nostalgic qualities that watch enthusiasts loved about the timepiece’s design when it was first introduced in 2019, paying tribute to the characterful styling of the 1950s. As such, the Heritage BiCompax Annual celebrates the achievements and ambition of our past, and its intricate mechanical engineering and chronograph functionality reflect the savoir-faire of those earlier times.

Carl F. Bucherer remakes '50s chronograph with Heritage BiCompax Annual

In today’s fast-paced, digital world, the watch serves as a reminder to the wearer to appreciate their own personal development, Exploring Time on the journey through life, as well as our shared cultural evolution.

The Heritage BiCompax Annual’s design makes it the perfect all-day accessory. It combines the vintage flair of the watch that inspired it with contemporary features such as the 41-mm stainless-steel case. A new silver-gray dial lends it a brighter, lighter finish, all the more so when combined with either of the two new strap options – the watch is supplied with both. A stainless-steel bracelet lends an engaging fluidity, while an alternative “nubuck” vegan leather strap in light gray brings a cutting-edge, understated design credo.

Carl F. Bucherer remakes '50s chronograph with Heritage BiCompax Annual

Those colour and material updates contribute to the Heritage BiCompax Annual’s innate versatility. But it is also smart enough to accompany the wearer on more formal occasions. A fast strap-exchange mechanism enables them to easily swap between the two options, adding to its overall practicality.

The Heritage BiCompax Annual is centered around a chronograph featuring the BiCompax dial design of its retro predecessor: two symmetrically arranged totalisators are positioned on the horizontal central axis: small seconds at the 3 o’clock position; a 30-minute counter at 9 o’clock. The dial is framed by a tachymeter scale to measure average speed.

Carl F. Bucherer remakes '50s chronograph with Heritage BiCompax Annual

The Annual Calendar, reflected in the name of the watch, displays the month and date, automatically taking into account months of different lengths – only requiring adjusting once a year – while a Big Date display makes for easy readability. Powered by a CFB 1972 caliber movement, its automatic winding system boasts a 42-hour power reserve, and its water resistance to 3 bar (30 meters) epitomises how modern watchmaking matches the rigors of modern life.

CFB’s Heritage family of watches reinterprets and updates classic watch designs from previous eras of the house that are considered worthy of recognition and reinvention. Significant technological developments, complications and aesthetic finishes are reviewed, reimagined and reworked according to the tastes and lifestyle demands of today.

Limited to just 888 pieces, the latest Heritage BiCompax Annual represents CFB’s technical excellence, honed over more than 135 years, combined with modern-day design sensibilities.

Carl F. Bucherer remakes '50s chronograph with Heritage BiCompax Annual

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

REFERENCE 00.10803.08.12.23

MOVEMENT
Automatic, CFB 1972 caliber, diameter 30 mm, height 7.3 mm, 47 jewels, power reserve 42 hours

FUNCTIONS
Chronograph with minutes and seconds counter, tachymeter scale, annual calendar, big date, hour, minute, small seconds

CASE
Stainless steel, double-domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides, case back with sapphire crystal, water-resistant to 3 bar (30 m), diameter 41.00 mm, height 14.15 mm

DIAL
Silver opalin with rhodanised counters, printed Arabic numerals in black

HANDS
Black hands with Super-LumiNova

BRACELET
Stainless steel bracelet with quick release system and stainless-steel folding clasp

ADDITIONAL STRAP
Textile strap (nubuck look) in light grey with quick release system, stainless steel pin-lock folding clasp

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