Our editors carefully select every product we recommend. We may earn a commission from these links. Learn more

LAVENTURE Raises the Microbrand Bar with Its First In-House Chronograph

There are a number of watch microbrands that have a considerable amount of hype behind their releases, with brands like MING and Halios coming to mind. But perhaps the most buzzed-about name in the game at this moment is LAVENTURE, the Swiss-made brainchild of watch designer Clement Gaud. Now, LAVENTURE has raised the bar in the microbrand space once again with its most anticipated watch yet.

LAVENTURE’s business model is a unique one, in that it releases just one watch model per year, in extremely limited quantities. The latest is the Automobile Chronograph, and it marks a number of firsts for the brand. Most obvious is the fact that this is LAVENTURE’s first chronograph, and it’s quite the looker. Combining the aesthetics of a vintage Rolex Daytona “Paul Newman” with a Patek Nautilus and LAVENTURE’s own nascent design language, the piece is one of the most attractive automotive chronographs we’ve ever seen. But the most impressive feature is under the hood.

Ticking away inside the watch is the LAVENTURE Caliber I automatic chronograph movement. The brand’s first in-house caliber was jointly developed with Chronode and famed chronograph module maker Dubois Dépraz. Beating at 4Hz with a power reserve of 60 hours, the tri-compax chronograph movement features “LAVENTURE Green” coated bridges and boasts 394 components in total. It’s housed inside a 40.5mm case and is complemented by the watch’s integrated stainless steel bracelet, green and cream panda sandwich (pandwich?) dial, and Superdome plexiglass crystal.

Like all LAVENTURE watches, this one will be devastatingly hard to get your hands on. Limited to just 99 pieces in total — and already confirmed to be the brand’s only release this year — the entirely Swiss-made Automobile Chronograph is priced at CHF 8,200 (~$8,579)

Purchase: $8,579

Photo: LAVENTURE
Photo: LAVENTURE
Photo: LAVENTURE