Launching today, a new brand Albishorn releases its first watch, a collaboration with Massena LAB. Introducing the new Maxigraph.
Press Release information with commentary in italics.
New brand alert: Albishorn collaborates with Massena LAB for first watch – the Maxigraph
The retail price for the Albishorn x Massena LAB Maxigraph is USD 4,950. The watch will solely be available at Massena LAB.

Commentary
This release is somewhat of a surprise for me. I have known both Sébastien Chaulmontet (Albishorn) and William Massena (Massena LAB) for decades. I interviewed Sebastien while he was at Arnold & Son and have been colleagues with William at Timezone.com.

But first, the new brand. The maison is owned by Sébastien Chaulmontet and is called Albishorn after a tiny mountain near his home. He tells me that it is a wonderful place from there, you can see both the Zurich lake on one side and the lake of Zug on the other. Sébastien has had an interesting career, our discussion on the Arnold & Son Constant Force Tourbillon outlines his background and how he transitioned from a corporate lawyer to a product designer of micro mechanics. He has 10 patents under his name, and is the author of a book and several articles on the history of the chronograph. He is also currently the Head of Innovation and Marketing at Sellita Watch Co SA and Manufacture AMT, positions he has held since 2017.

Being a major vintage chronograph nerd, I was not surprised that the first watch under his own brand name is a chronograph. And one which is based historical mechanics, albeit one which is imagined. We have not yet viewed and examined the actual watch, and hope to do so soon.

The Maxigraph is mildly reminiscent of Denis Flageolet’s creation known as Maxichrono under De Bethune. De Bethune has run two versions at launch in 2014, one with a tourbillon and the other without. And a re-release as recent in 2019. Both the Maxigraph and Maxichrono feature all (almost all for the Albishorn, as the Maxigraph has a retrograde countdown at 7 o’clock and a running indicator at 4 o’clock) are centrally mounted. But the superficial similarities are where it ends. While the Maxichrono is a generic multi-purpose chronograph, the Maxigraph is designed to be a regatta chronograph, with the accoutrements which make it a tool watch specific for this purpose. The dial, though very densely laid with concentric gauges, is surprisingly easy to read. The 10-minute retrograde regatta countdown and the running indicator are useful yachting features.

The movement is loosely based on an 7750 architecture but massively reworked. It is only 6.6mm thick compared to the 7.9mm of the 7750. So all axes etc. had to be redone. The layout is obviously different as well as is the retrograde-10 minute-counter. This complication is also patented by Sebastien.

It has a power reserve of 64h compared to the 48h of the 7750. All complications are integrated into the main plate. The chronograph is cam operated as Sebastien tells us that he prefer a cam for monopusher for technical reasons. The movement is assembled in La Chaux-de-Fonds under Sebastien’s watchful eyes. These are produced in batches of 25.

The watch has a closed case back like in the 1930s, thus the movement is not visible. Albishorn was unable to produce photographs of the movement to show the finishing. But Sébastien emphasised that the watch is about the aesthetic and unique concept rather than the movement. He says that the movement just needs to be thin, mechanical and functional solid and allow an original dial layout.
Release details
Albishorn is proud to partner with Massena LAB for the release of its very first timepiece, the Maxigraph®, a regatta chronograph inspired by the rich history of nautical timepieces. Harking back to the first edition of the now legendary regatta race, Le Bol d’Or, first held on Lac Léman in 1939, the Maxigraph is the creation of an imagined history: how might a modern-day regatta chronograph have looked in the 1930s?
Albishorn, making its public debut at Geneva Watch Days 2024, is an independent Swiss watchmaker dedicated to building vintage watches that never were. We create original and unique mechanical timepieces that can be seen as “missing links”. They fit seamlessly into the history of watchmaking but clearly have a character of their own. We build what we call “imaginary vintage®” timepieces; aiming to explore imagined and exciting, parallel histories.
Now let’s dive into the backstory of the Maxigraph, the missing link in the history of regatta chronographs.
A. The Prologue – an imaginary history
Regatta chronographs are among the most interesting and joyful chronographs ever produced, thanks to their original designs and often colorful dials. Their appeal goes far beyond skippers and sailing enthusiasts. These timepieces have captured the interest of watch collectors and aficionados due to their unique functionality and aesthetic appeal.
Regatta chronographs have an incredibly rich history that predates their adaptation to wristwatches. Originating as pocket or stopwatches, they emerged alongside the first regatta competitions.
The transition from pocket watches to wristwatches brought greater convenience and accessibility to sailors. The wrist-worn chronographs allowed skippers to keep their hands free for managing sails and steering while still keeping an eye on the countdown. This evolution mirrored broader trends in watchmaking, where the wristwatch became increasingly popular across various fields due to its practicality and portability.

Over time, these devices evolved to become sophisticated chronographs with dedicated regatta countdown functions. Watchmakers began to innovate, incorporating specialized features such as brightly colored countdown markers, rotating bezels, and pushers designed for ease of use even in the challenging conditions at sea. These enhancements made the watches not only practical for regattas but also visually striking.
Interestingly, all the technical ingredients for modern-day waterproof chronographs were available by the end of the 1930s but were never applied to regatta chronographs at the time. The specific requirements of regatta timing functions, combined with the niche market for such specialized timepieces, likely contributed to the delay in integrating these new technologies into regatta chronographs.

