Thirty years ago, Chronoswiss disrupted Swiss watchmaking with the Opus, the world’s first serially produced skeletonized automatic chronograph. To mark the anniversary, the independent brand has unveiled a bold tribute: the Opus Purple Rain, a 41mm titanium chronograph drenched in a shimmering violet CVD coating and paired with a UV-reactive strap that glows purple in sunlight.
Back in 1995, the original Opus broke from the conservative chronograph mold with its open-worked architecture, giving collectors a transparent view into the mechanical artistry beneath.
This spirit of defiance was rooted in the vision of founder Gerd-Rüdiger Lang, who refused to bow to the quartz crisis and instead championed mechanical innovation with a non-traditional edge
. The Opus became a symbol of forward-thinking Swiss horology, combining traditional elements like Breguet hands and Côtes de Genève with modern mechanical showmanship.
The new Opus Purple Rain continues this philosophy.
Its deep violet case contrasts dramatically with the blackened skeletonized movement, while the coin-edge bezel, onion crown, and perlage finishing pay homage to traditional craft. The luminous strap, white by default but glowing purple under UV light, adds a playful twist that keeps the watch from being purely ornamental. It’s unconventional, yes – but deliberately so.
Inside beats the Chronoswiss C.741S automatic chronograph caliber, featuring a 46-hour power reserve, date function, and skeletonized bridges finished with ruthenium black coating for extra depth. A skeletonized rotor with Geneva stripes completes the spectacle. Only 30 pieces of the Opus Purple Rain will be produced, each priced at $17,700 (14,600 CHF / 16,200 EUR). More than a timepiece, it is a celebration of rebellion, tradition, and the enduring allure of purple rain in mechanical form.