Anniversary Chronograph for the 160th birthday
Montreal Chrono 1865
The Montreal Chrono 1865 is a modern tricompax chronograph that, with its retro blue dial, high-quality mechanics and timeless, sporty design, is a stylish homage to the Guinand classics of the 1970s.
“The watch I could never forget.”
By Matthias Klüh
When you spend years immersed in the history of a brand – as I have with Guinand – certain details begin to take hold of you. That’s exactly what happened with a chronograph I discovered in old catalog pages from the early 1970s. Model 159. A watch that seemed suspended in time, with a uniquely blue dial that immediately captivated me.
What fascinated me most: despite all my research, I had never encountered this model in the flesh. No servicing records, no customer inquiries, no known examples. It remained a phantom – until a conversation with a collector changed everything. When I mentioned the model, his response was simple: “I have it.”
When I finally held the watch in my hands, it exceeded all expectations. Even more beautiful, more balanced, and more distinctive than the yellowed catalog image. And suddenly the idea was born: could we bring this watch back to life – not as a replica, but as a tribute grounded in the present?
Fate was kind. Shortly afterward, we acquired an original specimen – the perfect reference for development. The result became our anniversary model: a modern tricompax chronograph with automatic movement, respectfully drawing from the 1970s design language while reinterpreting it for today. Not a copy – a statement in its own right.
When it came time to choose a name, I immediately thought of a dream from my youth: the Alfa Romeo Montreal. A design icon made for individuals with a sense for the exceptional – just like our watch. And so the name quickly became clear: Montreal Chrono 1865.
Limited to just 65 pieces – a nod to Guinand’s founding year, 1865 – each model carries its unique number, X/65, engraved on the rotor. A small but meaningful detail for true watch collectors.
With the Montreal Chrono 1865, we celebrate 160 years of Guinand – while honoring the creativity and pioneering spirit of the golden age of watchmaking.
The Watch
With its deep retro blue dial, brought to life by a fine sunburst finish, the Montreal Chrono 1865 bridges the gap between past and present. The silver-framed subdials evoke the elegance of sporty chronographs from the 1970s – while simultaneously conveying the essence of timeless design. Each individual hour marker is applied by hand and filled with state-of-the-art SuperLuminova X2 – for impressive legibility even in the dark.
The clearly designed minute track was deliberately relocated to the subtly blue bezel to give the dial even more space and depth. A detail that captivates at second glance – and underscores the commitment to harmonize function and form.
The case of the Series 40 combines clean lines with technical refinement: the crown and pushers are protected by a sophisticated sealing system that guarantees robustness and everyday usability. Inside beats a refined automatic movement with a Glucydur balance wheel – precise, reliable, and designed for people who value genuine mechanics.
The Montreal Chrono 1865 is more than a timepiece. It is a tribute to an era of change – and a reliable companion for anyone who not only admires classics but wants to wear them.
The Dial
The dial of the Montreal Chrono 1865 is created with the utmost care and a keen sense of craftsmanship. The hour markers are individually applied by hand, filled with high-quality luminous material, and precisely riveted through tiny holes on the back of the dial – a process that reveals true watchmaking craftsmanship.
The production of the characteristic blue tone is particularly complex: To authentically reproduce the unique color nuance of the original dial from 1974, special electroplating processes and additional work steps are required – a clear commitment to the high quality standards that characterize every Guinand watch.
The Movement
The construction of the SW510 is based on the VJ7750 which has been developed in the 70s of the last century and continuously improved. It is arguably the most robust power source for a mechanical chronograph. The SW510 allows the realization of chronographs with Bicompax- and Tricompax dial.
Guinand receives this watch movement produced in Switzerland in a finely finished version with a Glucydur balance. At Guinand, each of these movements is once again adjusted in 5 positions, before the final inspection of the watch concludes with a multi-day running test.
The Watch Case
We manufacture the watch case of the Montreal Chrono 1865 from stainless steel. We have the quality of the stainless-steel base material for the housing blanks verified by an acceptance test certificate 3.1 according to EN 10204:2004. In this way, we can be sure that the quality of the material corresponds to our specifications. The anthracite-black hard-coated stainless-steel bezel can be turned in both directions in hourly increments, thus enabling a second time zone to be displayed on a 12-hour basis.
We have equipped the watch with glasses made of scratch-resistant sapphire crystal on both the front and the back (optionally with a solid base). For the dial side, we have installed a slightly curved glass with an anti-reflective coating on the inside and a flat glass made of the same material for the back.
The Bezel
A striking feature of the Montreal Chrono 1865 is its expressive pilot's bezel with a 12-hour scale – crafted from solid stainless steel and click-locking in half-hour increments with noticeable precision. It not only allows for the intuitive display of a second time zone, but also lends the watch the functional charm of classic pilot's chronographs – a detail that elegantly combines aesthetics and utility.
The housing technology
Protected pushers and a screwed crown with 3-way sealing system and side protection enable a reliable pressure resistance of 20 bar. KFM-R sealing system for crown, pusher and base. Pilot's bezel made of stainless steel, anthracite-black hard coated /DLC) and beared in the case on 3 encapsulated ball detent systems.
