Key Highlights
- Reference CH-7522.1S-BR: 41mm case in stainless steel and 18ct red gold, total gold weight 21.4 g
- Chronoswiss Manufacture Caliber C.741S: automatic, fully skeletonised, 4 Hz, approximately 46-hour power reserve
- Full chronograph (central seconds, 30-minute counter at 12, 12-hour counter at 6), small seconds at 9, analogue date at 3
- CVD-coated skeletonised dial in warm brown tones; rhodium-plated Breguet Losange hands
- Sand-coloured nubuck leather strap; 3 ATM water resistance; screw-in lugs with patented Autobloc system
Points of Note
For collectors across the Gulf who favour watches that carry a narrative without resorting to overt spectacle, the Opus Dakar Sundown arrives at a precise intersection. Its two-tone steel and red gold construction reads as warm rather than flashy, and the desert-sunset concept translates naturally into the visual language of the region. The CVD brown dial and sand nubuck strap are not decorative gestures; they are coherent choices that give the piece a specific character from every angle.
The Story Behind It
The Opus collection has defined Chronoswiss for more than three decades, and the Dakar name within that family carries particular weight. The Sundown variant takes the established Opus Dakar architecture and introduces a new chromatic register: the palette of desert light at the close of day, translated into 18ct red gold, warm brown CVD coating, and a leather strap the colour of sunlit sand. It is a specific moment in time crystallised into a case configuration.
Movement and Materials
Caliber C.741S in Detail
Chronoswiss Caliber C.741S is a manufacture automatic movement measuring 30mm in diameter and 7.90mm in height, running at 4 Hz with 25 jewels and a Glucydur three-legged balance regulated via an excenter cam. Power reserve stands at approximately 46 hours. Shock protection is provided by Incabloc. The skeletonised bridges and base plate carry perlage finishing, and the rotor is gold-plated with Côtes de Genève decoration running on ball bearings.
Case Construction
The solid 23-piece case pairs a satin-finished steel body with an 18ct red gold bezel featuring partial knurling. The caseback is screw-down with a red gold coin-edge ring and a sapphire crystal exhibition window. Lugs are secured by a patented Autobloc screw-in system. Pushers and the onion crown are 18ct red gold, bringing total gold use across the case to 21.4 grams. Overall case height is 14.80mm. Among Chronoswiss’s current range, which includes the Pulse GMT Frosted Guilloche Gold, this level of integrated precious metal construction is relatively rare.
On the Wrist
At 41mm with a 14.80mm height, the Opus Dakar Sundown sits with the presence expected of a full-function skeletonised chronograph. The sand-coloured nubuck strap grounds the composition, pulling the eye away from the metal and toward the texture of the overall piece. The Breguet Losange hands in rhodium plate provide legibility without competing with the exposed movement architecture below. In direct light, the red gold bezel and pushers shift the watch’s character perceptibly, catching warmth in a way polished steel alone would not.
Where It Sits in the Chronoswiss Line-Up
The Opus Dakar Sundown occupies the upper tier of the current Chronoswiss catalogue. Set against more accessible references such as the Neo Digiteur Chronos or the restrained elegance of the Delphis Art Deco, the Sundown carries the weight of a manufacture chronograph with a precious metal component, positioning it for the collector who wants mechanical transparency alongside material substance. The Opus Dakar legacy, combined with the red gold execution, gives this reference a distinct identity within a crowded segment of skeletonised sports chronographs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What movement powers the Chronoswiss Opus Dakar Sundown?
The Opus Dakar Sundown is fitted with the Chronoswiss Manufacture Caliber C.741S, an automatic, fully skeletonised chronograph movement operating at 4 Hz (28,800 A/h) with an approximate power reserve of 46 hours. The movement features skeletonised bridges and base plate with perlage, a gold-plated rotor with Côtes de Genève decoration, and 25 jewels.
What is the case size and material of the Opus Dakar Sundown?
The case measures 41mm in diameter and 14.80mm in height, constructed from stainless steel and 18ct red gold. The bezel is 18ct red gold with partial knurling, and the pushers and onion crown are also red gold. Total gold weight used across the case is 21.4 grams.
What functions does the Opus Dakar Sundown offer?
The watch provides a full chronograph with a central seconds hand, a 30-minute counter at 12 o'clock, and a 12-hour counter at 6 o'clock. Additional displays include a running small seconds at 9 o'clock and an analogue date at 3 o'clock. Water resistance is rated to 3 ATM.
What is the reference number for the Chronoswiss Opus Dakar Sundown?
The Opus Dakar Sundown carries the reference CH-7522.1S-BR. It comes on a sand-coloured nubuck leather strap and features a CVD-coated skeletonised dial with rhodium-plated Breguet Losange-shaped hands.
How does the Opus Dakar Sundown relate to the wider Chronoswiss Opus collection?
The Opus collection has been central to Chronoswiss for more than three decades, representing the brand's bold and adventure-driven identity. The Dakar Sundown is a new interpretation within that lineage, distinguishing itself through the two-tone steel and red gold construction and the desert-sunset colour palette applied to the CVD-coated dial.
