Last year Habring² finally delivered something collectors had long been seeking, a compact version of its signature split-seconds chronograph, which now forms the base for the Doppel 38 “Monochrome x Habring²”.

A one-off that will be sold at Phillips’ upcoming Geneva auction to benefit charity, the Doppel 38 is a collaboration between Habring² and Monochrome Watches, online watch magazine based in the Netherlands. The Doppel 38 takes its cues from the limited-edition chronograph Habring² made for the 15th anniversary of Netherlands-based Monochrome.

Initial thoughts

The one-off Doppel 38 is essentially a more complex version of Monochrome’s 15th anniversary edition, the Montre de Souscription 1 (MDS1), which was a conventional, single-button chronograph. Naturally the Doppel 38 sports a split-seconds movement and consequently, a slightly thicker case, but it is aesthetically almost identical to the MDS1, having the same “salmon” dial.

Ordinarily, reissuing a limited edition in near-identical format is a no-no, but in this case it is both sensible and appealing because the Doppel 38 is a one-of-a-kind creation and it will be sold to benefit a children’s charity. It’s being offered with an estimate of CHF10,000-20,000 – the low estimate is approximately the retail price of the regular production Doppel 38 – which is certainly acceptable. And given the worthy recipient of the proceeds, one certainly hopes for more than the high estimate.

Subtle tweaks

The Doppel 38 picks up from where the MDS1 left off. Based on the Chrono-Felix, the MDS1 had a “salmon” dial with a “sector” layout reminiscent of vintage chronographs from the 1940s. The Doppel 38 features the same dial found in the MDS1, but matched with blue steel hour and minute hands, whereas the MDS1 had silver-tone hands.

Other changes that distinguish the Doppel 38 from the MDS1 can be found in the case. Though the case is the same 38.5 mm in diameter, it is slightly thicker at 13 mm high to accommodate the split-seconds movement. The additional thickness is contained within a stepped bezel, as opposed to the sloping bezel on the MDS1.

The unique Doppel 38 is powered by A11R-H11, the same movement found in the standard model. It’s a hand-wound split-seconds chronograph movement developed by Habring². The keen-eyed might see that some of its architecture borrows from the Valjoux 7750, but much of it is unique enough that few parts are interchangeable between the two.

Notably, the movement has been dressed up to look good through the display back with perlage on the bridges and blued steel chronograph components, including the cam and plate for the split-seconds pincers.

All of proceeds from the sale of the Doppel 38 will go to Save the Children, a global non-governmental organisation dedicated to protecting the welfare and rights of children. The watch will be sold at The Geneva Watch Auction: XVII that takes place from May 13-14, 2023.

Registration for bidding and lot details can be accessed on Phillips.com.