Beretta SO10 Kronos over-and-under shotgun: time reimagined by the art of gunmaking
Beretta and the Italian La Vallée luxury watch brand worked together to create a splendid one-off shotgun: a true work of art, in celebration of Beretta's 500 years
Beretta SO10 Kronos over-and-under shotgun: time reimagined by the art of gunmaking
Jointly announced on October 12 with great pride by Beretta and La Vallée – one of Italy's best known boutique manufacturer of luxury watches, a family-owned and operated business for three generations – the Beretta SO12 Kronos over-and-under shotgun is yet another entry in the long and fantastic series of one-off creations introduced this year to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the foundation of Beretta, the world's oldest gunmaker.
A masterpiece of mechanical engineering, the SO10 Kronos celebrates the passage of time by bringing the artistry of haute horlogerie into the heart of Beretta's most exclusive shotgun.
The esult of years of co-development between La Vallée and Beretta, this one-of-a-kind creation features unprecedented side plates with sapphire crystal openings that reveal the intricate inner workings of the SO10 action, re-engineered with a newly developed opening system and elevated by refined watchmaking-inspired finishes.
To achieve the extraordinary level of refinement of SO10 Kronos without compromising structural integrity, each side plate was reimagined as a single monobloc element, meticulously machined from solid high-strength alloy steel.
At its heart, a gold trilobe spring secures the mechanism’s pins in place, replacing conventional screws with an elastic retaining solution inspired by principles used in precision mechanical watchmaking, capable of withstanding even the most severe shocks.
Beretta SO10 Kronos over-and-under shotgun – right side
Carlo Gussalli Beretta, PB Selection Business Development Manager of Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta S.p.A., says:
Gunmaking and watchmaking art share many common elements – the craftsmanship, the mechanical precision, the zero-tolerance approach in every detail, and the strive for innovation even in the smallest component.
Among the one-off creations celebrating Beretta’s 500th anniversary, SO10 Kronos stands as the most emblematic piece. Not only for its rarity, but for its meaning: time, the true protagonist of this milestone.
Beretta SO10 Kronos over-and-under shotgun – left side
Massimiliano Quintavalle, CEO of La Vallée, explains the purpose of this project:
SO10 Kronos brings together two distinct family-owned Italian traditions that share a common spirit of innovation and an uncompromising respect for craftsmanship.
The SO10 Kronos project originated from a shared desire to explore what could be achieved when highly specialized mechanical disciplines are brought together around a single exceptional object.
Horology is an art of mechanical thinking. It is an ongoing discovery of how components interact, how structures can be conceived differently, and how engineering and craftsmanship can transform the experience of an object.
SO10 Kronos provided an opportunity to apply that thinking in a new context. The result is a singular creation in which each craft remains recognizable while contributing to a common expression of Italian mechanical culture.
A newly conceived opening mechanism allows both side plates to open effortlessly with a simple twist of the curved safety catch integrated into the crystal, providing an unobstructed view of the meticulously finished components.
The architecture of the side plates was conceived to integrate a shaped sapphire crystal, unveiling the intricate beauty of the action beneath while maintaining the structural characteristics required by the firearm. The sapphire crystal itself is secured through an innovative mounting system inspired by the traditional gold inlay techniques of fine gunmaking.
A dedicated groove was machined around the sapphire recess. Gold is then hand-hammered into the groove and acts as a semi-rigid retaining interface, securing the sapphire while allowing the assembly to accommodate the mechanical stresses generated during operation.
Luciano Sasso, Head of R&D at La Vallée, shares the approach that brought the project to life:
For La Vallée, the project became an opportunity to apply the same principles that govern horological creations: questioning established solutions, engineering every component with purpose, and pursuing an uncompromising level of execution down to the smallest detail.
However, the significance of SO10 Kronos lies not only in the individual technical solutions. The finishing was approached with the same attention given to the mechanisms of La Vallée's own creations.
Edges were defined by hand, surfaces individually prepared and transitions between different finishes meticulously controlled achieving an exceptional level of execution.
Every surface is adorned with authentic horological finishes, from Geneva stripes to polished bevels, from gold-plated sleeve bearings to delicate straight and radial graining, reflecting the meticulous refinement reserved for the finest timepieces.
While reimagined as a masterpiece of mechanical art, the SO10 Kronos remains rooted in the uncompromising engineering that defines every SO10.
Beneath its refined aesthetics lies a vault-strong architecture designed to withstand the test of time and be passed down from one generation to the next.
Its machined receiver, free of castings or welds, a rear longitudinal locking bolt aligned with the hinge pins, two additional locking lugs in the lower receiver, and the renowned trapezoidal barrel locking shoulders work together to deliver the exceptional strength, durability, and longevity that have become hallmarks of the SO10 tradition.
To balance the visual impact of the remarkable open-worked mechanism, the receiver of the SO10 Kronos is adorned with a refined English-style gold-inlaid border engraving that frames the action with timeless elegance and proportion.
Roberto Savassi, Over and Under Design Manager for Beretta, explains:
If you want to open a glass window on a shotgun, the SO10 is the one: it is an engineering masterpiece itself. But the SO10 mechanism is also the most complex to approach, realize and revise from both an engineering and a manufacturing standpoint.
The millimetric precision needed to create a perfectly functioning shooting mechanism on the detachable sideplates creates a fragile balance when you need to redesign the components with something completely new.
We worked closely with La Vallée to transfer some of the technical features and finishing of their timepieces to Beretta SO10, daring also to introduce, for example, completely new lever geometries for disassembly. And I have to say, this passed all Beretta most difficult tests.
Discreet yet meaningful details elevate the design throughout, from the gold-inlaid 500 Years emblem on the bottom of the receiver to the intricate scroll engravings adorning the locking shoulders, top lever, and safety catch.
Faithful to the Beretta SO10 tradition, the shotgun features Grade 5 walnut stock, enhanced by eighty meticulously hand-applied coats of Tru-Oil to achieve extraordinary depth, luminosity, and tactile richness.
Completing the masterpiece is a bespoke black leather case inspired by the same open-worked philosophy.
At its center, a transparent glass panel reveals the shotgun even when the case is closed, transforming it into a display piece.
Inside, a classic French-fitted layout in black microfiber, enriched with refined details and elegant accessories, enhances the overall sense of exclusivity while naturally drawing attention to the shotgun’s extraordinary side plates. For all additional information, visit the official Beretta website.
