April 24 2025

Schwarz Etienne 1902 Petite Seconde: Revisiting The Past With Modern Precision

Ricardo Amaral NEW RELEASES, SCHWARZ ETIENNE 2025, Dress Watch, Small Seconds, Titanium 0

At Geneva Watch Week 2025, Schwarz Etienne introduced the 1902 Petite Seconde—a dress watch that encapsulates the brand’s heritage while showcasing its technical mastery. Housed in a 39 mm titanium case, this three-hand timepiece offers a fresh interpretation of the sector dial design, underpinned by an in-house micro-rotor movement with refined aesthetics and an impressive power reserve.

Sector Dial Redefined

The 1902 Petite Seconde stands out with a multi-layered dial that balances traditional watchmaking cues and modern execution. Offered in three colour variants—silver, slate grey, and rose gold—the dials are inspired by sector or railroad designs, historically valued for their clear and precise timekeeping layout.

Each dial features a white railway-style minute track along the periphery, punctuated by Arabic numerals at 5-minute intervals and thicker hash marks at the quarters. A recessed, grained central area housing two spear-shaped hands contrasts with the slightly raised opaline-finished chapter ring, which features polished applied indexes. The index design alternates between stylized arrows and rectangles, with a double-arrow marker at 12 o’clock providing visual symmetry.

A small seconds subdial is positioned at 6 o’clock, framed and slightly elevated, with a snailed inner finish and an outer track echoing the main minute scale. At 5 and 7 o’clock, indices are discreetly truncated to make room for this complication, preserving overall balance.

Signature Schwarz Etienne Movement

Powering the watch is the ASE300.00 Calibre, a fully in-house automatic movement and a direct evolution of the ASE200. It is equipped with a micro-rotor mounted on ball bearings, allowing the movement to remain slim while offering a substantial 86-hour power reserve.

Decoration on the ASE300.00 is intricate: a matte sandblasted mainplate sets the backdrop for bridges finished with concentric and circular Geneva stripes. Four finger bridges return as a signature element of the movement architecture, including one supporting the 3Hz balance wheel. Additional visual detail is delivered by a sunray-finished ratchet wheel and meticulously hand-polished gear teeth.

Case and Comfort

Crafted from grade 5 titanium, the case measures 39 mm in diameter and 10.90 mm in thickness, striking a refined profile suitable for formal wear. Alternating polished and brushed surfaces highlight the case architecture, adding depth and contrast. The use of titanium keeps the watch exceptionally light on the wrist, enhancing comfort throughout the day.

Each reference is fitted with a high-quality alligator or calfskin leather strap, featuring a rubberized lining for durability and moisture resistance. The strap is secured with a titanium pin buckle that complements the case material.

Conclusion and Prices

With the 1902 Petite Seconde, Schwarz Etienne leverages its vertically integrated capabilities to deliver a timepiece that blends historical design with modern mechanical finesse. This release not only showcases the brand’s technical confidence but also signals a new era of identity through thoughtful design and sophisticated execution.

Unfortunately, we haven’t had the opportunity to see it in person and even try it out yet, but we believe that this will happen soon and we will definitely talk about it again.

The new watches are now available from the brand’s authorized retailers for CHF 18,000.