7751

Baume & Mercier Classima Executives XL Chronograph Calendar Watch

Baume & Mercier offers up a Valjoux 7751 movement based watch so similar in theme to a similar offering by Longines, that the brand can never deny who its intended competitor is. By all accounts the new Baume & Mercier Classima Executives XL Chronograph Calendar watch is a nice looking watch, but it does not feel particularly special. Actually that sounds like most of the recent Baume & Mercier watches. I think they are too afraid to infringe upon their higher end relatives in the Richemont Group. A few years ago we saw a host of exciting looking Capeland, Riviera, and Hampton models coming out. Did that stream dry up?

In a 42mm steel case the watch style is classic with just a hint of personality. Baume & Mercier supplies the watch with a relatively attractive guilloche engraved finished dial. It feels like it is missing Roman numerals, but that would have made the dial too busy. Dark gray hands instead of the expected blued steel hands give the watch a Tuxedo look - while the red gold date hand and gold toned moon on the moon phase indicator add a suggestion of luxury. Sapphire crystal on the front and rear of the watch allow clear views, with a Baume & Mercier signed automatic rotor see in the back. The Valjoux 7751 automatic movement is related to the Valjoux 7750, but adds a host of features including an annual calendar, synchronized 24 hour hand, and moonphase indicator in addition to the time and 12 hour chronograph. While there is nothing wrong with the attractive watch, give the competition, anything above $3,000 would be too much to pay for a watch like this. Though I don't know the price of the watch yet.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 7751, Baume Mercier, BaumeMercier, calendar, chronograph, classima, executives, watch, xl

Limes Pharo Vollkalender Chronograph Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

I've previously mentioned that successful execution in design of a Valjoux 7751 movement based watch is tough. Here is an example of how to best utilize the movement, as seen in this Limes Pharo Vollkalender Chronograph watch. The German brand is pronounced "Lee-mehz," not like the citrus. The 40.5mm wide watch comes in a few variants (black and steel tone dials, with black or brown leather straps). Both the silver and black dial versions have a stately feel to them. The useful complications included in the automatic Valjoux 7751 movement are laid out in a logical manner. The list is actually quite long, and the movement represents a very good value for what you get. In addition to the time, the watch has a full calendar (day, date, and month), moon phase, 12 hour chronograph, and synchronized 24 hour hands. The dials are machine engraved with traditional decorations while the timepiece is very inviting in character.

In addition to the decorated watch dial, the movement is viewable through a sapphire caseback window and is decorated with perlage, Cotes de Geneve polished stripes, and blued steel screws. Water resistance of 50 meters is appropriate for the timepiece's genre. Many people seek the style that this Pharo Vollkalender Chronograh watch has, but aren't willing to pay the extremely high prices of Swiss watches such as Breguet. This watch retails for a more wallet responsible $4,280 (and you can even get it online at the Limes website). A quality brand that I've always know to be dedicated to making fine watches at reasonable prices.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: 7751, chronograph, german, limes, pharo, vollkalender, watch

Union Glashutte Averin Chronograph Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

I was stunned to see this interesting watch from German Union Glashutte. I've always liked the brand's classic watches with a bit of a functional edge, but I was not expecting something as creative as this. Aside from the cool design, I am impressed by the unique way that Union Glashutte laid out the information for the Valjoux 7751 automatic mechanical movement. The 7751 as always been of the odder 7750 derivative movements because of the large amount of complications it had, and the quirky way it presented the information. Owning a watch with just such a movement I can attest that it is impressive, but not for everyone (as some of the information is small when trying to read or laid out in a complex manner). The movement includes the time, a 12 hour chronograph, an annual calendar with the day, date, and month, a moon phase indicator, and a synchronized 24 hour hand. Kind of a lot right?

The problem with the movement layout has always been symmetry as the entire right side of the dial is often left over for the brand logo or something like that. Still, most watches with the movement in this normal orientation ended up looking a bit lop sided. What Union Glashutte did is take the peripheral date dial and place it all on the right side of the watch and replaced the basic date hand with a three pointed hand that functions like the seconds sub dial on most Daniel Roth watches. Very clever and yet totally quirky in a sort of old world sense. The dial looks visually interesting with a textured black dial against silver, while most of the hour markers are visible and applied to the face.

The Averin Chronograph's case is a perfect square at 42.5mm by 42.5mm in size, and looks good in my opinion. The dial is available in the pictured two-tone or an all black or all silver tone dial. There is also a brown or black strap available. Price for this impressive number is about $4,200 and should be available now. Distribution for Union Glashutte should be wide as it is part of the Swatch Group, but still lagging in the US.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Union Glashutte Averin Chronograph Watches