Watch Face - Kelton X Chapal 1972 - Sky Blue

The 1972 Skyblue Kelton x Maison Chapal chronograph watch is a limited edition numbered from 1 to 100. This model pays tribute to the heritage of motorsports and the art of watchmaking through a prestigious collaboration between Kelton and the Chapal Manufacture, an iconic leather goods house since 1832.

The first manual-winding mechanical chronograph offered by Kelton, it combines the display of the current time with a precise timing function. Designed in partnership with Chapal, whose history is closely tied to the worlds of aviation and automobiles.

Kelton has always maintained close ties to motorsports. In 1975, Emerson Fittipaldi, a two-time Formula 1 world champion (1972, 1974) and then sponsored by Timex, visited the workshops in Besançon. The name of this watch, 1972, is a direct reference to his first Formula 1 title.

At the heart of this chronograph lies a hand-wound movement: the Seagull ST1901, heir to a rich watchmaking tradition. Its history dates back to the 1930s, when Fabrique d’Ébauches Vénus SA, based in Moutier, Switzerland, developed an innovative chronograph. In the 1940s, the legendary Venus 175, equipped with a column-wheel system, marked a major breakthrough in fine watchmaking.

In the 1960s, competition among major movement manufacturers led Venus to sell a production unit for the Caliber 175 to the Tianjin Watch Factory in China. This movement was then used in Project 304, which aimed to produce military watches for Chinese air force pilots.

After several decades, the Tianjin Watch Factory—now known as Seagull—has resumed production of its movements and refined the ST series, including the ST1901, which now powers the 1972 Skyblue Kelton x Maison Chapal chronograph.

A limited edition, a design inspired by the history of motorsports, a handcrafted leather strap, and a legendary watch movement: this watch is much more than just a chronograph—it is a true testament to watchmaking expertise and passion.