Singer Reimagined 1969 Chronograph and Timer Showcase High-End Chrono Movements and Retro Designs

Singer Reimagined know how to make a watch that will stop you in your tracks to take a closer look. Whether that be through the complex dials of models like the Track 1 SKLT or the retro attraction of their latest collection, the 1969 Chronograph and Timer. Of course, Singer Reimagined itself wasn’t around in the 60s so instead of a specific heritage model, the inspiration is the universal heritage of watchmaking itself.

That might be quite a lofty claim but it’s on that the 1969 collection executes on quite well. For example, you can’t really say that it has particular components or aspects that are a direct link to individual vintage watches from time but despite that, the clean lines of the new, slimmer 40mm tonneau case feel retro. The closest comparison you could make would be to a watch like the Rado Diastar which originated in 1962. The main similarities being the sweeping curved surface and brushed finishing.

What really draws you in though are the dials. Both variants feature Singer’s signature black, brown and orange colourway, which works perfectly for a retro piece – the brown looking like faded lume on genuine vintage watches. On top of that, the dial is protected by a glass-box sapphire crystal, which also helps with the retro aesthetic.

In terms of the difference between the two watches, the Singer Reimagined 1969 Chronograph features an hour and minutes display at 6 o’clock via two rotating while the central hand stack consists of three individual chronograph hands, one each for seconds, minutes and hours. All of the chronograph hands use the base-60 scale, which has earned Singer Reimagined a reputation for being the only brand producing a 60-hour chronograph.

In contrast, the 1969 Timer is a three hand model consisting of regular hours and minutes and then a chronograph seconds hand. It’s an intriguing and refined set of functions, the bare essentials of a chronograph given centre stage.

Calibre AGH 6365 (Chronograph)

Calibre AGH 6363 (Timer)

Naturally, with each version touting different complications, the movements housed inside differ too. For the 1969 Chronograph we have the AGH 6365 adapted from the award-winning Agengraph for the new 40mm design. Then, the 1969 Timer uses the AGH 6363 flyback chronograph movement, again adjusted for the sleeker case. Despite the differences in function, both have 72-hour power reserves and 21,600 vph frequencies. They’re also both from Agenhor who are known for their fantastic and funky chronographs, which is what makes them a perfect fit for Singer.

The last important aspect to touch on is that these are the first Singer Reimagined watches presented on stainless steel bracelets. It has a distinctive, facetted H link design with rounded centre links and a combination of brushed and polished finishing. It’s a cool design.

In terms of price and availability, the 1969 Chronograph is CHF 51,000 and the 1969 Timer is CHF 29,900 (approx. £45,700/£26,800). Neither are limited editions however there is limited production with only 50 of each being made available in 2023. Add ‘exclusivity’ to the list of buzz words that make these watches cool.