Hands-On With The Chunky But Funky Cimier 711 Heritage Chronograph
You may have never heard of Cimier, but in the early 1970s, the brand produced over 1.5 million watches annually. Unfortunately, despite developing a quartz movement, Cimier struggled during the Quartz Crisis. Eventually, the company reopened its doors in 2003 after mechanical watches had become “cool” (again), opened the Watch Academy in 2010, and started to work on new collections. Today, Cimier’s HQ is in Bienne, Switzerland, and the folks there have sent us the 711 Heritage Chronograph for review.
Cimier 711 Heritage Chronograph
According to Cimier, this watch takes inspiration from the brand’s Sport Chronograph, with the sub-dials in unusual positions at 11 and 7 o’clock and a tachymeter scale centered on the dial. A telemeter scale sits around the dial’s perimeter as well. Cimier made many variations of its Sport Chronograph, and this new 711 Heritage Chronograph isn’t a direct reproduction but merely inspired by those vintage pieces.
Cimier created a 39.5mm chronograph with a 14.45mm thickness and a 47.5mm lug-to-lug span. It sits perfectly on my 18cm (7.1″) wrist, and despite the relatively thick case, it is quite comfortable too. For some, 14.45mm may sound like a towering measurement, but I don’t mind it that much. Depending on the design of a watch’s case side or profile, it’s often just fine on the wrist.
The Cimier 711 Heritage Chronograph’s case profile is quite interesting. This 1970s-style barrel-shaped case has a raised bezel and quite a few lovely details to observe. One is the finishing, which includes the horizontally brushed case band with polished bevels, pump pushers, and a decorated crown. The raised bezel has a brushed side and a polished top surface.
Sub-dials at 7 and 11 o’clock
We received the Cimier 711 Heritage Chronograph with a blue sunburst dial. However, Cimier also offers the watch with a panda dial (cream base and black sub-dials) and a limited edition with a green dial. On the dial, we find the tachymeter and telemeter scales described earlier. The tachymeter scale sits within a recessed channel, creating some depth, just like the recessed sub-dials with concentric graining.
The sub-dials consist of a 30-minute counter (at 11 o’clock) and a 12-hour counter (at 7 o’clock). Consequently, this watch does not display running seconds. Then, in the center, we find a bright orange chronograph seconds hand that matches the tachymeter markings in the sub-dials. The four remaining hands all show facets and a high-polished finish, with the hour and minute hands containing Super-LumiNova. Along with the printed Super-LumiNova hour numerals and dots, these hands help provide legibility in the dark.
Cimier CIM 100 movement
Upon flipping the watch around, we see the display case back affixed with eight screws. The sapphire crystal reveals the Cimier CIM 100 movement. This ETA/Valjoux 7750-based caliber includes a bespoke module for the layout of the sub-dials at 7 and 11 o’clock. As you can see in the image, the rotor features engravings of the vintage Cimier logo and the brand’s founding year (1924).
Engraved on the steel ring of the case back, we find some notable info. This includes the watch’s 10ATM water resistance rating, reference number, “Swiss made,” “stainless steel,” and “sapphire.”
Available on bracelet(s) and strap
This Cimier 711 Heritage Chronograph is available with a 22mm leather strap, a steel mesh bracelet, or the bracelet mounted to the watch we have here. It is a very solid-looking bracelet with an all-brushed finish and a push-button butterfly clasp. It’s also easy to swap the bracelet for a strap using the quick-release system. While this is a comfortable bracelet, there’s no quick-adjustment system if you need a bit more or less length. If you need to change the length of the bracelet, you will need to add or remove links.
Make no mistake: this Cimier 711 Heritage Chronograph is a chunky (but funky) watch despite its modest diameter of 39.5mm. It’s a sports watch, though, with a nod to the 1970s when chunky cases were the default modus operandi. If you fancy that late-1960s/1970s style, the Cimier 711 Heritage Chronograph with its barrel-shaped case is worth exploring!
What I like about the Cimier 711 Heritage Chronograph
The sunburst blue dial with silvery sub-dials at 7 and 11 o’clock brings something unique to the table. It’s not the usual chronograph layout, and the funky blue sunburst backdrop makes it even more playful. The barrel-shaped case is not for everyone, but the Cimier 711 Heritage Chronograph ticks another box if you like cases like this.
The watch wears comfortably, and the stainless steel bracelet adds a bit of heft, making the entire ensemble feel like a solid companion for your wrist. The fact that the straight-end bracelet does not fit flush with the case goes against today’s obsession with integrated bracelets. However, it makes the case design pop even more.
The Cimier 711 Heritage Chronograph with the pictured steel bracelet has a retail price of CHF 2,575. The version on the mesh bracelet retails for CHF 2,525, and on the leather strap, the watch costs CHF 2,480 (all prices excluding VAT). For more information on this model, the panda version, and the green-dial LE, visit the official Cimier website. Also, please feel free to share your thoughts on this watch in the comments below.
