Swiss watch brand
Angelus: history, models and value
Angelus is a historic chronograph and clock maker from Le Locle that closed around 1980 and was revived in 2015 as a high-end brand within the Citizen group. Vintage and modern Angelus are two very different worlds.
- Founded
- 1891
- Founder(s)
- Albert and Gustave Stolz
- Headquarters
- La Chaux-de-Fonds
- Owner / group
- Revived brand, owned by La Joux-Perret (Citizen Watch Co.)
Angelus: origins and founding
Angelus goes back to a workshop that the brothers Albert and Gustave Stolz set up in Le Locle in 1891. They formed the partnership Stolz Frères in 1899 and registered the Angelus trademark in 1902. In the early years the company specialized in complicated pocket watches, especially repeaters and chiming watches.
Founders and family
The Stolz brothers had learned their trade under Henri Sandoz of the Tavannes Watch Company, according to WatchTime. The Stolz family led Angelus for decades; the company became a public limited company (SA) in 1940.
Angelus history and milestones
- Around 1915: after demand for chiming watches fell, Angelus turned to chronograph and alarm pocket watches.
- 1920: a clock department opens. Travel and table clocks become a second pillar of the business.
- 1930s: wristwatch chronographs, including models with telemeter scales.
- 1942: the Chronodate, renamed Chronodato in 1943, one of the first serially produced chronograph wristwatches with a calendar.
- 1948: the Chrono Dato Luxe adds day display and moon phase.
- 1970s: the company focuses mainly on clocks as the watch industry declines.
- 1979–1980: the brand is transferred to another company, and the original Angelus firm is declared bankrupt in March 1980.
- 1990s and 2000s: short-lived attempts to use the name again.
- 2015: La Joux-Perret, the movement maker in La Chaux-de-Fonds that belongs to Citizen, relaunches Angelus with the U10 Tourbillon Lumière.
Famous Angelus models
- Chronodato: the vintage chronograph with full calendar, the model collectors know best.
- Chrono Dato Luxe: chronograph with calendar, day and moon phase.
- Vintage two-register chronographs with telemeter or tachymeter scales.
- Travel and table clocks: many Angelus clocks with eight-day movements survive in households today.
- Modern models: the U10 Tourbillon Lumière, the Chronodate, the Instrument de Vitesse and the 2025 Chronographe Télémètre and its 2026 Tachymètre version.
Movements and technique
The historical Angelus made its own chronograph and calendar movements, as well as clock movements. The modern brand uses movements from its owner La Joux-Perret. Examples are the hand-wound A100 in the U10 Tourbillon Lumière, with a 90-hour power reserve, and the A5000 monopusher chronograph calibre in recent chronographs.
Angelus today
Today Angelus is part of La Joux-Perret in La Chaux-de-Fonds, which belongs to the Japanese Citizen group. Together with Arnold & Son it sits at the top of Citizen's watch portfolio. Production is small and limited, and prices are in the luxury segment.
Angelus prices on the pre-owned market
For vintage Angelus, chronographs are what collectors want. Chronodato and Chrono Dato Luxe models with original dials, crisp case edges and working calendar functions are the most sought after. Gold cases add metal value. Redialed or heavily polished pieces sell for much less. Simple time-only watches and pocket watches without complications are more modest. Angelus travel clocks are common and usually sell at moderate prices; condition and working order decide most of the value.
Modern Angelus watches are rare on the pre-owned market because editions are small. Box, papers and limited-edition numbers matter.
How to recognise a genuine Angelus
- On vintage chronographs, open the caseback: the movement should be an Angelus chronograph calibre that matches the dial layout.
- Watch for redialed pieces: misaligned printing, wrong fonts or fresh-looking dials on old cases are warning signs.
- Check that pushers, hands and crown are period-correct; replacement parts are common.
- Modern Angelus pieces come with papers from La Joux-Perret and a limited-edition number on the case.
More tips are in our guide how to spot a fake watch.
What is your Angelus worth?
Whether you have a vintage Chronodato, an old travel clock or a modern piece, you can upload photos for a free watch value estimate. If you need a signed valuation for an estate or insurance, order a watch appraisal.
Frequently asked questions
Is Angelus still in business?
Yes, as a revived brand. The original company went bankrupt in 1980; since 2015 Angelus is made by La Joux-Perret in La Chaux-de-Fonds, part of the Citizen group.
What is an Angelus Chronodato?
The Chronodato, launched in 1942, is a chronograph wristwatch with a calendar and one of the first of its kind made in series. It is the vintage Angelus model collectors look for most.
Are Angelus travel clocks valuable?
Angelus made many travel and table clocks, so they are fairly common. Clocks in good working order with original cases sell best, but most are moderately priced.
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