Albishorn decided to fill this gap in the history of regatta chronographs by creating such a technically advanced, prototype-like, automatic regatta chronograph from the end of the 1930s.
Crafted with precision, purpose and a touch of madness, the Maxigraph might have been commissioned by the owner of a cutting-edge racing sailboat, such as the Ylliam IV, for the first edition of the legendary regatta race on Lake Geneva, Le Bol d’Or, in 1939.
B. The Watch
The challenge was to develop a regatta chronograph that would be period correct and aligned with the requirements and expectations of navigators, while being fully original. That’s how the Maxigraph chronograph was born: a mono-pusher nautical chronograph, featuring a unique and innovative design and a patented regatta function.
I. Dial
The silver dial of the Maxigraph was designed with a focus on legibility and functionality. Each scale has its own place, finish, and color, resulting in an original and modernist sector dial. This very specific dial layout is unique and pays tribute to precision instruments from that era.
Night readability is ensured by luminous material (Super-LumiNova®) subtly integrated within two different scales. The first arc of luminous material runs from 18 to 24 o’clock, while the second, larger arc, runs from 12 to 6 o’clock. The hands are filled with luminous material too, allowing for easy reading in low-light conditions.

To guarantee excellent legibility and unlike any other mechanical chronograph wristwatch, the Maxigraph boasts a patented 10-minute retrograde regatta countdown at 7 o’clock and an aperture at 4 o’clock showcasing colored disc acting as a running indicator.

II. Case
While being automatic, the Maxigraph remains sleek with only a 13 mm height (box sapphire crystal included). Made of stainless steel, the case of the Maxigraph reflects a seamless blend of robustness and elegance. The alternance of brushed and polished surfaces provides a subtle contrast, accentuating the watch’s overall presence. All edges of the case have been chamfered and polished, offering a sophisticated haute horlogerie aesthetic.
The back is adorned with a technical drawing inspired by Ylliam IV, the 6 Meter rule boat which won the Bol d’Or in 1939.
One of the standout features of the Maxigraph is its stainless steel turning bezel. It was designed to rotate in a bidirectional manner and features two different engraved scales (12 and 60 units) which are then filled with either red or black lacquer.
Positioned at 10 o’clock, the crown allows for easy winding and time setting while keeping it clear of any obstructions during crucial maneuvers. Adjacent to the crown, at 9 o’clock on the case side, is a red aluminum pusher, discreetly integrated into the case design. This location allows the pusher to be operated by the thumb, the finger considered the best one for operating a chronograph. The large size of the pusher simplifies the operation and adds a touch of uniqueness to the watch.
III. Movement
The Maxigraph incorporates a refined and reliable proprietary automatic mono- pusher chronograph movement, expertly crafted in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Once fully wound, it offers an astounding 64 hours of power reserve.
The movement was designed as a mono-pusher chronograph, therefore featuring a single button to control all the chronograph functions (start, stop, and reset) rather than the more common two-pusher system.
A further standout attribute of the Maxigraph’s movement is its remarkably low height for an automatic chronograph of only 6.60 mm, enabling the production of particularly thin chronographs like in the 1930s and 1940s.
Albishorn specifically developed this movement to showcase the brand’s distinctive and unique dial layout, featuring a patented 10-minute retrograde regatta countdown at 7 o’clock and an aperture for a running indicator at 4 o’clock.
Unlike typical regatta chronograph countdown indications, which restart endlessly the countdown once it is over, the one from the Maxigraph was designed to stop once the 10 minutes are over, while the seconds of the chronograph continue running. To reset the countdown indication, the chronograph has to be stopped and reset using the pusher at 9 o’clock.
Albishorn x Massena LAB Maxigraph Specifications
Case
316 L stainless steel case with polished and satin finished surfaces and with chamfered and polished edges
Case diameter: 39 mm
Lug to lug: 47,7 mm
Lug width: 20 mm
Case thickness: 13 mm (with sapphire crystal); 12.1 mm (without sapphire crystal)
Sapphire
Box sapphire crystal with antireflexive coating
Bezel
Bidirectional rotating bezel in stainless steel with engraved and black or red lacquered numerals Double scale: 60 and 12 units
Bezel diameter: 41.7 mm
Movement
Patented proprietary chronograph caliber ALB01 A Self-winding
Monopusher
Height: 6,60 mm
Diameter: 30,00 mm
Hours and minutes
60 seconds counter in the center
Patented retrograde 10-minute regatta function Running indicator by disc
Stop second device
28’800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz)
25 jewels
Typical power reserve: 64 hours
Winding Crown and pusher
Stainless steel winding crown with engraved Albishorn logo Pusher in red anodized aluminum
Waterproofness
Waterproof to 100 meters
Dial
White and silver sector dial with white Super-LumiNova®
Hands
Blued hour and minute hands filled with white Super-LumiNova® Red chronograph second and minute hands
Colored disc as running indicator
Straps
Red rubber strap with Albishorn buckle White leather strap with Albishorn buckle