Albishorn keeps making watches for a history that doesn’t exist, and somehow that’s working out for them. Case in point: the Marinagraph release.
The Swiss microbrand is releasing two new colorways of the regatta chronograph: the Classic, with a black sunburst dial, and the Classic Fumé, with a white lacquered gradient dial.
Both are built on the same 39mm stainless steel case as the rest of the Marinagraph line, measuring 13mm thick with a 47.7mm lug-to-lug.
The case houses Albishorn’s proprietary Calibre ALB01 A, an in-house monopusher automatic chronograph movement just 6.6mm thick, activated by a red anodized aluminum pusher at 9 o’clock. It’s an unusual-looking setup, but it’s hard to deny it’s got flair.
Like the rest of the Marinagraph line, both colorways carry the brand’s patented 10-minute retrograde regatta countdown at 7 o’clock and a high-contrast tide-indication bezel, along with a caseback engraved with a 12-foot racing yacht.
Each colorway is limited to 99 pieces, sold with two rubber straps included. A steel bracelet version, which comes with the two rubber straps as well, is also available.
Imaginary vintage, real obsession
Albishorn’s whole identity runs on a concept founder Sébastien Chaulmontet calls “imaginary vintage” — watches designed to look like they belong to an era of watchmaking history that never actually produced them.
Chaulmontet isn’t some rookie chasing a nostalgia trend, either. He literally wrote a book on chronograph history (Chronographs for Collectors), then went and built a brand-new movement from scratch to put that knowledge into hardware, alongside watchmaker and product designer Fabien Collioud.
The Marinagraph itself imagines a regatta timer that could’ve ridden along with a 12-foot racing yacht in some alternate version of early 20th-century sailing, tide bezel and all.
It’s a niche premise for a niche audience, but Albishorn’s built real credibility fast since debuting at Geneva Watch Days 2024 — this isn’t a brand padding out a lineup with recolors to stay relevant; it’s a small team that seems to actually care about the fictional world they’ve built.
Two new dial options aren’t a huge release, but for a brand this size, it’s another chance to get in front of collectors who’ve been keeping an eye on it.
Where to buy it
The Marinagraph Classic and Classic Fumé are up exclusively at Albishorn-Watches.ch; pricing starts at CHF 3,950 (~$4,900 USD) for the rubber-strap version, with the steel bracelet option at CHF 4,400 (~$5,400 USD), both excluding tax — each colorway limited to 99 pieces.
