When a renowned heritage watchmaker and a hyper creative independent watch brand collaborate, the result is one of the most coveted vintage revival watches of recent years. Angelus and Massena LAB have partnered to present the new Angelus and Massena LAB Chronographe Médical, a classic Angelus medical tool watch revived for a new era and coming soon to Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry in Menlo Park. The new timepiece also marks the first product entry into Angelus’ new La Fabrique collection, dedicated reissued editions of iconic vintage Angelus models.
A Classic Vintage Chronograph Revived
Angelus remains one of the most beloved brands in vintage watch collecting circles. Pre-owned Angelus chronographs like the iconic Chronodato often command princely sums. The modern Angelus Swiss brand, revived in 2015, leaned into its legacy of innovation to present a contemporary range of athletically inspired, openwork tourbillon timepieces crafted with tech-forward materials and finishes. Only in the last few years has the modern Angelus brand begun to revisit its storied chronograph heritage with the new Angelus Chronodate, and now, the new Angelus Chronographe Médical x Massena LAB watch.
In the 1960s, Angelus introduced its renowned "doctor's watch" a manually wound chronograph with a distinctive dial. This timepiece featured dual scales—an asthmometer to record respiratory rates and a pulsometer to measure a patient's pulse. The Angelus Chronographe Medical x Massena Lab limited edition timepiece, limited to 99 pieces, serves as a contemporary reinterpretation of this rare watch that caters to modern tastes while preserving its distinctive functional essence.
Massena LAB, founded by William Massena, has issued several highly sought timepieces in recent years with the likes of Louis Erard, H. Moser, and now, Angelus. Angelus CEO Bertrand Savary and his team collaborated closely with Massena to revive one of the most remarkable tool chronographs of the 1960s.
Exquisite Design and Functionality
The Angelus Chronographe Médical x Massena LAB watch features several notable updates while maintaining the vintage character of its predecessor. The 39mm stainless steel case (a slight increase from its smaller vintage size), has been crafted with the precision befitting a doctor's watch. It houses the Angelus A5000 caliber movement, easily admired via an exhibition case back. Like its vintage predecessor, the modern re-edition is manually wound. Its chronograph pusher has been moved from the crown to two o’clock.
Unique Medical Functionality
True to its medical chronograph roots, this timepiece boasts two scales—the pulsometer and asthmometer—positioned prominently on the dial. The pulsometer, located between 1 and 3 o'clock, allows doctors to quickly determine a patient's heart rate. The asthmometer measures respiratory rates, with both scales presented in a visually clear and legible manner.
To measure heartbeats per minute, the chronograph is activated and the wearer counts to ten heartbeats, then stops the chronograph. The chronograph hand will then point to the correct reading along the pulsometer scale. The scale is color coded: green showing a positive reading, black being neutral, while red indicating a negative outcome.
To calculate breaths per minute, the asthmometer scale works in much the same way as the pulsometer scale. The chronograph is activated, then the wearer counts five breaths, and stops the chronograph to locate the reading. This scale is red to distinguish it from the minutes track.