The Dubey & Schaldenbrand Gran Chrono Astro – A Little Slice of Heaven

Dubey & Schaldenbrand, a Swiss-based luxury watch company, was established back in 1946 and named after founders Georges Dubey and René Schaldenbrand. This is one of the many watchmaking brands that suffered during the Quartz Crisis of the 80’s when the emergence of quartz movements caused weakening of the Swiss watchmaking industry. The brand was restored in 1995, after being acquired by Cinette Robert, and today it continues to make exquisite limited edition timepieces of the highest quality, mainly powered by mechanical movements.

Dubey & Schaldenbrand Gran Chrono Astro was introduced in 2002. As its name suggests, the Gran Astro Model is equipped with a number of astronomical complication, including the date, day/date, and the most romantic of them all – the moon phase. Thanks to its automatic mechanical movement, which is actually based on Valjoux 7751, the Gran Astro can also perform as a chronograph watch. The self-winding mechanical movement beats at 28’800 vibrations per hour and provides around 48 hours of power reserve.

Gran Chrono Astro has established itself as one of the icons of the brand. Ever since its early days, the model is produced in a recognizable tonneau-shaped case, always nicely curved and harmoniously proportioned. The Gran Chrono Astro measures 37.7 x 50 mm in proportions, and with its 15.1 mm in height, it falls in a category of thick watches. The model is available in a diverse choice of materials, starting from very basic stainless steel cases, all the way up to preciously luxurious 18-karat rose gold. The most exclusive renditions are certainly the ones set with either 54 or 136 diamonds, arranged along the edge of a dial in one or two rows.

All watches from the Gran Chrono Astro range are fitted with the engine-turned dials with delicate guilloche finish. The time is indicated using Losanges Diamantés hands coated with white-emitting Super-Luminova. The subsidiary dial at 6 o’clock indicates the current phase of the moon, while also serving for 12-hour recordings. It mirrors the position of another sub-counter which informs its wearer about the day of the week, current month, and enables the chronograph function for 30-minute recordings. The current date is indicated by the longest hand, which follows the date-track inscribed on the outer edge of the dial. Dubey & Schaldenbrand Gran Chrono Astro is delivered on a Louisiana alligator strap in matching color.