Size comparison
Based on the size values, it is not easy to decide whether the watch fits the wrist, or whether it is too big or too small. To make your decision easier, we have mounted the watch on three different wrist widths that correspond to the usual sizes.
How to determine the correct strap length?
Please note that the wrists shown can only give you an approximate impression of the watch on your wrist, as the shape of the wrist is different for everyone, even if they have the same circumference.
The Strap
Leather Strap Montreal
For the Montreal Chrono 1865, we developed an exclusive watch strap made of the finest black full nappa leather – soft to the touch, yet robust for everyday wear. The elegant tone-on-tone look is accentuated by fine stitching with silver-colored thread, underscoring the sporty yet sophisticated character of this anniversary edition.
Model Configurator
Warranty Statement
09.06.2023
In addition to the statutory warranty, we - Guinand GmbH, Hausener Weg 61, 60489 Frankfurt am Main - give a manufacturer's warranty for the watch
Montreal Chrono 1865
on material and manufacturing defects.
The guarantee period is 2 years.
The warranty period shall begin on the invoice date stated on the Guinand GmbH invoice.
The territorial scope of the guarantee includes the Federal Republic of Germany and the member states of the European Union.
The guarantee only applies for consumers within the meaning of § 13 BGB, not to entrepreneurs within the meaning of § 14 BGB. According to Section 13 of the German Civil Code, a consumer is any natural person who enters into a legal transaction for purposes that are predominantly neither commercial nor self-employed.
If a guarantee case arises, we will repair the watch for you at no additional cost or exchange the watch for an item of equal value free of charge (this can also be a successor model if the watch complained about is no longer available).
Warranty claims are excluded for damage caused by:
- Improper use
- Repairs or attempted repairs not carried out by Guinand GmbH.
- Signs of wear
- Use of force (blows, bumps, impact)
- Bracelets are excluded from the guarantee
- Also excluded is the loss of water resistance of your water-resistant watch if the instructions in the operating instructions are not observed or if there are leaks caused by impact/hit on the crown, pusher or other components of the case and after 24 months from the date of the invoice issued by Guinand GmbH
After you become aware of the possible warranty claim, inform us
Guinand GmbH
60489 Frankfurt
Hausener Weg 61
Germany
immediately so that consequential damage can be avoided. To make a claim under the guarantee, we need the watch and the invoice from Guinand GmbH with a detailed description of the damage.
In the event of a warranty claim, we bear the costs of sending and returning the watch, as well as the transport risk, provided that the transport is carried out by the transport company specified by us and the watch has been securely packed.
Please contact us by phone +49 (0)69 / 780099 or email kundendienst@guinand-uhren.de before sending. Otherwise you as the customer bear the costs of the shipment and the transport risk.
Any costs incurred for customs duties, import duties and other fees incurred when returning the watch to the recipient country are to be borne by the recipient.
We give you this guarantee in addition to your existing statutory rights in the event of defects. These are not restricted by the guarantee and their use is free of charge.
Technical Details
- Calibre SW510
- Self-winding mechanical movement
- Chronograph function integrated into the movement
- 27 jewels
- Glucydur-Chronometer Balance Wheel
- 28.800 vibrations per hour; 4 Hz.
- Stone lever escapement
- Stop-second
- Shock resistant as per DIN 8308
- Anti-magnetic as per DIN 8309/ISO 764
- Movement diameter 13 1/4"" (30,4 mm)
- Incabloc shock protection
- Unidirectional self-winding mechanism with ball bearing, weight segment made of heavy metal
- Power reserve approx. 60 hours
- Movement decorated, weight segment with special engraving
- Retro blue galvanized dial with sunburst finish
- Applied hour indices filled with C3 Grade X2 – luminescent green
- Rhodium-plated hour hand inlaid with C3 Grade X2 luminescent green
- Rhodium-plated minute hand inlaid with C3 Grade X2 luminescent green
- Rhodium-plated second hand with luminescent tip inlaid with C3 Grade X2 luminescent green
- Hours, minutes, subsidiary seconds
- Chronograph with 30 min- and 12 hours counters and central second hand
- Stainless steel, polished
- Sapphire crystal glass, domed, anti-reflective on the interior
- Screwed back with sapphire crystal glass
- Screwed crown with 3-way sealing system and flank protection
- Hard-coated stainless steel pilot's bezel, rotatable in minute steps in both directions
- Sealing system FKM-R for pushers, crown and case back
- Protected pushers
- Pressure resistant up to 20 bar
- Satin-finished stainless steel
- Elements engraved and numbers black-lined
- Detent-minute increments on both sides
- Mounted on three encapsulated detent elements within the case
- Main marker coated with Grade X1 luminescent paint
- Case diameter: 40.7 mm
- Case thickness: 15.7 mm
- Band lug width: 20 mm
- Lug-to-lug distance: 48.7 mm / 1.92 inch
- Distance between the spring bars: 45.7 mm / 1.8 inch
- Weight without strap: ca. 92 grams