Kronos watches stand out for their excellent craftsmanship and offer a good value for money, which is not surprising considering the long trajectory of the brand that manufactures them.
Kronos is a brand of Spanish watches with a rich tradition in the world of watchmaking. It was founded in 1930 by Carlos Vendrell, a watchmaker who established significant agreements with Swiss and German manufacturers to produce his designs.
Currently, the company still produces high-quality quartz and automatic watches, many of them equipped with reliable Swiss mechanisms and reasonable prices.
In this article, we will take a look at the history of Kronos watches and showcase the quality of their designs to determine if they are truly worth it.
Índice de contenidos
✚ Kronos Watches: History and Origin
Carlos Vendrell was an entrepreneur and merchant from Barcelona, belonging to a family with a long tradition in the watchmaking world, dating back to the 19th century.
The Vendrell family owns Unión Suiza, a company dedicated to the jewelry industry, with origins dating back to 1840.
While it wasn’t until 1930 that Carlos decided to create his own watchmaking company, manufacturing the pieces by hand in his workshops in Barcelona. This marked the beginning of Kronos watches.
To achieve this, the watchmaker established significant agreements with Swiss and German manufacturers, who would provide him with the necessary machinery to bring his creations to life.
Soon after, these agreements allowed him to move his production to Switzerland, where Kronos watches would continue to be manufactured following Carlos Vendrell’s instructions.
Over time, his son, Luis Vendrell, took charge of the international expansion of the business, pursuing clear objectives: maintaining the brand’s unique character and personality, creating exclusive designs, and avoiding mass production.
Currently, Kronos is part of Unión Suiza, along with other luxury brands owned by the Vendrell family. Therefore, it remains a Spanish brand with its headquarters in Barcelona.
✚ Are Kronos Watches Good?
Kronos manufactures watches in various price ranges, but pays great attention to the finishing of each one, whether they are automatic watches or more affordable quartz ones.
The company still maintains strong commercial agreements with Switzerland, allowing it to manufacture many of its models in the Helvetic country, especially the mechanical designs.
It is not uncommon to see the “Swiss Made” label on Kronos automatic watches, usually equipped with reliable Swiss ETA movements.
| Crystal | Sapphire |
|---|---|
| Movement | Swiss Automatic |
| Caliber | ETA 2823 |
| Materials | Stainless Steel |
| Case Diameter | 42 mm |
| Case Thickness | 14 mm |
| Weight | 205 grams |
| Water Resistance | 30 ATM (300 meters) |
Many of these models also incorporate other premium features such as sapphire crystal and ceramic bezels, which are typically found in much more expensive watches.
It is not uncommon to find automatic models from the brand at prices well below four figures, making them very competitive compared to other Swiss watch brands.
As for the more affordable quartz models, Kronos also pays attention to the finishing and often relies on Japanese movements like Miyota, which are among the most well-known and reputable in Japan.
Despite their low cost, these watches are designed to last, being manufactured entirely in stainless steel and featuring hardened mineral crystals.
| Crystal | Mineral |
|---|---|
| Movement | Japanese Quartz |
| Materials | Stainless Steel |
| Case Diameter | 40 mm |
| Water Resistance | 20 ATM (200 meters) |
Diver models are particularly noteworthy, as they are designed for use in deep waters, featuring screw-down case backs, screw-down crowns, and unidirectional rotating bezels, capable of diving up to 200 meters and working in the harshest conditions.
In conclusion, Kronos watches offer quality components, well-crafted designs, and are reasonably priced, making them a worthwhile purchase.
✚ Best Kronos Watches
Since 1930, Kronos has withstood the test of time by introducing improvements in its mechanical watches and manufacturing new quartz models for both men and women. Here are some of the best ones:
➤ Automatic Kronos Watches
The automatic watches from the brand are characterized by being manufactured in Switzerland, which is why they proudly display the “Swiss Made” label on the dial.
Most of them use the well-known Swiss caliber ETA 2824, but in more expensive models, you can also find the ETA Valjoux 7750, an automatic movement that even includes a chronograph.
Particularly notable are the K300 models, diving watches water-resistant up to 300 meters, featuring sapphire crystal, ceramic bezel, and a helium escape valve.
➤ Quartz Kronos Watches
Regarding quartz designs, the brand maintains good finishing quality, although they are more affordable due to the quartz mechanisms.
Kronos typically uses Japanese movements known as Miyota, although it is not uncommon to find some models with Swiss Ronda calibers as well.
Particularly noteworthy are the Sport Q designs, affordable yet robust divers, water-resistant up to 200 meters, with a unidirectional bezel, screw-down case back, and crown.
➤ Kronos Men’s Watches
The men’s watches from the brand are primarily characterized by a distinct sporty style. Therefore, you can find many sports chronograph designs and various diving watches.
Kronos also offers dress watches, elegant designs with leather straps and often featuring gold details, available with both mechanical and quartz movements.
➤ Kronos Women’s Watches
The brand also offers a wide selection of women’s watches, some of them very eye-catching, such as the ceramic series, characterized by their flat and minimalist design with ceramic bracelets.
✚ Prices and Reviews
Kronos is a brand that offers great value in each of its designs. However, its watches, though affordable, fall within the same price range as other Swiss brands like Tissot, Hamilton, or Certina.
Nevertheless, it is possible to find watches from this brand well below their market price in various promotions and limited internet offers.
As for reviews, the brand consistently receives positive feedback, largely due to the excellent finishing of their watches, which is no surprise considering the quality of components used in their designs.
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Last update of links and images on 2024-04-28.
