In the 1960s, Angelus introduced its innovative “doctor’s watch,” a hand-wound wrist chronograph featuring a distinctive dial. This remarkable timepiece showcased dual scales for doctors to assess vital signs during patient evaluations: a pulsometer to gauge the patient’s heartbeat and an asthmometer to monitor their breathing rate. This exceptional creation, which epitomized the 1950s and 1960s trend of designing specialized chronographs for particular functions or professional needs, has been revitalized by Angelus to captivate contemporary enthusiasts.
Collaborating with William Massena, founder of Massena LAB, Angelus is unveiling a limited edition of 99 Chronographe Médical x Massena LAB timepieces. The 316L steel case has been enlarged to 39 mm for improved pulsometer readability. The dial’s design remains unparalleled, boasting a unique combination of pulsometer and asthmometer displays. The pulsometer features an exclusive color-coded system—green, black, or red—corresponding to the severity of the reading obtained during the examination, while the red respiratory scale is nestled within the minute circle. Both scales are strategically positioned for optimal legibility and clarity.
The Angelus Chronographe Médical x Massena LAB’s case, crafted from 316L stainless steel, measures 39mm in diameter and 9.22mm in thickness. While maintaining the overall appearance of the original 1960s Angelus Medical chronograph, it incorporates several contemporary updates. The signed winding crown remains at 3 o’clock, with a single pump-style pusher for the chronograph adjacent to it at the 2 o’clock position.
Notably, the new Chronographe Médical x Massena LAB now features a sapphire display window on the screw-down caseback and a box-shaped sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides. The crystal no longer showcases a large arc-shaped magnifying bubble over the pulsations scale, opting instead for a completely flat upper surface.
The Angelus Chronographe Médical x Massena LAB is fitted with a two-piece, hand-stitched golden brown Novonappa calfskin leather strap, completed by a signed stainless steel pin buckle. With a water resistance of 30 meters, the Chronographe Médical x Massena LAB is protected against hand-washing and incidental contact. Although greater water resistance could be beneficial for medical professionals, it’s essential to recognize this limited edition mechanical chronograph as a tribute to a historic Angelus model rather than a timepiece designed for rigorous use in modern medical environments.
The dial of the Angelus Chronographe Médical x Massena LAB is a faithful recreation of the vintage original, serving as the watch’s most eye-catching and distinctive feature. Minor adjustments accommodate the larger diameter and different movement, but the overall look and display are identical. The slightly domed, silvered opaline dial exhibits the same dual-scale layout as the original, with a pulsometer scale surrounding the dial’s first quarter and an asthmometer scale within the seconds scale, based on a 5-breath count. Both scales use a large font to unmistakably convey the watch’s purpose.
The Angelus Chronographe Médical x Massena LAB is powered by the brand’s Caliber A5000 manual-wind chronograph movement. Operating at 21,600vph (3 Hz) and boasting a 42-hour power reserve, the 23-jewel Angelus Cal. A5000 is an integrated chronograph movement featuring a column wheel and horizontal clutch. With palladium-finished plates and bridges adorned with perlage, polished chamfers, and Geneva stripes, the A5000 manual-wind monopusher chronograph is fully visible through the anti-reflective sapphire display window in the caseback.
As with most Massena collaboration pieces, the Angelus Chronographe Médical x Massena LAB is available as a limited edition, with only 99 examples being produced. Priced at 19,900 CHF, this modern rendition is not intended as a more affordable alternative to vintage models, but rather as a premium, contemporary reinterpretation of one of Angelus’ most iconic and recognizable timepieces. Furthermore, the new Chronographe Médical marks the debut of the brand’s La Fabrique collection, hinting at future Angelus releases that will also pay homage to some of the most celebrated and defining designs from its archives. For additional information on the Angelus Chronographe Médical x Massena LAB, please visit the brand’s website.
Case
Material: Stainless steel
Diameter: 39.00 mm
Thickness: 9.22 mm
Crystal: Box sapphire, anti-reflective coating on both sides
Case: back Flat sapphire, anti-reflective coating
Water resistance: 30 metres/3 ATM
Movement
Caliber: A5000, hand-wound mechanical
Jewels: 23
Diameter: 29.40 mm
Thickness: 4.20 mm
Power reserve: 42 hours
Frequency: 3 Hz / 21,600 vph
Finishes Mainplate: circular-grained, palladium-finish
Bridges: Côtes de Genève, palladium-finish and chamfered
Wheels: circular-grained, 2N golden
Screws: polished
Dial Domed, silvered opaline
Medical decals in black, green and red
Black minute circles
Rhodium-finish appliqué indexes and Arabic numerals
Hour markers in green-emitting Super-LumiNova
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds at 9 o’clock, one-minute monopusher
chronograph, pulsometer and asthmometer scales
Strap
Material Golden brown Novonappa calfskin, ecru stitching, hand-stitched
Buckle Pin buckle, stainless steel
Reference: 0CHAS.A01A.V010S
Limited edition: 99 timepieces
Swiss retail price: CHF 19,900
