Resurrecting Classic Calendar Watches with the Arcange Selenograph CM02 Ice Blue
Vincent DeschampsThanks to the vast and dynamic world of microbrands, we have access to all popular watch styles and some we haven’t seen in a long time. The Arcange Selenograph CM02 Ice Blue, for example, gives us the experience of old-school dress watches equipped with multiple complications, a lovely link to the past when these were practical and essential before our lives became surrounded by technology. Much rarer now, this type of watch can make sense to many of us, especially when it comes with a price tag far below the stress-inducing US $1,000 mark, as is the case with this new collection.
If you’re not familiar with it, Arcange is a relatively new French microbrand, and the Selenograph is its second collection. The brand’s growing catalogue is anchored in vintage and classic-inspired everyday timepieces built with modern technology. The Selenograph is a complete watch endowed with great proportions, a solid movement, particularly good finishing at this price point, and a 1950s charm rarely seen nowadays from this segment of the watch market.
The case
The Arcange’s case design is rooted in post-World War II aesthetics, when small details and tweaks to designs really mattered. For example, drop lugs which curve out, a narrow concave polished bezel, and a tall crystal taking up a large proportion of the watch’s height, in return making a thin mid-case appear even thinner for a slender on-wrist experience.
Clocking in at 38.5mm in diameter, 45.5mm lug-to-lug, and 11.50mm thick, the Arcange Selenograph has the wrist presence of a modern watch, as well as that of an ultra classic timepiece, given the pronounced roundness of its case, coming from the narrow profile of the previously mentioned drop-shaped lugs, semi-recessed push/pull crown, and double-domed sapphire box crystal complemented by five layers of inner anti-reflective coating. It therefore wears wide but ultimately flat on the wrist, further cementing its timeless appearance.
The dial
In all the years I’ve been reviewing microbrand watches of all genres, none come as close to being as “classic” as the Selenograph does. Since we’re dealing with a triple-calendar timepiece, we find two framed apertures above the pinion displaying two of the watch’s complications: the day of the week on the left and the month of the year on the right, both printed in black ink on white discs to ensure superlative legibility. These apertures are surrounded by a micro-blasted CNC-machined wave-like pattern reminiscent of classic guilloché techniques, reinforcing the elegant nature of the Selenograh’s dial.
To strengthen the old school elegance of the Arcange, we find a crescent-shaped moon phase aperture above the six o’clock marker, displaying the actual 29.5-day cycles of the moon, a nice surprise (again, at this price point). The hours are indicated by fully polished applied markers, composed of Arabic numerals at the cardinal points and sharp teeth-shaped elongated elements everywhere else, complemented by a set of finely polished leaf hands. To complete the functionality of the Selenograph, there is a pointer date complication that points to a silver printed scale on a dark blue ring at the periphery of the dial.
The strap
This might not come as a surprise at all, but Arcange iced the cake of the Selenograph by pairing this new collection with an embossed veal leather strap equipped with quick-release spring-bars and a CNC-machined buckle displaying a fine alternation of brushed and polished surfaces. Pretty much the perfect combo right out of the box for such a vintage-inspired and classically styled timepiece.
The movement
Even though the caliber beating inside the Arcange Selenograph cannot be seen, and we are instead presented with a rather charming dual-finished screw-down case-back, it is quite something: the brand started from the ever popular Miyota 9015 movement beating at 4Hz and comes with 42 hours of power reserve, a bespoke module has been added on top providing the triple calendar plus a moon phase plus a pointer date. This is a lot of good horological technology to have inside a case that measures a reasonable 11.50mm in thickness.
The verdict
It generally is pretty easy to formulate a conclusion when reviewing one of the many popular types of watches microbrands tend to release: diver, pilot, field, or GMT, which we can compare to many others at the same price point. However, elegant, multi-complication everyday watches are much rarer and thus more interesting to discuss. From a value standpoint, the Arcange Selenograph makes a whole lot of sense: it will set you back €571/US$670 USD/AU$940 when it launches on Kickstarter. From a stylistic point of view, the Selenograph is infused with 1950s horological elegance, something we rarely see nowadays on the market. It is therefore an excellent value-proposition and a darn good-looking watch, subjectively speaking.
Arcange Selenograph pricing and availability
This new collection from the French brand comes in five dial versions—Classic (cream), Ice Blue, Eclipse (black), Syros Blue (dark blue), and Salmon—all launching on Kickstarter on May 29, 2026 and available to pre-order through June 6, 2026. Price: €571/US$670/AU$940 discounted on Kickstarter and €845/US$922/AU$1,294 full retail afterwards.
| Brand | Arcange |
| Model | Selenograph |
| Case Dimensions | 38.5mm (D) x 11.5mm (T) x 45.5mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 50 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Dial | Classic, Ice Blue, Syros Blue, Eclipse, Salmon |
| Strap | Embossed veal leather strap |
| Movement | Miyota 9015, custom module, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 42 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, day, date, month, moon phase |
| Availability | Pre-order |
| Price | €571/US$670/AU$940 |
Made in partnership with Arcange. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial policy.