By TLex Emile Chouriet is a Swiss brand that you might not have come across before, reason being, that the Challenger Deep is the very first divers model to come from the Geneva based brand. In fact it is their first sports model, full stop.
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Since its foundation in 1685, when Emile Chouriet, a master watchmaker opened his workshop in Geneva, the manufacture has produced highly decorated enameled watches featuring intricate guilloche patterns, foils, pearls and golds of different colors. Combining Genevan watchmaking heritage and know-how to create a collection of elegantly styled timepieces, of which the Challenger Deep now belongs.
Whilst the brand name mightn’t have been familiar to you, the name, Challenger Deep probably was. Taken from the name of deepest known point in the ocean, some 10,916 meters down; in the world of horology the name Challenger Deep is one that has long been associated with Rolex.
On January 23rd 1960, it was a Rolex experimental watch, the DSS that famously descended into the abyss attached to the bathyscaphe, Trieste (manned by Swiss explorer, Jacques Piccard and US Navy Lieutenant Don Walsh) not an Emile Chouriet fine timepiece; however the Swiss manufacture have commemorated this incredible human endeavor by presenting its first ever dive watch, the Challenger Deep.
The Challenger Deep perfectly combines function and aesthetics with its 300 meter water-resistant, 42mm Stainless steel case featuring double wing-shaped horns underscoring the brand’s DNA and a rotational divers bezel that is available in either Stainless steel or with a black or blue ceramic inlay to give the watch that desirable sleek and contemporary look.
The use of luminescent material on the dial produces a green hue allowing for readability even in the dark depths of the ocean. Its sunburst-effect dial is available in black, blue, white or grey dial. Its hands and markers are with luminous material. Power comes from an EC9316 caliber, automatic mechanical movement. Functions include: hours, minutes, seconds and date aperture at 3 o’clock.
The watch comes on either a rubber divers strap or a solid Stainless steel bracelet with a divers folding clasp. Simple, handsome and elegant, somewhat generic but without being too derivative, the Challenger Deep should garner the Geneva manufacture a one or two new fans! What do you think?
By TLex This is the new Titanium Terra Nova from Bremont, as worn by renowned British polar explorer, Ben Saunders and his team mate Tarka L'Herpiniere, when they rewrote history with their world record-breaking Antarctic expedition in early 2014.
It was one of the most ambitious polar expeditions undertaken in a hundred years, marking the first time that Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s ill-fated Terra Nova expedition had ever been completed. The two men trekked a total of 4 months, covering 1,795 miles of Antarctica’s frozen landscape as they returned from Scott’s Terra Nova Hut on the north shore of Ross Island, the South Pole.
Walking an average of 17 miles a day in frigid temperatures as low as -46°C, Ben and Tarka hauled their own supplies by sled - a weight of almost 200kg - setting the world record for the longest polar journey on foot. Strapped to the outside of the jackets were their BREMONT Terra Nova watches.
Featuring a satin and polished Titanium case with a bi-directional rotating bezel with SuperLumiNova and 24hr scale, an inner soft iron anti-magnetic Faraday cage, a protective patented anti-shock movement mount, an automatic Helium escape valve and crown protector, the Terra Nova measures 43mm in diameter with a lug width of 22mm.
Its "Terra Nova', decorated caseback is in also Titanium. A domed anti-reflective, scratch resistant sapphire crystal protects a special black, metal dial with SuperLumiNova applied hands and numerals. It is water resistant to 50 ATM, 500 meters.
The Terra Nova is powered by a modified caliber 13 1/4” BE-93-2AE automatic, C.O.S.C tested and certified chronometer with 21 jewels, Glucydur balance, Anachron balance spring, Nivaflex 1 mainspring, 28,800 bph, 42-hours of power reserve and a Bremont molded and skeletonized decorated rotor. Its functions include: hours, minutes, seconds, date at 3 o'clock and 24hr GMT hand.
The watch comes on an integrated rubber divers strap with pin buckle and is also available with Titanium bracelet. The Terra Nova is a Limited Edition of 300 pieces
By TLex Longines pay tribute to the pioneering days of ocean exploration with their new Heritage Diver. The Heritage Diver is available in two versions: a chronograph, Ref. L2.796.4.52.9, featured here, and the other a three hands automatic.
The watches are re-issues of vintage models that were produced in the 1970s. They feature cushion-shaped Stainless steel cases with a sunburst brushed finishes. They have the same 43mm diameter as the original 70s models, but are now fitted with modern AR-coated Sapphire crystals.
