Gardone Val Trompia, October 2026 – Beretta and the Italian timepiece maker La Vallée proudly unveil the SO10 Kronos, one of the most groundbreaking one-off creations conceived to celebrate Beretta’s 500th anniversary.
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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 result 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 SO10 action’s intricate inner workings, re-engineered with a newly developed opening system and elevated by refined, watchmaking-inspired finishes.
Carlo Gussalli Beretta, PB Selection Business Development Manager of Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta S.p.A., has declared: “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.”.
Massimiliano Quintavalle, CEO of La Vallée, explains the purpose behind SO10 Kronos:
“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 began from a shared desire to explore what could be achieved when highly specialized mechanical disciplines converge on 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.”
To achieve SO10 Kronos’s extraordinary level of refinement 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, replacing conventional screws with an elastic retaining solution inspired by precision watchmaking and capable of withstanding even the most severe shocks. 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 side-plate architecture was designed to integrate a shaped sapphire crystal, revealing the intricate beauty of the action beneath while maintaining the structural requirements of the firearm. An innovative mounting system, inspired by traditional gold inlay techniques in fine gunmaking, secures the sapphire crystal. A dedicated groove was machined around the sapphire recess. Gold is then hand-hammered into the groove, acting as a semi-rigid retaining interface that secures 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, SO10 Kronos’s significance lies not only in its individual technical solutions. The finishing received the same attention as the mechanisms of La Vallée’s own horological creations. Hand-defined edges, individually prepared surfaces, and meticulously controlled transitions between finishes achieve 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.
Roberto Savassi, Over and Under Design Manager for Beretta, explained: “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 their timepieces’ technical features and finishing to the Beretta SO10, and we also dared to introduce, for example, completely new lever geometries for disassembly. And I have to say, this passed all Beretta most difficult tests.”
To balance the visual impact of the remarkable open-worked mechanism, the SO10 Kronos receiver features a refined English-style gold-inlaid border engraving that frames the action with timeless elegance and proportion. 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 80 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.
Founded in 1526 in Gardone Val Trompia (Italy) by the Beretta Family, who have now been leading the company for 15 generations, Fabbrica d’Armi Pietro Beretta S.p.A. is an international manufacturer of commercial firearms, military weapons, and products designed for outdoor sports such as hunting, competition, and tactical shooting. Beretta operates worldwide to support lovers, defense, and law enforcement officers, providing them with a complete ecosystem (firearms, clothing, accessories, and services) and featuring the most modern technologies, assembly lines, quality control, and local highly qualified workers, who hand down the Italian tradition of gunsmithing since the Renaissance. Together, these elements create an irreplaceable asset that delivers the accuracy and quality that made Beretta a world-renowned brand.
With more than 50 global subsidiaries, Beretta Holding Group is a world-renowned leader with a distinguished reputation in hunting, sports shooting, and defense & law enforcement, thanks to its wide selection of premium products.
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