Founded in 2017 as the watchmaking arm of Singer Vehicle Design, the critically-acclaimed rebuilder of early 1990s Porsche 911s, Singer Reimagined specialises in chronographs powered by an ingenious Agenhor movement.

But before Singer Reimagined settled on its retro-inspired case design, it made a Track 1 prototype with an equally retro but more angular case that is going under the hammer at Phillips’ upcoming Geneva watch auction, the same that includes a pair of much-hyped F.P. Journe souscription watches.

The production version of the Track 1 has cushion-shaped, titanium case with a radial brushed finish that is very much reminiscent of sports chronographs of the 1970s that were produced by host of brands, ranging from Omega to Heuer. It also has a “bullhead” pusher layout, with the chronograph buttons on the left and right sides of the case.

More importantly, the standard Track 1 features short lugs with a narrow hood over the end of the strap, making the strap look almost integrated.

The Track 1 in 18k gold (left) and titanium

In contrast, the prototype has longer lugs with a pronounced opening for the strap. It’s still made of titanium, with a similar brushed case finish, and also evocative of the 1970s, but a different look altogether.

Like the production watch, the prototype has wide, polished bevels separating the brushed tops and sides of the cases

The prototype is fitted to a NATO-style leather strap – with matching, brushed titanium rings – that loops underneath the case, an idea that was also done away with for the production models, which have conventional two-piece straps.

Personally I am not a fan of “NATO” straps for large watches, because they increase the thickness of the watch substantially. But Singer Reimagined founder Marco Borraccino, explained “the NATO is actually quite thin; we worked it in a very subtle way” so as not to substantially change the height of the watch.

Conceived to make the chronograph the point of focus, the dial on the prototype is identical to the production watch. All three chronograph registers are concentric in the centre of the dial, recording the hours, minutes, and seconds with progressively shorter central hands. Usually, the chronograph can record 60 units on each scale – 60 hours, 60 minutes, and 60 seconds.

The time, on the other hand, is indicated by an orange pointer at six o’clock against two rotating rings on the periphery of the dial.

Agenhor’s invention

The intriguing dial is made possible by the Singer Reimagined cal. 6361, a variant of the AgenGraphe movement made by Geneva complications specialist Agenhor.

One of the most innovative chronograph movements of recent years (and also found in the recent H. Moser & Cie. Streamliner), the AgenGraphe reimagines the traditional construction of a chronograph. The mainspring and timekeeping going train are arranged in a donut-form, leaving the open centre of the movement for the chronograph mechanism, which also covers much of the back of the movement, explaining the dense mass of levers and wheels visible through the display back.

The AgenGraphe movement as seen in the 18k gold version of the Track 1

Beyond the architecture, the AgenGraphe also features numerous clever inventions in the chronograph mechanism, including diamond-coated, double-layer chronograph wheels, and a three-level “heart” for the central chronograph display.

The patented double-layer clutch wheels

And the “heart” that has one level for each chronograph hand

Auction information

The production Track 1 is priced between 45,000 and 50,000 Swiss francs depending on the edition. On the other hand, the prototype  has an estimate of 20,000-40,000 francs, making it something of a bargain.

With an estimate of 20,000-40,000 Swiss francs, the Singer Reimagined Track1 prototype is lot 100 in The Geneva Watch Auction: XI, which will take place on June 27 and 28. For more on the watch, visit Phillips.com.