Archives A Timely Perspective

Every once in a while a well-priced watch catches our eye. Such is the case with the Italian designed and made Officina Del Tempo brand. This company creates a host of powerful and alluring timepieces, especially with its bold new Power Chrono Special Edition.  Lovingly referred to in-house as the Military Power, this techno-sport series features four models – each sporting a different color dial.

 The key watch features a khaki-colored dial realized on two levels, with bold black numerals at 12:00 and 6:00, interspersed with stick markers – all in SuperLuminova for easy readability. The chronograph functions are cleanly placed in the center of the dial in two open subdials, with a center seconds hand tipped in red.  The 49mm case is crafted in black PVD stainless steel with a black PVD bezel. The watch is fitted with a gel strap. The overall effect is a strong, sporty look that offers a go-anywhere, do-anything attitude. The other color versions feature black dials – one with yellow numerals and subdials, one with neon blue numerals and subdials and one with emergency orange numerals and subdials.  The Special Edition Power Chrono houses the OS21 caliber quartz movement from Myota with a date window between 4:00 and 5:00. It is water resistant to 10atm, and retails for $725.

A new and exciting mechanical watch brand emerges on the market after three years of design and development.  Gerge’ – named for St. George —  is an all-mechanical brand  that focuses on architecture in its design – with a side-view of the case that is meant to replicate a bridge between  two cities, and a bold, clean, sophisticated look that embodies a high-performance spirit.  The brand offers the Type-M watch collections as its premiere series, with “M” standing for Metropolis.  Made in Neuchatel, the lines include the Type-MI, an automatic line with ETA 7750 base (288 pieces), the Type-M2, a series of automatic chronographs (188 pieces) built on the ETA 7750 Elabore, and the Type-M3 — a monopusher chronograph line built on the Concepto 2021. The Type-M Gerge’ watches retail from $2,890 to about $8,800.

Shown here is the Type- M3 watch – one in a series of specialized certified chronometers that are also automatic monopusher chronographs (based on the Concepto 2021).  The 45mm case is crafted in titanium with satin- and high-polished finish. The movement is a Concepto 2021 caliber, and the watch features a sapphire domed crystal. Just 88 pieces will be built, each retailing for $7,500.  

Those in the know will recognize this designer’s name.  Giuliano Mazzuoli is the man responsible for the famed Manometro watch, as well as several pen and leather goods collections. The Manometro watch is renowned for its simplicity. Designed as a concept to reflect a pressure gauge, the Manometro measures time – elegantly and cleanly – and has become an icon.  Now, Giuliano Mazzuoli unveils the Contagiri (translated in Italian as “tachometer”).

The result of four years of research and development by this Italian designer, along with Swiss watchmaking wizards, the Contagiri allows the wearer to experience aesthetic harmony, design balance and mechanical perfection. The patented timepiece is a world first in that it offers two unusual features together:  It is an hour retrograde watch, and it has no crown.  The winding of the watch, as well as the setting of the time, are done by   turning the bezel of the watch. The two functions alternate through a lever (gear shift) and are identified in two small windows – one  window by the number 1  to wind the watch, and one by the number 2  to set  the watch.  Clean, sophisticated and really cool- this patented timepiece (created in Italy, made in Switzerland and guaranteed for five years) retails for $14,000.