Felix + Chrono = Chrono-Felix. That is the battle cry of the new watch from the talented duo of Richard and Maria Habring’s brand – Habring². Based on the A11 proprietary movement from the brand, they have added a monopusher chronograph to the Felix model. The A11 is also the driver behind the other Habring² complications like the split seconds (Doppel Felix) jumping seconds, the lightning seconds (foudroyante) and the Chrono COS. As with other Habring² products, the Chrono-Felix comes in at a very competitive € 6,250.
Habring² Chrono-Felix
The new chronograph is based on the A11, and the movement is christened A11C-H1. The A11 is based on the ETA 7750 movement which is favoured by Richard for its reliability and torque. In his former life in IWC, Richard have used the 7750 very successfully and defined his career as a watchmaker with his signature modifications. An example is the work he did to modify the 7750 with a split seconds function. This appeared in the IWC Doppelchronograph and the IWC Il Destriero. We covered some of this story in our Doppel 3 Review (click here).
However, as ETA no longer supplies movements and components since 2011, so Habring² began to make their own movements using the robust 7750 as a starting point. Richard tweaked and improved the design and optimised it for smaller production quantities. The base A11 is time only, and found in the Habring² Felix base model. And from there, Richard built the Doppel3 and other complications. The monopusher chrono of the Chrono-Felix is also based on the same blueprint.
The design is based on the familiar stopwatch function, and all the parts are manufactured by specialized suppliers. Habring Unrentechnik continues to drive the design and provide drawings, specifications and quality control. The steel case is 38.5mm wide and 10.5mm high, relatively compact proportions for a modern chronograph wristwatch. It’s fitted with a domed sapphire crystal and rated to 30m.
Interestingly, especially for a watch at this price range, the movement is decorated by hand, showing nice perlage and a circular graining effect on the bridge. The chronograph cam is hand blued. But overall decoration is kept at ta very engineering level, with the no extraneous embellishments.
Also interesting, and of great significance is that the escapement components is also proprietary to Habring².
Chrono-Felix’s technical details
Manufacturer’s movement Habring² A11C-H1:
Diameter 30 mm; height 6.5 mm
Hour hand, minute hand, small seconds hand at 9 o’clock
Mono-pusher chronograph with a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock
28,800 half-oscillations per hour (4Hz)
Hand-wound with 48 hours of power reserve
Fine tangential screw adjustment
Amagnetic escapement with Carl Haas balance hairspring in chronometer quality
KIF shockproof pursuant to DIN and NIHS
25 rubies
Elaborately hand-finished with polished edges, decorative engraving, perlage, etc.
76 service-relevant single components (180 parts in total)
Case:
Stainless steel, three parts, diameter 38.5 mm, height 10.5 mm
Waterproof to the equivalent of a depth of 30 meters
Spherical sapphire crystal
Double-sealed crown, sapphire caseback
Consecutive serial number engraved between the lugs at 6 o’clock
Dial/hands:
Silver-white granular metal dial with black printing and a black or red “12”
Polished, black-anodized steel hands in thread format (blued steel hands available on request)
