The Swiss startup brand impresses with a powerful design and an innovative case featuring an integrated hourglass.

Start-up watchmaker Chronspire is the stuff of legends. For starters, the brand’s name is inspired by Chronos, the Greek God of time. And the brand’s first collection, the Basilisk, takes its name from the mythological creature that has the head of a bird, the body of a serpent, and the wings of a dragon.

Those who are frequent visitors to Baselworld might have noticed the many Basilisk statues sprinkled around the Swiss city. During a trip to Basel a few years ago, Chronspire’s founder Lawrence Leyderman was inspired by the statues of Basel’s mythical protector, and several design features have translated to his inaugural wristwatch collection.

The new Basilisk collection is defined by a ridged bare or black DLC titanium 45mm case that is reminiscent of the creature’s spine. Each watch comes with a silicone strap and titanium bracelet, that have been articulated to mimic the Basilisk’s sinuous body. The green segmented GMT hand on the automatic version also resembles the creature’s tail.

Besides the powerful look of the watches on the dial side, the brand’s calling card is the luminous hourglass case back. This signature feature of the Basilisk is something that I haven’t come across previously – a fully functioning hourglass that has been integrated in the back of the timepiece.

To produce an even more unique effect, the grains of sand have been treated with a Swiss Super-LumiNova pigment that allows the hourglass to become energized and glow, producing a stunning effect while in the dark.

This novel addition is meant to remind the wearer that no matter how overwhelming the passage of time might sometimes feel, it’s actually always right there, with each fleeting moment waiting to be seized to the fullest.

For the time being, the Basilisk is available in two versions – and both can be had at special prices – via the brand’s Kickstarter page. One is an Automatic GMT dual time model powered by the Sellita 330-1 calibre, and the other a quartz chronograph driven by the Ronda 3540.D1 movement. Both come packaged in nice presentation box, including a luminescent hourglass that doubles as a watch holder.

Eventually the goal is to design and release two collections each year, including a ladies’ collection and a reversible watch – something I’m really looking forward to.

Overall, the new collection is well thought out and well executed. That’s not much of a surprise, considering that brand’s founder has spent his entire professional life working within the watch industry. Whether in sales, design, manufacturing or marketing, he is a of jack-of-all-trades and that shows in the Basilisk collection and how it has been presented.

And despite being a very young company, I’m already a fan of the emergent brand DNA. The name hints at the underlying philosophy of Chronspire, that time is always on our side. In many ways, the Basilisk is a tribute to man’s eternal quest to capture time and use it to his advantage, from the first hourglass to the latest watch complications. This collection is a fine embodiment of both.