Elka Watch Co. has built its young identity around restraint, Swiss roots and a fondness for the past without turning its watches into costume pieces.
The new Tour des Chavannes moves that idea closer to home, taking its cues from a lost Neuchâtel tower once fitted with one of the city’s important public clocks.
It’s a small-series concept with a specific local reference, but the result is easy to understand even if you’ve never walked down Rue des Chavannes.
At a glance
- Elka Watch Co. has launched the R Series Tour des Chavannes in two vintage-styled automatic versions.
- The dials reference the former Tour des Chavannes clock with Roman numerals and lettering inspired by historical designs.
- The watches are priced at CHF 1,716 excluding taxes and are available through Elka’s website and its Neuchâtel boutique.
A lost Neuchâtel tower becomes a wristwatch
The Tour des Chavannes was erected in 1285 to close the upper end of the street of the same name and help protect the northwestern side of Neuchâtel’s medieval ramparts.
Its role changed over time, including use from 1531 as the javiole, a disciplinary prison for non-criminal offences.
By the late 17th century, the tower had become part of the city’s public timekeeping life.
Neuchâtel installed its first clock mechanism there in 1679, followed in 1736 by a black dial with gold numerals painted by heraldist Samuel Müller.
In 1805, the city used the tower to distribute mean time, an early civic effort to bring shared timekeeping into daily life.
The tower was demolished in 1867 after being deemed unsanitary, but its memory now gives Elka a narrative that feels unusually grounded for a modern microbrand release.
Roman numerals with an architectural memory
The Tour des Chavannes watches introduce Elka’s R Series while keeping much of the minimalist language seen in the brand’s S Series.
The shift is on the dial, where the antique reference is made explicit rather than decorative.
Both versions use elongated Roman numerals derived from the tower’s 1736 clock dial, along with lettering based on engineer Henri Ladame’s original plans.
Elka has also chosen a two-hand layout without a seconds hand, a simple decision that strengthens the connection to historic public clocks.
The Pierre d’Hauterive version has a domed beige dial with blackened hands and numerals, its colour inspired by limestone used in the Neuchâtel region.
The 1736 Edition takes the more contrasted route, pairing a black dial with rose gold-coloured hands and numerals.
A familiar Elka case with a warmer mood
The case measures 40.8mm across and 10.8mm thick, with short angled lugs that bring the lug-to-lug measurement to 46.50mm.
Its curved profile, bowl-shaped caseback and box sapphire crystal are all part of Elka’s vintage-adjacent language.
The crystal is especially important to the watch’s character, echoing the look of older Hesalite crystals while using sapphire for modern durability.
Water resistance is rated to 50 metres, which places the watch firmly in everyday dress-casual territory rather than tool-watch terrain.
Strap options include cognac-tone suede and smooth calf leather, both in keeping with the softer, old-world personality of the design.
Swiss automatic movement and availability
Inside is the La Joux-Perret G101, an automatic movement often positioned as an alternative to the ETA 2824 and Sellita SW200.
It runs at 4Hz and offers a 68-hour power reserve, giving it enough autonomy to be left off the wrist for a weekend.
The movement is visible through a sapphire caseback and is decorated with Geneva stripes.
The Tour des Chavannes is available through Elka Watch Co.’s website and at the brand’s permanent boutique at 16 Rue des Chavannes in Neuchâtel.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | Elka Watch Co. |
|---|---|
| Model | R Series Tour des Chavannes |
| Versions | Pierre d’Hauterive and 1736 Edition |
| Case size | 40.8mm |
| Thickness | 10.8mm |
| Lug-to-lug | 46.50mm |
| Crystal | Box sapphire crystal |
| Caseback | Sapphire back |
| Water resistance | 50 metres |
| Dial | Domed beige with blackened hands and numerals, or black with rose gold-coloured hands and numerals |
| Display | Two hands, no seconds hand |
| Movement | La Joux-Perret G101 automatic |
| Frequency | 4Hz |
| Power reserve | 68 hours |
| Decoration | Geneva stripes |
| Strap | Cognac-tone suede or smooth calf leather |
| Price | CHF 1,716 excluding taxes |
| Availability | Elka Watch Co. website and boutique at 16 Rue des Chavannes, Neuchâtel |
The Tour des Chavannes should appeal to collectors who like microbrand independence but want a watch anchored in a real place, with enough historical detail to feel considered rather than nostalgic for its own sake.
