Singer Reimagined’s story has always been rooted in the idea that familiar and influential mechanical objects can be restored, rethought and brought into the present while preserving their original beauty. With the new Heritage V72, that philosophy now extends to one of the great manual-winding chronograph movements: the Valjoux 72.

Singer Reimagined’s Heritage V72

First, here’s a very brief history of Singer Reimagined and its “restomod” philosophy. Rob Dickinson, founder of Singer Vehicle Design, studied automotive at Coventry University and briefly worked at Lotus before taking a sharp turn into music as the singer and guitarist of acclaimed British rock band Catherine Wheel. Years after the band split, while living in Los Angeles, he began creating his ideal air-cooled Porsche 911 from a Bahama Yellow 1969 911E.

Rob Dickinson’s 1969 Porsche 911E (Credit: Ted7 Photography)

This 911E became the starting point for Singer Vehicle Design, who built a huge reputation by restoring and reimagining the 911 with modern engineering while preserving the qualities that made the original so iconic and compelling.

This philosophy entered horology when Dickinson met Italian watch designer Marco Borraccino in 2015. Singer Reimagined made its debut two years later with the Track 1, whose AgenGraphe movement by Jean-Marc Wiederrecht and Agenhor placed the chronograph seconds, minutes and hours at the center of the dial. It was a completely new caliber and a radical change from the typical 1960s and 70s racing chronographs, yet still informed by the spirit of that era. It was a perfect expression of Singer’s “Reimagined” pillar.

Restoration of Valjoux 72 movements at the Singer Reimagined atelier

Enter 2025, when Singer Reimaged introduced the Heritage Collection, approaching the same philosophy to watchmaking but from another direction. Now representing the brand’s “Restored” pillar, the collection began with vintage Valjoux 236 movements, carefully restored, refinished and rehoused in the Heritage V23. The new Heritage V72 continues this approach with the Valjoux 72, one of the most storied and iconic chronograph calibers of all time.

Valjoux 236 and Valjoux 72 Chrongraph Calibers

The Valjoux 72 Chronograph

While the two-register Valjoux 236 operates at a chronometrically superior and smoother 21,600vph, and represents a more technically evolved caliber, it lacks some of the romance of the slower-beating Valjoux 72. Operating at 18,000vph, the latter adds a 12-hour recorder to create the classic three-register layout and essentially powered some of the twentieth century’s most celebrated racing chronographs. The Valjoux 72 just carries a different kind of love and nostalgia, rooted in endurance racing, pit boards and an era of mechanically measured speed.

For the Heritage V72, Singer uses NOS (new old stock) Valjoux 72 movements, preserved and unused for almost half a century. Each set is meticulously assessed before being re-finished with frosted bridges, hand-polished chamfers, and rhodium-plated components. A blue ALD-treated chronograph switching components also adds a discreet contemporary signature, together with a “Restored by Singer” engraved on the chronograph bridge. The caliber is also displayed through a newly designed glass-box caseback, giving a fuller panoramic look of the mechanism across different viewing angles.

The Heritage V72 also retains the collection’s 38.8mm case size, although with a greater 13.25mm thickness than the Valjoux 236 models. The dial carries three azurage subdials, joined by Singer signature design cues including the toothed golden flange, faceted applied markers, orange Super-LumiNova and an orange central chronograph seconds hand with the brand’s golden cabochon at the very center.

“Restored by Singer” engraving visible on the chronograph bridge

The Heritage V72 is available in several dial-and-case configurations. Reference SR621 features a stainless steel case, while reference SR620-1 is housed in 18-carat yellow gold. Either case can be paired with a velvety matte stone-grey dial with oyster-coloured counters or a black dial with champagne counters. A choice of black-grained leather or grey textile straps is also available, each fitted with a pin buckle matching the case material.

Tech Specs

Movement Restored new-old-stock Valjoux 72, manual-winding column-wheel chronograph with horizontal clutch; 18,000vph; approximately 48 hours of power-reserve
Functions Hours, minutes and small seconds; central chronograph seconds; 30-minute and 12-hour counters
Case Stainless steel, ref. SR621, or 18ct yellow gold, ref. SR620-1; 38.8mm × 13.25mm; glass-box sapphire crystal and sapphire crystal caseback
Dial Velvety matte stone-grey with oyster-coloured counters or black with champagne counters; three azuraged subdials; applied faceted markers and orange Super-LumiNova
Strap Black-grained leather or grey textile strap with pin buckle matching the case material
Price CHF 23,000 in stainless steel; CHF 45,000 in yellow gold, excluding taxes
Availability Production limited by the finite supply of suitable Valjoux 72 components