Albishorn’s Marinagraph Is the Regatta Timer That Never Actually Existed, Until Now

Swiss indie Albishorn has carved out a compelling niche with its “Imaginary Vintage” concept — creating watches that feel like they should have existed decades ago but never did. Their latest release, the Marinagraph, imagines what might have graced the wrists of America’s Cup crews in 1958, when the legendary sailing competition returned after its wartime hiatus. It’s what happens when you cross a skin diver with a regatta timer.

Regatta Be Kidding

The Marinagraph draws inspiration from the 1958 America’s Cup, specifically the yacht Columbia’s successful defense against British challenger Sceptre, envisioning a tool that could have served Columbia’s crew during those intense pre-race sequences and tactical decisions on the water.

The most intriguing feature here is the patented 10-minute retrograde countdown function positioned at 7 o’clock. Unlike traditional regatta timers that reset automatically after the countdown, the Marinagraph’s hand stops at zero and stays there, preventing confusion during the critical race start. The chronograph seconds continue running independently, allowing crews to time elapsed race segments while the countdown remains frozen as a visual reference.

Tide Tables on Your Wrist

Where most diving bezels focus on elapsed time underwater, the Marinagraph’s bidirectional aluminum insert tracks tidal cycles over 24 hours. White markers indicate the first 12 hours after high tide, and red markers show the subsequent 12 hours. For sailors navigating tidal waters, this provides at-a-glance strategic information that could influence course decisions.

The dial layout deserves recognition for its clarity. Rather than cramming subdials everywhere, Albishorn positioned the retrograde timer and running indicator (at 3 o’clock) to maintain legibility. Every marker remains fully visible. Nothing gets cut off or obscured, which is rarer than it should be in chronograph design.

At 39mm in diameter but extending to 42.7mm with the bezel, the stainless steel Marinagraph should wear larger than its case dimensions suggest. The 13mm thickness (including box sapphire crystal) keeps it reasonable for daily wear.

Swiss Innovation Under the Hood

At an impressive 6mm thick, the brand’s proprietary Calibre ALB01 A automatic movement powers the chronograph, delivering 64 hours of power reserve and COSC certification. The monopusher operation, controlled by that signature red aluminum button at 9 o’clock, streamlines chronograph functions into a single, thumb-operated control. It’s positioned for intuitive use and sized for easy activation even with wet hands — another sailing-specific consideration.

Two Flavors of Aquatic Adventure

The Classic Racing version pairs a sunburst black dial with silver markers and blue accents, creating a more restrained maritime aesthetic. The Paraíba Racing goes bold with a matching teal dial and bezel combination that’s undeniably striking. Both versions come with two tropic-style rubber straps each (black and red for the Classic Racing, and black and white for the Paraíba Racing).

Spec Sheet

Pricing & Availability

The Marinagraph is available now through Albishorn’s website. Priced at CHF 3,950 (~$4,900), each colorway is limited to 99 unnumbered pieces with production spread across three years. For U.S. customers, factor in the current 39% Swiss watch tariff when calculating final costs.

Recap

Albishorn Marinagraph

Swiss indie Albishorn’s new Marinagraph imagines a 1958 regatta chronograph that combines skin diver aesthetics with innovative sailing-specific features like a retrograde countdown timer that stops at zero and a 24-hour tide tracking bezel. Priced

Learn More: Albishorn