As Graham exclaims in its explanation of the new Swordfish chronograph, ‘this … sensual “in your face” chronograph is definitely not for the shy at heart. It is resolutely designed for high-profile individuals with a fresh, youthful attitude and a strong penchant for arousing curiosity – and satisfying their own. Swordfish catches and holds the gaze in a hypnotic grip, drawing the fascinated observer into the infinite depths of time.’







The source of inspiration
Unusually, the Swordfish is partially the result of a competition among top-flight young designers, organized within the framework of the European-wide Erasmus Program – a wide ranging program organized and financed by the European Community to develop and improve connections between European researchers, designers and product developers.
As Eric Loth, the CEO of Graham explains, “… We took advantage of a sub-project organized by the Program with the National Centre of Art and Design (NCAD) in Dublin. The project’s aim was to invite 30 young and talented designers (with professional expertise) from all European countries to exchange ideas and have them attend lectures from international professionals and professors. The conclusion of this long seminar was to create a contest around a specific, but real project.
“We were asked by the President of the NCAD through our current designer for Graham watches (who was one of the lecturers involved in the project) to organize the contest. We went to Dublin with a briefing and spent time with each designer describing and personalizing it. Three weeks later, we returned to Ireland to assess the work in progress and, in some cases, put some of the designers back on the right track.
“Another three weeks later and we returned to judge the results and distribute the awards and prizes. We expected to have one winner and two awards, but we finally selected two winners and gave ten awards because the quality of the final designs presented was extremely high. Among all the proposals submitted by the designers, the one by Philip Hamilton had best interpreted the details from our design briefing. What’s more, his concept was actually in line with some ideas we were already working on at the brand. At that point, I didn’t hesitate, and decided to initiate the development of the Swordfish since Phillip's design was more an ‘ebauche’ than a final and usable design.
“The first prototype was finalized in early 2003 and confirmed that we were on the right track. The finished product, the Graham Swordfish, finally took us two full years to create and develop.”

The Swordfish
Graham timepieces are unquestionably different from all other watches on the market today and the Swordfish clearly continues in the same striking conceptual and visual approach as the Foudroyante, launched in 1997, and the Chronofighter that appeared three years later.
It has a bold and sturdy case (46 mm) and is attached to the strap by architectonic pivoted lugs that ensure optimal comfort and a perfect fit on all wrist sizes. The tip of the crown is recessed and ridged to ensure a perfect grip and the chronograph push-buttons have a clous de Paris pattern. An L just above 6 o’clock on the black dial indicates that the crown and push buttons are on the left of the case, (the Drive Left concept introduced by Graham for timekeeping efficiency using the thumb) and for the more conventional enthusiasts, there is also a version with the controls on the right of the case (indicated by an R above the 6 o’clock).
The most striking features, however, are the two encircled sapphire crystals protecting the 12-hour sweep seconds and 30-minute chronograph counters that offer an intriguing optical effect of depth and are reminiscent of the protuberant eyes of the swordfish. The legibility of the timekeeper in enhanced by the luminescent numerals, hour markers and the skeleton hands. The centre seconds hand, with its elongated red tip, is also a subtle reminder of the extended upper jaw of the swordfish. With its screw-down caseback, the chronograph is water-resistant to 50 metres.
The Swordfish is an eye-catching, sophisticated and innovative timepiece and has genetic Graham constants such as the curved bezel, the bicompax look (even though this model has a tricompax function) and the royal marine crown on the caseback.
“The Graham brand is now entering a fast growing period,” Eric Loth concludes. “The true British origin of the brand is increasingly a melt with Swiss savoir-faire and that gives us a unique source of inspiration. By its innovative character, Graham will continue to break the rules and impose, as we did with the left action chronograph in 2000, new trends in the creation of chronographs.”



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