im Koeslag, the CEO of the brand, took time out to explain what makes this model so different. It began after Ateliers deMonaco and Prato Automobiles collaborated with the launch of the Orage car and the Tourbillon Oculus 1297 Orage watch. However it is the shared common factors of aesthetics, performance, craftsmanship and technology of car enthusiasts and watchmakers that led them to the creation of a precision timepiece collection of chronographs.

Starting with the movement, a patented automatic dMc-760 calibre, the flyback function requires a single push of the flyback button at 4 o’clock to go from one measurement to another, thus eliminating the usual steps of stopping the reading, resetting and restarting the chronograph.

This patented three-tier system disengages the clutch, resets the chronograph to zero and repositions the hands vertically at 12 o’clock and as the pusher is released it engages the chronograph movement again. The functions are hours, minutes, central chronograph seconds, small seconds at 9 o’clock and chronograph minutes at 3 o’clock.

ADMIRAL CHRONOGRAPHE FLYBACK ARMURE

The 42 mm watch comes in either polished stainless steel or stainless steel with Armure treatment and black DLC treatment. But it is the dial that steals the aesthetic show: carbon fibre and rose or white gold mixed with a special resin are placed in a mould, heated and under severe pressure form a block which is then refined to shape. Since the mixture changes under the pressure, no two dials are the same, giving the wearer a unique dial.

There are sapphire crystals front and back, a hand-stitched alligator leather strap with a folding buckle and the watch is water-resistant to 50 metres.

ADMIRAL CHRONOGRAPHE FLYBACK STEEL

If you happen to be after the Tourbillon Oculus Orageversion that comes with the car and has a microchip inside its strap that opens the car doors and starts the engine you’ll need a million or so Swiss francs. On the other hand the unique Admiral Prato Chronographe Flyback comes in at just a few thousand.