Perrelet, Swiss watchmaking brand with nearly 250 years of history, offers a wide range of collections suitable for all occasions and able to satisfy the needs of a wide audience: from the classic Double Rotor and Weekend lines, to the casual-chic LAB Peripheral, to the more famous and iconic Turbine, which has been renewed over the years in terms of materials, dimensions and functions. In the past, the Turbine has also interpreted prestigious complications such as the tourbillon and the appreciated chronograph.
The desire to innovate and surprise watch aficionados and collectors has never ceased at Perrelet. After about eight years, the Maison is now presenting a new generation chronograph: the Turbine Chrono Neo, a timepiece in three variants and with interesting updates, ideal for those who practise sports and perfect for those who prefer a casual and informal attire.
Contemporary aesthetics, immediate readability and modern materials
The chronograph is a useful instrument for the precise measurement of elapsed times. Traditionally, this time is read on secondary counters, which, depending on the design, are not always immediately visible to the eye.
Turbine Chrono Neo evolves to provide an instantaneous reading of the time interval associated with the event for which it has been activated.
Compared to its predecessor, this new creation has been updated and revamped, adopting a more modern material, a smaller diameter, a central chrono minute hand and colour variations in shades that never go out of fashion. For the first time, it also features a practical titanium bracelet that can be replaced by a soft rubber strap without requiring a technician or special tools.
Many improvements compared to the Turbine Chrono of a decade ago, demonstrating once again Perrelet's great ability to renew itself to meet the needs of a contemporary public, while always respecting its DNA and the "Swiss Made” watchmaking tradition.
A refreshed case design
The Turbine Chrono Neo is housed in a polished/brushed grade 2 titanium case, echoing the style of the Turbine EVO, the model that marked the renewal of this famous line in 2019, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Turbine technology.
Its diameter has been reduced to 42 mm compared with 47 mm for its predecessor.
The use of titanium, a corrosion-resistant material much lighter than steel, and the well-thought-out proportions make the case particularly comfortable on the wrist. It is water-resistant to 5 atm and has a case middle characterised by wide grooves. The same grooves are present on the black crown, which is flared and personalised with the laser-engraved "P" of the logo.
The bezel that displays the tachymeter scale, also in titanium, is circular brushed and treated with black DLC, as are the chronograph push-buttons. Set at 2 and 4 o'clock, they activate, stop and reset the chronograph. Easy to manipulate, they are shaped like parallelepipeds with bevelled edges and a polished/brushed finish.
An anti-reflective sapphire crystal protects the dial and the case-back, revealing the automatic movement that powers this latest addition to the Turbine collection.
The Turbine Chrono Neo is complemented by a 5-row titanium bracelet with polished/brushed links and a butterfly clasp activated by a discreet pusher on the side. It comes with an additional rubber strap matching the hue of the lower dials, which can be easily fitted without the use of tools thanks to the new user-friendly "quick release" system.
A blend of well-conceived details that harmoniously combine modern style with practical functionality.
The appealing and dynamic three-dimensional dial
The multi-layer dial is animated by the emblematic 12-blade turbine, Perrelet's unmistakable signature since 2009, when this technology was patented. Designed with the intention of being a device for aesthetic purposes only, it is made of black anodised aluminium. Equipped with counterweights beneath the blades that allow it to rotate at the slightest movement of the wrist and return to its resting position when the kinetic energy is exhausted, it reveals the decoration of the lower dial. The faster the rotation, the greater the visibility of the entire decoration.
On the Turbine Chrono Neo, this element reproduces the silhouette of the fascinating propeller in three evergreen shades: electric blue, grass green and a more discreet light grey.
Functionality and practicality go hand in hand. The same contrasting colour accents on the black-dominated dial highlight the 60-minute chronograph counter in the form of a central hand with a triangular tip that glows in the dark thanks to the application of Super-LumiNova®. This hand sweeps over the flange inside the hour ring, indicated by the 'Min' plate between 12 and 1 o'clock, and points to the indices, which are highlighted in colour on a 5-minute scale. The slim seconds hand also matches the colour of the lower dial. An exception is the edition personalised with the grey sub-dial that uses bright red.
As always, a mix of even Arabic numerals on a grey background and hour-markers, both embossed and luminescent like the hands, provide the time reading.
Its beating heart
The Turbine Chrono Neo is driven by the P-361 automatic calibre, which comprises 175 parts. Equipped with a balance wheel that beats at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz), it is protected against accidental shocks by Incabloc®, one of the most popular and reliable systems in watchmaking, which prevents breakage by absorbing the shocks. When fully wound, the barrel ensures a 42-hour power reserve. With hour and minute functions, 60-second and 60-minute chrono counters with central hands, it also displays the date in the window at 6 o'clock.
The impeccable finishes of the calibre are visible through the sapphire crystal case-back: the rhodium-plated and circular grained main plate and bridges, the open worked rhodium-plated oscillating weight embellished with the Côtes de Genève pattern and the Perrelet logo. The latter is mounted on ball bearings to reduce friction during the oscillations generated by the unconscious movement of the wrist, which supply energy to the watch.
