A decade ago, carbon fibre was a rare material to see in watch design, reserved for the most exclusive timepieces from sports watch specialists. Today, it’s exciting to see more brands explore the material and introduce it to new price brackets that make it accessible to a wider range of collectors. A prime example of this is the CronusArt RT06-001 Carbon Fiber Sports Car, a skeletonised carbon sports watch priced at $1,099 (approx. £825) and which I’ve been hands-on with.
Strapping the watch on, it’s a very comfortable fit. It measures 42mm in diameter (including the crown) with a lug-to-lug of around 48mm – CronusArt give an official lug-to-lug of 52mm, but I believe, on inspecting the watch, that figure comes from following the exact upper arc of the watch’s curved design. On the wrist it sits more compact than the official figures suggest. The thickness at its thickest point is 13.5mm, which is reasonable for a sports watch like this.
Another aspect that enhances the watch’s comfort on the wrist is that it’s very lightweight thanks to its carbon fibre construction. It’s made from NTPT Carbon Fiber, a type of composite material where thin layers of carbon fibres are forged together with resin under extreme temperatures and high pressure. It has a distinctive layered appearance between the carbon and resin with the resin itself being luminescent under UV light to give the watch a futuristic vibe under the right conditions.
For the display, it’s fully skeletonised with sapphire crystals above and below, letting you admire the architecture from multiple angles. The oscillating balance takes pride of place at 6 o’clock below the central hour, minute and seconds hands. The movement is held in place by a series of support bridges that emerge from the inscription “Sport R1” at 12 and which are inspired by the engine supports of a supercar. It’s a custom automatic calibre with a 40-hour power reserve.
A fun detail that I’ve not seen on another watch is that the crown has a fold out handle to make it easier to pull out when adjusting the time setting. It’s also a hacking seconds movement, meaning that when you do pull out the crown, the movement stops in order to let you set the time with more precision.
The CronusArt RT06-001 Carbon Fiber Sports Car is $1,099 (approx. £825). For a full carbon case and skeleton movement, that’s solid value for money. I also like how clean and smooth the overall design whereas many sports watches tend to be overengineered. This one is sleek and feels like it would be an appropriate wrist companion in a variety of situations.
Price and Specs:
More details at CronusArt.
