We all know Victorinox. Less established in the watchmaking world, the famous Swiss knife brand has nevertheless been making watches for several decades. Specializing in the design of outdoor accessories and located in the heart of the reactor, in Delémont, Switzerland, Victorinox was in a prime position to develop timepieces worthy of the name. Today, we’re spending some time with one of its most extreme watches, theI.N.O.X. Chrono Carbone.
I.N.O.X: the foolproof watch
After the Journey 1884 collection, we now turn our attention to the flagship collection from Victorinox. Designed for shock-resistant – and now to magnetic fields – the I.N.O.X. has been subjected to numerous resistance tests, from drops of ten meters to heavy objects such as a tank! The idea: to offer a ultra-resistant watch. This carbon version adds a touch of lightness that sets it apart from traditional stainless steel models. On average 5 times lighter than steelDespite its much lower density, carbon is virtually identical in strength. Knowing that it’s a scratch-resistant material, it’s a wise choice offering great durability.
Highlights
One of Victorinox’s great strengths in watchmaking is that the brand has not afraid to break codes. What might seem a weakness to purists is in fact its greatest strength. Its construction in carbon composite, used for the space shuttles because of its resistance to temperatures in excess of 1200°, not only gives the piece character, but also makes it more attractive. legitimacy as an adventure watch. In addition to its extreme lightness, the association with a paracord bracelet testifies to its ambitions. The brand is said to have worn someone hanging from a helicopter with such a bracelet! The Swiss company has pulled out all the stops to create this bracelet: steel lugs for integration with the lugs, then a nylon extension for traditional attachment with a pin buckle. This is a bracelet of a unique and highly successful kind which comes with a black rubber alternative, both being interchangeable with a (probably proprietary) central push-button system. Next, the time readability is excellent thanks to the large applied hour markers strewn with Super-LumiNova, and the presence of a date window will please true explorers for whom this complication is indispensable. Coupled with a day indicator, it’s a welcome change from the competition. Also of note are the touches of yellow, used where they are most useful for orienting the eye.
What we regret
Although Victorinox has done a very good job with the construction of the dial, it is true that the chronograph is less easy to read. On the one hand, the sub-dials are very small, but the hour totalizer is difficult to read. By adding thetachymeter scale on the inner bezel of the bezel, engraved only on matt black carbon, you’ll need very good eyesight if you want to determine your speed. Come to think of it, given the watch’s adventurous vocation, a rangefinder might have been more useful, but that’s just our opinion. There’s another nagging detail: what’s the point of the yellow triangular marker at 3 o’clock on the bezel? It’s not the first time we’ve seen it from Victorinox, and even though it adds an original touch, we wonder about its real purpose. If you’ve got the answer, let us know in the comments! Lately, and given that the price embonpoint would have been enormous, we would have liked to see a mechanical movement. But given the precision of quartz and the almost 5-year battery life of this Ronda caliber, we feel that this may be too subjective a remark. Let’s split the difference and say that an automatic option would have interested some enthusiasts. The question of size also arises: are its 43mm width and almost 54mm length reasonable?
Our opinion on this Victorinox watch
When we were asked to review this model, we were surprised. It’s true that we attach great importance to mechanical watchmaking. But recently, as we’ve become seduced by watches with mega-quartz movements in particular, we’ve lost that clear-cut edge in our opinions. The most important thing is to enjoy yourself. In the end, that’s the only thing that counts in watchmaking. Pleasures can vary according to use, style and budget. For this watch that oozes adventurewe’d love to wear it on our skinny 17.5cm wrists as we trek through jungles and mountains. More than a timepiece, it’s a tool, light, resistant and comfortable. It’s clearly not for everyone, but this I.N.O.X. Chrono Quartz will certainly find its target if it’s willing to pay €1.095. One last detail that’s sure to please: the whole set comes with a Victorinox marmot for carrying 3 tocantes or for mixing with bracelets.
FEATURES – VICTORINOX INOX CHRONO QUARTZ CARBON
Case : carbon composite – matte finish – 43mm wide x 53.8mm long x 13mm thick – flat sapphire crystal – solid back – fixed bezel with tachymeter scale – screw-down crown – screw-down solid back – 20 ATM (200 meters) water resistance
Dial : black background – grained texture – applied hour markers – minute scale on flange – day indicator at 12 o’clock and date window at 3 o’clock – photoluminescent hands and hour markers
Movement : quartz – Ronda 5040.E calibre – chronograph function – 54-month autonomy – deviation of -10/+20 seconds per month
Straps : black woven nylon paracorde – 21mm wide – black PVD steel buckle – second strap in blue rubber with yellow inserts and buckle – quick-change system
Informations : Reference 241989.1 – in permanent collection – available in partner boutiques and on the official Victorinox website – 3-year warranty – €1,095 incl. VAT
