Best known for its Agenhor-powered chronographs, Singer Reimagined has just released its first time-only watch, the Caballero. Inside is the Calibre-4 Solotempo representing another first, being the brand’s first proprietary movement. With four barrels powering the Caballero for six days, the Calibre-4’s distinctive architecture can be discerned from the front thanks to jewel portholes in the dial.

Spanish for “gentleman”, the Caballero is available in three colourways; the piano black and empire green colours are familiar from the Heritage Collection chronographs, but the petrol blue colour is new for the brand. Though not strictly a limited edition, the watches will be rare enough, assembled in small quantities at the brand’s atelier in central Geneva.

Initial thoughts

There tends to be a lot of crossover between the worlds of horology and high-end cars. Fans of the latter are no-doubt familiar with Singer Vehicle Design, which has made a name for itself restoring and modifying vintage Porsche 911s – specifically the 964 of the early 1990s – elevating the model to a standard that would have been impractical in its own time.

The watchmaking arm, which operates as an independent sister company, has been quietly making interesting watches since 2017, largely focused on vintage motorsport themes.

For the Caballero, this inspiration is conveyed most prominently by the golden needle hub that covers up the base of the hand stack, similar to those used by vintage automobiles in the gauge cluster. The barrel-shaped 39 mm steel case also draws inspiration from 1960s and 1970s design, consistent with Singer chronographs like the Track 1.

The Caballero strikes a balance between sporty and dressy with a 10 mm case height that will slip beneath most shirt cuffs, while offering a fairly robust 50 m water resistance.

The dial features the tachometer-inspired hands and gold-tone fluted dial flange that have become the brand’s signature, but the lacquered dials also reveal the core architecture of the movement within, with large jewels visible through cut-outs in the dial.

It’s a good look, and while a case could be made that it would have made more sense to rotate the movement 45-degrees to position the jewels at the cardinal points, the functional jewels punctuate the dial with pleasing depth.

The visible jewels are in fact the lower pivots of each of the four barrels in the Calibre-4 movement, which is also labeled as the ST5000. The the manually wound Calibre-4 offers six days of chronometric power reserve thanks to two sets of parallel barrels. Despite the long power reserve, the movement ticks at a sporty 4 Hz, which is another way in which the Caballero straddles the line between sport and dress.

Regardless of dial colour, the Cabellero is priced at CHF17,500, making it the brand’s second-most affordable release to-date after the Heritage Collection chronograph that was powered by a “new old stock” movement. Past Singer watches have probed the upper limits of value, so it’s nice to see the pricing has been kept in check.

Two by two

The Caballero is powered by Singer’s first proprietary movement, the Calibre-4, which is pleasingly symmetrical and fills the case nicely. The manufacturers have not been named, but it was designed by an engineering team in La Chaux-de-Fonds and fabricated by a pool of suppliers. The movement is just 4.83 mm thick, and its modular construction will accommodate future complications should Singer wish to do so.

Regardless, it’s an interesting movement comprised of four fast-rotating barrels that unwind sequentially in pairs, first one set, then the other. This arrangement helps ensure stable torque throughout the 144-hour power reserve. This is always the challenge with long power reserves; it’s difficult to avoid flooding the escapement with power at the beginning and starving it at the end.

Though the Calibre-4 is not COSC-certified, it is rated to the same standard of -4 to +6 seconds per day. Whether it runs within this range throughout the entire power reserve remains to be seen, but the movement is said to deliver consistent amplitude from beginning to end. If it works as advertised, it’s an impressive feat.

Key facts and price

Singer Caballero
Ref. SR701-1 (black)
Ref. SR701-2 (green)
Ref. SR701-3 (blue)

Diameter: 39 mm
Height: 10.5 mm
Material: Stainless steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 50 m

Movement: Calibre-4 Solotempo (Caliber ST5000)
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Winding: Manual
Power reserve: 144 hours

Strap: Textile strap with leather lining or leather strap with pin buckle

Limited edition: No
Availability: From Singer retailers
Price: CHF17,500 before taxes

For more, visit Singerreimagined.com.