or the 25th anniversary of Pilo & Co Genève, the brand presents the second generation of its beloved Montecristo, now with an extraordinary piece of Swiss watchmaking history: a rare ETA 255.241 monopusher chronograph movement crafted in the 1980s, now brought back to life 40 years later.

Visually, the watch remains unmistakably Montecristo, drawing its soul from the mysterious island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, a wild and protected land visible from Corsica and Elba on clear days. Immortalized in 1844 by Alexandre Dumas in The Count of Monte Cristo, the island became a symbol of adventure, transformation, and the pursuit of destiny. Like this remote and untamed place, the Montecristo watch is an invitation to exploration.

The Monopulsante introduces a new seven-link stainless steel bracelet with polished and satin finishes, reflecting light with every motion. It offers both refinement and comfort, echoing the chronograph’s sportier, contemporary soul. Its 41 mm 316L stainless steel case, K1 scratch-resistant glass, and 30-meter water resistance make it a reliable companion for daily adventures, whether urban or maritime.

Inside beats the rare ETA 255.241, a monopusher chronograph born from one of the most pivotal moments in Swiss watchmaking history: the Quartz Crisis. It all started in 1969, when Seiko introduced the Astron, the world’s first quartz wristwatch. What followed was a shockwave: within a decade, Swiss watchmaking employment fell from 90,000 to 25,000, and hundreds of movement manufacturers vanished.

In the midst of this upheaval, Ébauches SA, then the world’s largest movement producer, later absorbed into ETA SA, sought a way forward. Their answer was to merge the precision of quartz with the architecture of mechanical craftsmanship. The result is the Calibre 255.241, a hybrid piece of living horological history, resilient, ingenious.

This is no ordinary quartz calibre. Fully demountable and repairable, its intricate plates, bridges, and levers stand in stark contrast to the disposable quartz movements of today.

Operated through a single pusher, the monopulsante starts, stops, and resets with one elegant gesture. Compact and precise, the calibre measures 10.5 lignes (≈23.30 mm) with a plate height of 3.5 mm, making it ideal for the sleek 41 mm case of the Monopulsante. Its 16 jewels reduce friction, ensuring smooth function and long-lasting reliability. Finally, this calibre is distinguished by the superposition of two motors: one drives the timekeeping, while the other powers the chronograph function, displayed in an analog format. This is no ordinary quartz calibre.

Today, these high-quality quartz movements have become increasingly rare, their value rising among collectors, and only used by reknowned houses. By securing only 320 movements years ago, the brand now revives a movement that is otherwise nearly impossible to find. Owning this watch thus means carrying a fragment of Swiss watchmaking’s greatest trial, and its triumph.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Case: 316L Stainless steel case, 41 mm wide x 10.4 mm thick
• Case finish: polished / satin-brushed, branding engraved on the back Dial: world map, sun guilloché
• Glass: Domed scratch-resistant K1 crystal
• Movement: 255.241-ETA Quartz chronograph movement
• Strap: 316L Stainless steel 7-link polished / satin-brushed strap, 18 mm wide
• Clasp: butterfly clasp
• Water resistance up to 30 meters P0361CHQS Smoke Black & Salmon
• Functions: central chronograph seconds, 30 minute Chronograph (6 o’clock), Hour / minute hand