Photo Report: Angelus Is Back

In the midst of the infamous quartz crisis, Angelus, the acclaimed Swiss chronograph manufacture, halted production and closed up shop for good. As a watchmaking powerhouse for over 125 years, Angelus massively contributed to the mechanical wristwatch's evolution. They developed various chronograph movements, calendar movements, the first automatic repeater, and even mechanisms for Panerai's early creations. Just today, I received news that Manufacture La Joux-Perret, based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, has remarkably acquired Angelus and will be launching a new generation of Angelus timepieces.

La Joux-Perret will be continuing Angelus' tradition of manufacturing high-grade movements in order for their revived company to regain its prestige. Keep in mind, Angelus was once the most important movement manufacture in existence. They won awards at the observatory timing competitions in Paris (1902), Lille (1902), Liège (1905), Milan (1906), Bern (1914), Philadelphia (1926) and many other cities across the globe.

The new manufacture will have all of the proper equipment required to “produce, finish, assemble, regulate and test” their movements and watches in-house. As per the cases, dials, and hands, those will be sourced from the industry’s top suppliers.

Interestingly enough, despite having access to such advanced technology, many traditional watchmaking methods will be applied to the movements, such as hand-beveling. Also, Angelus is already considering the possible fusion of exotic materials (titanium, carbon fiber, etc.) and precious metals to make their cases. They won't replicate Hublot or AP type cases; rather, they will just add these materials to enhance their watches' durability and strength.