Dive time is read by an inner bidirectional bezel that is operable via a crown at 10 o’clock and is indicated in red. Water-resistance is 300 meters. The caseback is engraved with an old school diver, recalling the first divers watches that were produced by Longines.
A black, satin-finished dial elegantly combines red highlights and details, recalling the character of the original divers models. Power comes from a Swiss made automatic, Longines L651.3 caliber (base ETA 2894-2) with 37 jewels, 28,800 vph and a power reserve of 42 hours.
The Heritage Diver Chronograph comes on a black synthetic strap with diving buckle or a rubber strap.
By TLex Longines pay tribute to the pioneering days of ocean exploration with their new Heritage Diver. The Heritage Diver is available in two versions: a three hands auto, Ref. L2.795.4.52.3, featured here, and the other a chronograph.
The watches are re-issues of vintage models that were produced in the 1970s. They feature cushion-shaped Stainless steel cases with a sunburst brushed finish. They have the same 43mm diameter as the original 70s models, but are now fitted with modern AR-coated Sapphire crystals.
Dive time is read by an inner bidirectional bezel that is operable via a crown at 2 o’clock and is indicated in red. Water-resistance is 300 meters. The caseback is engraved with an old school diver, recalling the first divers watches that were produced by Longines.
A black, satin-finished dial elegantly combines red highlights and details, recalling the character of the original divers models. Power comes from a Swiss made automatic, Longines L651.3 caliber L633.5 (base ETA 2824-2) with 25 jewels, 28,800 vph and a power reserve of 38 hours.
The Heritage Diver Automatic comes on a black synthetic strap with diving buckle or a rubber strap with steel folding clasp.
By TLex This one's a little fruity - in a good way ;) It's the C·F·V·M 1969 tribute to the 'Banana', designed for and by the forum members of CronoforVm and manufactured by your favorite Spanish boutique brand, Crepas Watches!
Anyone, who knows their from their apples from their oranges bananas, will have come across Omega's legendary Seamaster 200 AKA the Banana, named so after its famous yellow dial that was designed specifically for increased visibility, when diving.
This is a tribute to that watch, which in fact came in a number of different dial flavors that are also available from C·F·V·M. Although the watch is a forum watch, it is being offered to non-forum members. Remember their LAST collaboration with Crepas' t.a.c.t.i.c.o.? It caused a bit of a splash as I'm sure this will!
Here are the Banana's dimensions: the case has a diameter of 44mm, a thickness 13.2mm and a lug to lug measurement of 49mm. The distance between the lugs is 22mm. The crystal's diameter is 32mm with a thickness of 3mm. The step under the crystal is 175mm wide and the dial has a diameter of 285mm. The bezel measures 42.7mm with a 4.1mm insert.
As with all Crepas offerings, the Banana will be fabricated from the best materials. These include: a stainless steel case, crown, bezel and case back cover, Sapphire crystal and bezel insert, Tefzel I-ring for the crystal and a Viton O-ring for case back cover. The straps include a Nylon NATO and Tropic-style rubber divers.
Features of the watch include: Hour, minutes, seconds, date and day. A Swiss made ETA 2834-2 automatic movement, anti-magnetic shielding, a textured dial layer dial, 500 meters of water-resistance, a screwdown crown and caseback cover,
secured by by Allen screws, an AR-coated Sapphire, a 120-click type divers bezel with a 60 minute scale, dial markers and hands and first 20 mins of the dive-time scale with C1 and BGW9 Superluminova. All watches are tested and assembled in Switzerland.
The banana comes in special kit with: a waterproof case with custom cut foam, a rubber divers strap, a nylon NATO strap, a tool and extra spring bars and a warranty card and instruction booklet.
Follow the link HERE for more info.
By TLex It's a Deepsea, but not as you know it! This is the Bamford X Brutus X DRx collaboration Rolex S-D Deepsea, made as part of the highly successful Bamford Popeye series of watches.
It comes in this cute vintage-style toy box along with Brutus comic-strip.
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It's a complete bastardization of the Deepsea, but it might be a fun watch for parties, if you've got the kind of cash for such frivolities ;)
By TLex Here's a really nice little video of the Patravi ScubaTec by Carl. F. Bucherer.
You get to see all the cool details of the watch, such as its HEV, the crown guards and its lovely caseback design - very nice!
Follow the link to see the ScubaTec in 18K Rose GOLD . . .
By TLex We finally have a winner for the latest giveaway! Congratulations, Heryanto Ng from Sydney, Australia, who has won himself a fantastic L'ocean 1200M from Crepas.
Further congratulations are also in order to Pablo & Ana of Crepas Watches on the recent arrival of their new baby girl, Claudia! :)
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