Farer Returns to an Old Favorite in New Chrono-Classic

In 2018, Farer introduced a trio of chronographs in the very literally named Mechanical Chronograph Collection featuring expressive uses of color and a new case design language that has evolved to new expressions within their current collections. In 2019, the Lander Chronograph dialed this formula up with a beautiful sea-green dial The watch has become something of a cult favorite for its use of color, interesting case, and near perfect dimensions thanks to the use of the ETA 2894-2. This is a movement no longer available to Farer, and hence we’ve never seen them return to this popular dual-register chronograph platform. That changes today with the introduction of three watches within a new collection called the Chrono-Classic, and these capture the same spirit first seen in those early Mechanical Chronographs. 

The Chrono-Classic is launched in three colorways, each with their own story (as you’ve likely come to expect from Farer), and no, none venture to recreate the teal green of the original Lander. What they do capture is the symmetrical dial design that places a running seconds at 3 o’clock, a 30 minute totalizer at 9 o’clock, and a date aperture at 6 o’clock. Rather than the ETA seen in the Lander, the Chrono-Classic receives a top grade Dubois Dépraz DD2022 with the same scalloped rotor design of the early chronographs.

The steel case still measures 39mm in diameter, though it’s gained a bit of thickness with the new movement, going from 12.5mm to a stated 13.2mm thickness. Still relatively thin for an automatic chronograph if you ask us, but it does allude to the magic that was captured in the original Lander. The design of the case remains largely unchanged, and that’s a very good thing as it features some lovely details. A milled channel with a blasted finish runs the length of the case wall, while a polished chamfer separates a brushed lug top and bezel piece. That bezel piece now features a radial brush, which calls a bit more attention to itself compared to the regular brushing on the Mechanical Chronograph collection. 

The dial colors being introduced with the Chrono-Classic are the Jackson, a French Navy blue with Pique pattern beset with black and light blue accents; the Swann, a deep magenta with orange and blue accents; and the Meredith, a copper salmon base with a white tachymeter and blued hands and numerals. In true Farer style, each brings a rather unique personality to the watch, pushing its boundaries in either direction. The Swann is the closest to a spiritual successor to the Lander of the bunch, with the same accent colors, and larger sub dials that cut into the Arabic numerals around the dial.

The Meredith is perhaps the most delicate of the bunch, with an almost subtle colorway when taken as a whole. The hands and applied numerals read as black in most light, but can quickly shift to bright blue at the proper angle. A single label done in red on the tachy scale provides the only deviation from the relative uniformity of the rest of the dial. 

Overall these look to be beautiful renditions of Farer’s now entrenched chronograph design philosophy, and feels like a recognition of their roots. The Farer Chrono-Classic collection is available directly from Farer beginning today for the price of $2,395. We are currently spending time with the Meredith so keep an eye out for the full review of that watch coming soon. Farer.