2012-08-31
2012-08-30
deLaCour PROMESS Reef Saver DIVER
By TLex INTRODUCING the new deLaCour Promess Reef Saver Diver. Sorry if that was a bit of a mouthful! My apologies, too for the piddly images and the somewhat sketchy technical info, deLaCour aren't too forthcoming in that department, but we did manage to get a cool VIDEO of the Promess Reef Saver in action with Pierre Frolla and Prince Albert of Monaco for 'Peace & Sport' and the 69th F1 Grand Prix de Monaco.
The Reef Saver, which we saw a PROTOTYPE of last year has a large Titanium PVD case with a Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating. It has a water-resistance of 500m and measures 48.5mm in diameter - although its dimensions are actually listed as 50 x 55.5 x 12.5mm in its technical data, maybe that's inc. crown. If you watch the vid later, you'll see for yourself that it looks humungous on P.F's wrist, so it could be the latter.
The watch actually has two bezels; an outer with lots of tiny circular depressions on its face and some nicely pronounced grip on the sides that is not talked about in its technical data, and an internal rotational divers bezel for measuring dive-time. This bezel is operable via the large crown at 2 o'clock. I'm not sure what the external bezel does or even if it moves, but apparently it's 18K Rose Gold (an option possibly).
The watch is powered by a Swiss made deLaCour Cal. DC261 (ETA 2892-A2 base) with 21 jewels, 28,800 vph and a power reserve of 40hrs. It is presented on a rubber divers starp with a PVD Titanium buckle. It is a Limited Edition of 88 pieces. I don't think it's going to win many beauty awards, but it is certainly evocative of a diving instrument and in that respect is pretty cool!
Check out the cute little interactive diver graphic on the deLaCour website.
ALPINA Extreme DIVER Midsize QUARTZ
By TLex Here's the Quartz Midsize version of ALPINA's new Extreme DIVER. Its Stainless steel case measures just 38mm and is fitted with a Sapphire crystal. It has a water-resistance of 300 meters.
One of the features peculiar to Quartz midsize is that it has a two-tier dial, which is available in either matte black or white MOP (mother of pearl) with diamonds. The other is that it has a solid steel caseback with an a luring engraving of a pair Alpina branded scuba tanks with a tropical backdrop of the sea and a palm tree.
As its name suggests it has a Quartz movement, the Swiss made caliber AL-240 with 1 jewel and a battery life of 45 months. The watches available with either a Stainless steel bracelet or a rubber divers strap in black or white.
2012-08-29
CHRIS BENZ Deep 2000M superBUBBLE
By TLex CHRIS BENZ release their biggest, deepest and highest spec.'d diver to date. The new 2000M is offered as two models, the 2000M Automatic and the 2000M Automatic GMT, with a total of 12 variations between them. It boasts a number of great new diving features - previously unseen on any other CB models.
However it isn't its 2000m of water-resistance, its HEV or even its Chris Benz-developed Safety-Lighting-System (not sure what that is anyway) that impresses me most about this diver, but its use of what Chris Benz call a 'Superbubble', an incredibly attractive highly domed Sapphire crystal of the type that we have started to see used by companies such as Azimuth and Armida for their divers. I hope we can see more!
I should note that the 'Supperbubble' crystal, nice as it is - is only an option; standard flat sapphire crystals are also available. The watches are constructed from solid Marine grade Stainless steel. They have screw-down crowns and casebacks. The casebacks are engraved with serial numbers. They are fitted with uni-directional rotational divers bezels and measure 45mm in diameter.
Both watches are powered by Swiss mechanical automatic movements with 'CHRIS BENZ Tuning' and date function. Their dials feature 'CHRIS BENZ Safety-Lighting System', which consists of highly luminescent hour markers and hands. They are presented on either a high-quality durable rubber strap with printed decompression chart or a marine-grade Stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp and engraved safety lock.
Admittedly the watches do look quite generic, but the 'Superbubble' crystal is fantastic, and the orange handset works a treat with the blue hour markers. It's nice to see CB elevating their range a little too. Perhaps this model will help them garner a few new admirers.
The 2000M watches will be delivered in a new CB waterproof boxes. The DEEP 2000M Automatic with rubber strap in black or orange is available from EUR 1230 up to EUR 1590. The DEEP 2000M Automatic GMT is available from EUR 1370 up to EUR 1730.
DISCOVER the CHRIS BENZ Deep 1000M Auto SSI-EDITION
2012-08-28
WENGER Seaforce 2ndLook
By TLex Not simply known for being the other company that makes Swiss Army knives (Victorinox, who acquired Wenger in 2005 are the company), Wenger are also known for their no-frills, reasonably priced, good-old-fashioned Swiss sports watches. And when I say Swiss they really are Swiss, they've got the flag to prove it, too!
Wenger's latest diver, the SEAFORCE, which we took an all too brief look at back in February incorporates all of the features that one would expect to find in a high quality Swiss Made dive watch:
A 43mm marine-grade Stainless steel case with 200 meters of water-resistance, a screw-down crown and caseback, a uni-directional rotational divers bezel for measuring elapsed dive-time, a scratch-proof Sapphire crystal for increased visibility, and luminous hands, numerals and markers for increased legibility, when reading the time.
I only showed you one color (blue) last time, but there are three other basic colors; black, ornage and yellow as well as pink for the ladies. The color used for the chapter-ring and bezel markings are echoed in the stitching of the Seaforce's silicone rubber strap. And if you want to elevate the watch somewhat, a stainless steel bracelet with a divers buckle and safety clasp is also available for both ladies and gents models. Prices range from 295- 375USD.
I'm not sure if it would be a compliment or an insult to call the Seaforce poor man's Superocean, but it does have that look about it. Regardless, it's a great entry level Swiss diver, which Wenger seem do well. And I must admit I really quite like it - it's the sort of watch I wish I'd had as a boy.
View the entire Wenger [SEAFORCE] collection.
2012-08-27
2012-08-25
CHR. WARD C11 Makaira PRO 500
By TLex Here's a new 500meter internal bezel diver from Christopher Ward, who have recently re-branded themselves CHR. WARD. The watch, named Makaira after the genus Marlin looks nice and solid. I really like those crowns and the case back. We like fishies!
The dial is quite reminiscent of the B&R BR02. It is available in three colors: blue, orange or white. The is powered by a Swiss made automatic, the Sellita SW200-1 caliber.
Features include: a 42mm marine grade 316L Stainless steel case with internal divers bezel, a self-winding Swiss automatic movement with date calendar, a screw-in back plate with deep-etched engraving, an anti-reflective museum grade sapphire (not sure what museum grade is), an adjustable 22mm rubber divers strap. luminous hands and indexes and a water-resistance of 500 meters. Its MSRP is 499GBP
From CW The name Makaira has its origins in the Greek word for sword
and it is no surprise, therefore, that it is also the genus for several
types of Marlin, including the Atlantic Blue, Black and Indo-Pacific
Blue.
It is also no surprise either, therefore, that CWs newest dive
watch takes the name of some of the strongest, fastest fish in the
oceans as the C11 Makaira Pro 500 is a very, very special watch.
From the superbly constructed satin brushed case to the precise and reliable Sellita automatic movement it protects, to the beautifully engineered internal countdown bezel, the Makaira simply exudes the sort of quality a professional diver would expect from a timepiece on which his life could depend.
Most of us will never put the 735 pounds of force per square inch capability of the Makaira to the test - but the fact that it is capable of resisting such pressure should we find ourselves 500 metres below the surface (heaven forbid) provides a certain reassurance if you forget to remove your watch in the shower!
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