Swiss Army Chronograph 242051 black PVD and a red-lined rubber strap

What is new about the Swiss Army Chronograph?

The Swiss Army collection is the successor to FieldForce, the 42 mm quartz sports watch Victorinox sold from 2019. Victorinox Japan's press release, dated 14 April 2025, set a launch of 25 April 2025 and listed three styles: quartz, chronograph and automatic. The chronograph came in six versions, all designed, built and tested at the brand's watch site in Delémont. Publimetro in Mexico reported the same switch from FieldForce on 10 April 2025.

This first look covers reference 242051, the black version on rubber. Victorinox UK lists it with a black case and bezel, a matt black dial and a black rubber strap that the brand says carries a vibrant colour accent. In the brand's own images that accent is red: the underside and edges of the strap, plus red tips on the chronograph seconds hand and the sub-dial hands. The dial also carries the word Antimagnetic, which ties in with the ISO-certified magnetic resistance Victorinox Japan lists for the quartz models.

The other changes over FieldForce are practical. The press release lists ISO-certified shock resistance across the range, applied numerals with Super-LumiNova on the hands and markers, and quick-release straps on every model, so the rubber can come off for leather or mesh without tools.

How big is it, and how will it wear?

Victorinox UK gives a 42 mm diameter, a 12 mm height, a 21 mm lug width and a weight of 114 g on the rubber strap. That is a mid-sized sports chronograph rather than a compact one. The black finish usually makes a case look a little smaller on the wrist than polished steel, and 114 g is light for a steel chronograph of this diameter.

Victorinox does not publish a lug-to-lug length for the chronograph, so check the case against your wrist before buying if you are between sizes. The fixed bezel carries a tachymetre scale on a matte aluminium insert, which takes up some of the visual width and leaves the dial a little smaller than the case figure suggests.

What movement does it use, and how accurate is it?

Inside is the Swiss-made Ronda 5030.D, a quartz chronograph calibre. Victorinox Japan lists a 60-second, 30-minute and 12-hour chronograph, and Victorinox UK describes the three sub-dials as being for split timing. There is a date window at six o'clock.

As a quartz watch it should keep far closer time than any mechanical chronograph at this price, and it needs no regular servicing beyond battery changes and seal checks. Teddy Baldassarre's listing quotes a battery life of 54 months. Victorinox does not publish a monthly accuracy figure, so we have not given one.

How well is it built?

The specification is strong for a quartz sports watch. Victorinox Japan lists a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, a 316L stainless steel case with black PVD on the dark versions, ISO-certified shock and magnetic resistance and 100 m of water resistance. Victorinox UK adds a screw-in caseback, a brushed case finish and luminous hands. The case is made in Switzerland, and the watch is covered by Victorinox's five-year warranty.

The strap closes with a regular steel buckle rather than a folding clasp. That suits rubber, which is usually adjusted by holes anyway, and the quick-release bars mean a spare strap is an easy swap.

Is it good value against its rivals?

At £745, the 242051 sits at the top of its own range. Victorinox UK lists the steel chronograph on black rubber (242050) at £695, the steel version on a mesh bracelet (242048) at £695 and a steel version on brown leather (242046) at £645. You are paying £50 over the steel rubber model for the black PVD finish and red accents.

Against other brands, Seiko's Prospex Speedtimer SSC943 solar chronograph has an RRP of £640, and charges itself from light rather than using a battery. Tissot's PR100 Chronograph 40 mm on a bracelet has an RRP of £355, for a smaller, dressier quartz chronograph with sapphire. The Victorinox costs more than both, but adds ISO shock and magnetic certification, a tachymetre bezel and a five-year warranty.

What is the catch?

The price is the main one. £745 is a lot for a quartz chronograph, and the steel 242050 gives you the same movement, case and spec for £695. Black PVD can also show scratches as bright steel lines over time, which a brushed steel case hides better.

The 42 mm size and 12 mm height will not suit small wrists, and the fixed tachymetre bezel is only useful if you time speed over a known distance. The collection is also new enough that there is little owner feedback yet, so long-term durability of the coating and strap is still unknown.

“A tough Swiss quartz chrono with a tachymetre bezel, a sapphire crystal and a £50 premium for going dark.”