While not terribly original, the automatic Cimier Time Square Chronograph (refs. 5106-SS011 in steel and 5106-BP021 in black PVD) delivers a nice combination of sportiness and elegance that makes it versatile if you don’t plan to wear it to a pool party or on a hiking trip.
Speaking of originality, I must admit that the watch is still distinctive thanks to Cimier’s signature styling with a slightly recessed minute track and characteristic trapezoid hour markers. All in all, the Time Square bears some similarity with their earlier 2009 Retrograde collection.
Still, despite the similar size, the cases are not identical. While the aforementioned Retrograde model had its transparent case back cover secured with eight screws, this one features only four.
Being 42 millimeters wide (45 mm including crown,) the timepiece still takes a lot more space on a wrist than a normal circular-shaped timekeeper: it is geometry, right?
With its nicely integrated chronograph push-pieces and a well-shaped setting crown (I mean, it is good in terms of ergonomics, I hate its generic shape though: it looks like somebody just grabbed without even looking at the first part from a box full of crowns and attached it to the stem without thinking about how much it detracts from the model’s otherwise beautiful design), the case looks comfortable to wear and will possibly look and feel great on a normal (and larger) wrist.
Unlike many chronographs that tend to feature simple ebauches with chronograph add-on modules that make them more complicated and less convenient to repair, this one is equipped with a real ETA Valjoux 7750 caliber: a natural-born chronograph with a three-plane cam system that revolutionized the market back in the 1970s.
The choice of mechanisms increases the timekeeper’s value a great deal since it is a lot more dependable and robust than the aforementioned combination of something like an ETA 2824 plus add-on Chrono module riding atop it. The caliber also allowed to make the device a millimeter or so thinner than it could have been in the latter case thus making it more comfortable to wear with a shirt with tight cuffs.
Its organically sculpted body with almost no sharp angles and lots of smoothed, flowing lines, too, helps to make the Time Square a lot more pleasant on a wrist than a lot of other cushion-shaped models that use a more straightforward approach and thus look and feel a lot more cumbersome.
Since the movement’s modification is limited to the oscillating weight (well, it also features blued and polished screw heads), the watch features the same standard dial layout, which is as well-balanced and easily readable as extremely boring and even annoying.
I also don’t like the fact that the huge hour markers come without any lume, however, the hour and minute hands look broad enough for the patches of Superluminova on them to make the Time Square Chronograph easily readable even at night.
Judging by Cimier’s website, so far the Time Square collection is currently available in stainless steel (ref. 5106-SS011) and black PVD-treated (ref. 5106-BP021) bodies with either black or silver-toned dials.
WWR Verdict
Originality 3.5/5
Build Quality: 4/5
Usability: 4/5
Overall Legibility: 4/5
Nighttime Legibility: 4/5
Value for Money: 3.5/5
Overall Rating: 4/5
See also: IWC Ingenieur Racer Chronograph
Photos: Cimier
WWR verdict
Originality 4/5
Build quality: 4/5
Usability: 4/5
Legibility: 4.5/5
Value for money: 4/5
Cimier Time Square Chronograph (refs. 5106-BP021 & 5106-SS011) specification
Movement: Automatic, ETA Valjoux 7750, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 25
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Power reserve: 38 hours
Movement decoration: Decorated oscillating weight, blued screws
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph
Case: Stainless steel / Black PVD steel
Shape: Cushion
Dimensions: 42.00 mm x 45.00 mm
Dial: Black / Silvered
Hour markers: Rose gold / Rhodium-plated
Hands: Luminous, open-worked
Water resistance: 50 meters
Strap: Black or brown leather strap with deployant clasp
Crystal: Sapphire
Back: Transparent