The 10th anniversary of the first watch designed by de Grisogono founder Fawaz Gruosi was celebrated at BaselWorld 2010, when the brand unveiled new versions of its most popular models.
The most notable is the Instrumento Grande Chrono, which takes the original Instrumento Grande, launched in 2005, and updates it with the addition of a chronograph.
The highlight of the Grande Chrono dial is the retrograde function that stretches from 11 o'clock to four o'clock. In place of a hand that moves along a scale, two retrograde discs printed with numbers are used, with the correct date displayed in a window at three o'clock.
Other functions include a 30-minute counter at nine o'clock, a 12-hour counter at six o'clock and a small seconds dial at 12 o'clock, while a transparent side panel on the left side of the case offers a view of the movement.
Given its size and the use of pink gold for the case, the Grande Chrono is hardly a delicate watch, but Gruosi does not think that the dimensions and weight will be too much for the Asian market. 'The watch I'm wearing right now was considered very large when it was launched years ago - now it seems almost small. It's all relative,' he says. 'People are used to our sizes by now, and what they're really interested in is versatility. They want watches that can be both sporty and elegant, that can go with jeans as well as suits.'
The brand's other novelties expand on existing collections.