The Angelus Instrument de Vitesse and the Story of its Monopusher Movement

For watch enthusiasts like me and the rest of the team of MONO, the name Angelus is synonymous with splendid vintage chronographs. Yet, the modern side of the brand, which is under the umbrella of La Joux-Perret (and thus Citizen), was until recently fairly different. The resurrection of the brand in 2015, which was done alongside its sister brand Arnold & Son, gave birth to highly technical or contemporary-designed watches… Not entirely what we could have expected. But things have changed in the past couple of years, with the launch of the La Fabrique collection. Following the Massena LAB Chronographe Médical, Angelus recently treated us with a stunning vintage-inspired monopusher chronograph, full of charm and nostalgia, the Instrument de Vitesse. Time for us to take a closer look at this lovely watch, but also to talk about its movement… And there’s a lot to tell here.

replica luxury watches Angelus is a name with great history and important watches. Founded in 1891 by brothers Albert and Gustav Stolz, the company quickly became renowned for developing and manufacturing interesting movements and timepieces, both for itself and for other brands. Angelus earned a reputation for creating exceptional chronographs, such as the first series wristwatch chronograph with a calendar (the famous 1942 Chronodato), the first wristwatch chronograph with a big date, the first wristwatch with alarm and date, the first automatic repeater wristwatch or the important 8-day hand-wound movement that powered multiple early Panerai watches. The company ceased operations in the late 1970s due to the quartz crisis.
The replica luxury watches comeback was done with a polarizing watch, the U10 Tourbillon Lumière, a watch that didn’t have much in common with the vintage models, save for its complexity. Further developments gave birth to modern, often openworked, sports-oriented watches with complex movements. The current management has, however, understood all the history that was hidden behind the name Angelus and, thanks to a new collection named La Fabrique, has decided to bring back glorious vintage designs and a movement that makes it possible to retain compact proportions. It all started with a collaboration watch made with Massena LAB, the original Chronographe Médical, soon to be followed by the present watch, the Angelus Instrument de Vitesse.
Before we dive into the specificities of the monopusher movement found in this watch, let’s spend a moment simply appreciating the sheer beauty of this Instrument de Vitesse. If you don’t speak French (no one will blame you for that…), the name of this watch could be translated by Speed Instrument, a reference to its design and its main function, calculating average speeds thanks to a tachymeter scale.
At first sight, being a monopusher watch without sub-counters on the dial, this new Angelus could easily be mistaken for a classic 3-hand, time-only watch. At best, if one manages to spot the pusher inserted into the crown, it could have been a simplified stopwatch with a zero-reset seconds hand. In fact, the Instrument de Vitesse is a proper chronograph that has been stripped down to its essential function of calculating average speeds, resulting in a no-counter one-minute chronograph display. It is a chronograph in its purest expression, but also a clever trick from Angelus to hide one of the few downsides of its handsome but small movement, resulting in counters very close to the central axis of the hands…
Don’t read this above as a problem, as in fact, this replica luxury watches  is absolutely delightful. Compact, surprisingly thin, full of charm and charisma, it is in terms of looks a true success in my books. The watch draws on the brand’s aesthetic heritage and showcases historical design elements, yet blends it in a contemporary package, which has this typical vintage-reissue feeling that has been so successful in the past decade. I’d like to call this the best of both worlds; retro design with modern construction.
Made out of satin-finished and polished stainless steel, the case has been redimensioned to modern likings, with a 39mm diameter. The shape is classic 1940s, with a certain Calatrava vibe to the watch. The fit and finish are impeccable and the watch features modern sapphire crystals on both sides, including the top one mimicking the look of a vintage plexiglass. But what truly matters is the thickness of this Angelus Instrument de Vitesse… 9.27mm in total. Find me another modern chronograph with such a slender profile… Except a couple of watches from the masters of ultra-thin Bulgari and Piaget, with the Altiplano Chronograph (8.24mm) and the Octo Finissimo Chronograph (6.90mm), very few chronographs can claim such thinness. Not even the new Tortue Monopoussoir. It is a true prowess and makes this Instrument de Vitesse an absolute joy to wear, with an elegance that is rarely seen with stopwatches.
Another element that certainly contributes to the elegance of this watch and its retro charm is the dial. Released in two different tastes, the latest replica luxury watches Angelus is all about the one-minute chronograph and calculating speeds. it features a domed dial divided into two functional zones. The peripheral indications are dedicated to the tachymeter scale, graduated from 60 to 500 with a base metric of 1,000 (typically one kilometre). A node to vintage dashboard instruments, it could have easily been created during the golden age of mechanically timed races. The central area is dedicated to timekeeping, with a precision minute track and applied Arabic numerals generously filled with Super-LumiNova. The sharp syringe hands are also lumed and the whole display is crisp and clear, whatever the colour.
You’ll have a choice between an ivory-white dial with black-treated applied markers and hands, and a tachymeter scale in light blue. This version is worn on a midnight blue nubuck strap. The second model comes with an ebony-black dial, rhodium-plated markers and hands and cream-toned scales. This version is worn on a caramel-toned calfskin strap. Both are equally attractive, with their own personality and, if I was in the position to acquire one (unfortunately, to my deepest regrets, I am not…), I would have a hard time selecting… The black one might be the winning one, but from a very short distance. In any case, both are extremely appealing.