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Massena LAB and Angelus unveil a beautiful new chronograph

The Chronographe Télémètre x Massena LAB is a monopusher chronograph housed in a 37 mm 18K yellow gold case. It is the second collaboration by both brands and is a limited edition of 10 pieces.

Massena LAB and Angelus have unveiled the Chronographe Télémètre x Massena LAB – a monopusher chronograph with a grained, black dial housed in an 18K (3N) yellow gold case. It is the first watch from Massena LAB with a gold case. The Chronographe Médical was the first collaboration between Massena LAB and Angelus in 2023.

Image: The Chronographe Médical gave birth to Angelus’s La Fabrique collection in 2023.

Founded by William Massena – a globally renowned horological expert – Massena LAB is a creative horological studio that “creates, designs and develops timepieces with renowned watchmakers.” They recommend horological ideas and concepts to watch brands “that are unusual and beyond the offerings from their collection.” In 2024, Massena LAB won the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) Chronograph Watch Prize for the Chronograph Monopoussoir Sylvain Pinaud x Massena LAB.

Image: A vintage stainless steel Angelus chronograph belonging to William Massena. Its black dial served as the inspiration for Chronographe Télémètre x Massena LAB.

Angelus, founded in 1891 by the Stolz brothers in Switzerland, is presently owned by Manufacture La-Joux Perret SA, who also own Arnold & Son. All three are based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Japan’s Citizen Group owns the combined entity.

Key Features

Functions and Operations

Image: “First invented for infantry soldiers, the telemeter scale measures the distance between the wearer and an event, producing a flash of light and sound. The initial concept was straightforward: measure the distance between the source, cannon fire, and the weapon’s impact based on the speed of sound travelling through the air at approximately 360 meters per second (1,240 km/h). The tool also proves to be invaluable during a thunderstorm, allowing the wearer to discern whether the storm is approaching or receding using the telemeter scale to measure the distance of lightning strikes. Start the chronograph when lightning flashes appear, then stop when thunder is heard.”

Central hours and minutes. Small seconds at 9 o’clock. Chronograph functions: Central chronograph with a 20 km telemetre scale. 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock.

Crown at 3 o’clock for winding and time setting. Single coaxial pusher integrated into the crown is to start / stop / reset the chronograph.

Dial

Image: Black is a rare colour in Angelus’s catalogue. Notice the grained finish of the dial and snailed subdials. Notice the diamond-cut edge separating the railway track seconds ring with the tachymetre scale. An abundance of details all around.

Matte black, grained finish, sunk dial. Subdials feature a snailed pattern. Hour and minute hands are gold plated (3N) and coated with Super-LumiNova. Applied hour-markers – both indices and Arabic numerals – are polished and golden finished (3N). Outer telemetre track features a diamond-polish thread.

Movement

Image: “The elements of the mainplate and bridges are carefully beveled and have a 3N gold finish. At the same time, the functional components of the chronograph have been coated in palladium for both performance and contrast. Its levers, return mechanisms, and hammers are crafted in stainless steel and are finely brushed to highlight their form. Polished screws and circularly grained gear wheels add visual texture and depth to the movement.”

Powered by Angelus Calibre A5000, a manually wound movement that drives the hours, minutes, seconds, and chronograph functions. It features a column wheel and a horizontal clutch. Diameter: 24 mm or 10 ½ lignes. Thickness: 4.2 mm. Jewels: 23. Frequency: 21,600 vph or 3 Hz. Power reserve: 42 hours.

Image: Close up view. Notice the 3N gold finish, polished screws, and Côtes de Genève among other aspects.

Calibre A5000 is based on Calibre 045MC that was developed by THA (Techniques Horlogères Appliquées), a movement workshop founded in 1996 by Denis Flageollet (Co-Founder, Master Watchmaker, and Creative Talent at De Bethune), François-Paul Journe (Founder of F.P. Journe), and Vianney Halter (Founder of Vianney Halter), among the greatest contemporary watchmakers. Today, Manufacture La-Joux Perret SA owns the rights to this movement.

Case

Image: “True to the spirit of instruments developed by Angelus in the first half of the last century, the watch features a classic case in 18k yellow gold (3N) with a slim bezel for maximum surface area and legibility. Its clean lines, typical of watches of the 1930s and 1940s, are sharpened by a deep curvature running from lug to lug, ensuring exceptional wearability and comfort on the wrist. Polished edges sweep downward from the top and twist along its sides to highlight the refinement and accentuate the design of its lugs.”

Case is made from 18K yellow gold (3N). Diameter: 37 mm. Thickness: 9.25 mm. Dial side features a box shaped sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides. Caseback features a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating. Water resistant up to 3 bar / 30 metres / 100 feet. The watch comes with a black Saffiano leather strap with hand stitching and is fitted to a pin buckle made from 18K yellow gold (3N).

Our Thoughts

Image: The Chronographe Télémètre x Massena LAB “is the sister watch” to the Angelus Chronographe Télémètre Yellow Gold, a model that has been nominated for the Chronograph Watch Prize in the 2025 edition of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.

The Chronographe Télémètre x Massena LAB has a lot going for it. With Its vintage design codes, compact dimensions, overall details infused thanks to William Massena’s expert knowledge, and a movement that was originally created by Messrs Flageollet, Journe, and Halter – the Chronographe Télémètre x Massena LAB will appeal to collectors who appreciate vintage inspired details in a modern watch. With a limited run of 10 pieces, it also promises rarity.

Click here and here to read about Massena LAB’s earlier creations such as the Noctograph by Massena LAB and Raúl Pagès and Old Soul by Vianney Halter and Massena LAB. Click here to read about about Angelus’s watches, such as the Flying Tourbillon Edition Blue Edition.

Additional Details

Name: Chronographe Télémètre x Massena LAB

Price: Upon request from Massena LAB

Limited edition of 10 pieces

Warranty: 2-years

Please visit the Massena LAB and Angelus websites and Instagram pages for more information.