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Case size

As I am sure many of you are I am watching the news of all the new watches coming from Basel this week. Now clearly this is not strictly relevant to this blog but there is something that is worth considering, a point I have discussed before that is the size of watch cases.

Airco Mach 1

Bremont’s new 40mm S300  and Aircos appeared to be a vindication of the idea of a trend towards smaller case sizes. The major Swiss brands then seemed to be following suit. The the 60th anniversary watches from Omega, the range between the 38.6mm Speedmaster to the 39mm Railmaster. Then there is the 38mm Zenith Heritage Chronomaster and then for me the surprise relaunch of the Rolex Sea Dweller at 44mm that blows my theory slightly of course

Omega 1957 Trilogy

I look forward to seeing how this trend, if it is a trend, develops.

 

Smaller Better ?

This is not a purely “`British watch brand” question, but it is one I have thought about and discussed a fare deal of late. Is there a move back towards smaller watch sizes ? Personally I have never been a fan of 45mm plus cases and feel some where between 36 ( for example older model Rolex Explorer) and 40mm is the perfect size. The newly relaunched British brand came to market with a great 38 mm range.

Here is a piece from Monochrome Watches discussing the relative merits of a smaller Omega Planet Ocean.

Enjoy https://monochrome-watches.com/smaller-is-better-case-study-with-the-39-5mm-omega-seamaster-planet-ocean-600m/

Marloe Watches

Another British hopeful has come to my attention, this time as a Kickstarter project, Marloe Watches. British designed – hand wound watches.

Find our more here

Their first watch is the Cherwell.

2302906

Cherwell is the first edition from Marloe Watch Co. Designed in Great Britain and inspired by the prestigious university city of Oxford, this timepiece is named after the River Cherwell which meanders through this City of Dreaming Spires.

Like all Marloe watches, the Cherwell is a hand-wound timepiece which is powered by a manual movement. It features a multi-layered sandwich dial and a double-domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.

  • 43.4mm diameter x 12mm high (lug tips to crystal zenith)
  • 20mm lug width, 48mm top to toe
  • Hand-Wound mechanical movement with 21,600bph
  • Power Reserve of over 50 Hours
  • Double-domed sapphire crystal with AR coating
  • Exhibition Case-Back with custom glass and perimeter engraving
  • Multi-layered dial
  • 3ATM

Roger Smith article in FT

I just picked up news of this article from twitter despite having read I thought quiet thoroughly this weekend’s FT. I’ll have another look later or maybe this was an on-line only piece.

Anyway here is a link to the piece

The Full Financial Times article

The most interesting part for me was that   Roger is continuing to invest considerable sums of money in new equipment, he’s not just plodding along making and selling a few very expensive watches.

Smiths De Luxe

front

Mechanism

I can finally hold my head up and say with all honesty that I have a British watch. Not the e-bay found military Smiths I post every once and a while but a Smiths De Luxe, which I believe is the Sir Edmund Hilary “Everest” watch. Much more original, and cheaper, than the obvious Rolex alternative. This watch also features a Dennison case, a brand due to be re-launched next month.

So far I am pleased with my find. I am also surprised, that despite having a 33mm case, it does not appear minute on my wrist.

I will keep you updated.