In an exciting horological development, Massena LAB – the creative horological studio founded by William Massena – and the esteemed Swiss watchmaker Mathey-Tissot have joined forces once again to introduce their latest masterpiece, the Mathey-Tissot x Massena LAB Chronograph ’68.
This timepiece, inspired by the colourful and vibrant era of 1968, promises to captivate watch enthusiasts with its vintage charm and timeless design.
The Chronograph ’68 marks the fourth collaboration between Massena LAB and Mathey-Tissot, following the resounding success of their vintage-inspired Type XX Chronograph models launched in 2022 and 2023. In addition, they recently unveiled the Mergulhador, a dive watch originally created for the Portuguese market in the 1970s.
This new release pays homage to the year 1968, a time characterised by a surge of colour, joy, and freedom in the wake of the austere post-war period.
During this time, musical hits like the Rolling Stones’ Jumping Jack Flash, Aretha Franklin’s I Say a Little Prayer and Born to Be Wild by Steppenwolf dominated the pop charts, while Johnny Cash’s historic performance at Folsom prison marked the beginning of a call for prison reform.
Meanwhile, blockbuster films such as Bullitt, Yellow Submarine, and 2001: A Space Odyssey were enthralling audiences and London’s Carnaby Street was leading the fashion revolution of the time.
The Mathey-Tissot x Massena LAB Chronograph ’68 draws inspiration from various vintage references and models produced and sold in the late 1960s.
Its design features a striking black dial with central hours and minutes hands. There is a small seconds at 6 o’clock, a 30-minute counter at 3 and a 12-hour counter at 9 o’clock. Luminous hour, minute, and chronograph hands.
The dial is adorned with reflective hour markers, three colourful registers in red, white, and blue, an eccentric lollipop-shaped chronograph hand, and a unidirectional 120-click bezel with a luminous marker at zero.
Furthermore, the watch’s hour, minute, and chronograph hands also boast luminous properties, ensuring readability in various lighting conditions.
Encased within the 41mm stainless-steel case of the Chronograph ’68 is a Swiss-made, self-winding Landeron Calibre 73, which operates at a frequency of 28,800 oscillations per hour (4 Hz) and offers a power reserve of 43 hours.
The watch has a water resistance of 50 metres and is presented on a blue calfskin leather strap with stainless-steel buckle.
The watch will be delivered in a Mathey-Tissot x Massena LAB presentation box, complete with a warranty card, instructions, and a two-year guarantee.
The Mathey-Tissot x Massena LAB Chronograph ’68, available exclusively at MassenaLAB.com, is priced at $1,495 from today, with only 99 examples set to be delivered this year.
