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ReviewThe Graham Chronofighter Superlight Carbon In Formula One Colours

Inspired by George Graham, the 'father of the chronograph', Graham takes forward the legacy of the British watchmaker, with its innovative watchmaking techniques, signature look and bold Swiss-made timepieces. Find out more about the brand's latest addition to the Chronofighter family, with inputs from the brand's founder and CEO, Eric Loth

Aditi Batra January 21, 2019

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There was a time when most of the greatest timekeeping innovations, those which paved the path for several mechanical watchmaking breakthroughs, were developed by the British. “One good reason for this was that the English were looking for more precision at sea,” explains Eric Loth, the founder and CEO of Graham watches. “They needed to know the time, to know the exact longitude and other details to help with navigation. Since the Earth was turning, knowing the time was the only way for them to know their exact location. The English conquered and ruled the world for so long because they knew the location of everything.” Time was paramount, as some of the greatest explorers even financed the research and development undertaken by clockmakers, who in turn, went on to make the biggest timekeeping inventions of their time. One such inventor and pioneer was George Graham, an Englishman, who began his career as a clockmaker in the late 17th century.

The Birth Of Graham Watches

A scientist and an eminent watchmaker, George Graham was a friend to astronomers. His inventions included the dead-beat and cylinder escapement, the mercury pendulum, and the most precise clock for the Greenwich Royal Observatory, which was used to time most of the naval achievements in the 18th century. However, Graham’s most renowned invention was the start-and-stop mechanism to measure the duration of events and occurrences, which is basically what a chronograph is, and hence the reason why George Graham is known as the ‘father of the chronograph’. It’s this distinction that has been the greatest source of inspiration for Graham watches.

Eric Loth has had an illustrious career in the watch industry, having worked with the likes of the Swatch Group, when he decided to create an independent brand. “For me, it was about transforming my knowledge about watches, the history of watchmaking, and my culture as an engineer, into a brand,” he informs. In 1994, along with a few partners, he acquired the rights to use George Graham’s name in a brand of Swiss-made watches.

Fast And Furious

Taking forward their associations with motorsport, Graham watchmakers unveiled the Chronofighter Superlight Carbon series, which draws inspiration from the vibrantly coloured racing tyres spotted in Formula One racing. It features a 47mm superlight case entirely made of carbon and lugs with the iconic Graham trigger crown. The brand has used carbon for its signature crown protector-cum-chronograph trigger as well. The dial houses a plethora of details: white or green Super-LumiNova coated numerals, snailed counters, reversed minutes counter, coloured chronohand, minutes and seconds counters’ hands and a graduation with tachymeter and minute scales that harmonises with the strap colour.

These automatic chronographs are powered by the G1747 calibre and offer a power reserve of 48 hours. Weighing less than 100g each, these sporty timepieces adorn eye-catching rubber straps with a Clous de Paris decoration in a slew of bold colours like green, orange, purple, yellow, red, white, grey, black and blue.

New Innovations And The Way Forward

There are new ideas and projects that are picked by the team at Graham at just the right time. Superlight, for instance, is one of them. “It’s something that we decided to do this year. We believe that the superlight watch at the price-point we offer is something that will be a key demand from the industry,” Loth declares. “Having the pleasure of a mechanical timepiece, yet one that is lightweight is something that people will want.” And it’s true.

Material innovation is one key area where Graham excels. Through research in high-tech materials and developing those materials that offer opportunities for great designs as well as durability, is a major priority for the brand. With international patents in material technology and watchmaking, Graham is certainly a brand to take seriously. “We’re here for the long haul,” says Loth. “I see this brand growing phenomenally.” With a bold signature look, technical innovation, and the strong influence of watchmaking legacy, that’s not hard to believe.