A summer full of novelties

Summer watch novelties

Three mechanical watches, one connected... here are four beautiful watches showed by Frank Sans C for the August 15 weekend.

By Vincent Daveau

When it is nice and warm, it is time to seat in the shade of a plane tree to quietly discover four summer watchmaking novelties. A programme to watch unlimitedly, on a deckchair, by the swimming pool, a glass of chilled rosé wine in hand!  (See our article about savouring the 10-summer rosé wine)

The Tudor Ranger: the watch for adventurers 

Tested in North Pole in extreme conditions, the Oyster Prince passed the drastic tests successfully in 1958 on the wrist of the researchers.

On the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the British North Greenland Expedition, Tudor showed on July 8th, 2022, a beautiful novelty called Ranger, a new tool watch inspired by the Oyster Prince, the first self-winding and water-resistant watch of Tudor, created in the past for the adventurers. On July 8th, 1952, Tudor equipped these explorers with it who left London for a scientific mission that should have last 2 years in the glaciers of Greenland.

The Tudor Ranger is inspired by an Oyster Prince watch that left on an expedition in 1952.

The new Ranger offered by Tudor follows the watches example designed, developed, and made to meet men and women’s expectations facing difficult situations in extreme weather conditions. The new Ranger celebrates the spirit of adventure by being both accessible and successful on a technical point of view.  

Three bracelet variations for the new Tudor Ranger.

This graphic 39mm-diameter steel reference meets the standards set during the Tudor history and features a dial that is highly legible both day and night thanks to the hour markers and four light beige luminescent Arabic numerals for a more vintage look. The tip of the burgundy second hand, also allows to briefly check the proper functioning of the timepiece. And to ensure it high performances, the choice has been made to equip the piece with a Manufacture Calibre MT5402 known for its high performances and resistance. Water-resistant to 100m, this novelty is put on a steel bracelet fastened by a T-fit folding clasp (8mm comfort adjustment extension without tools), on a Jacquard or hybrid strap to adapt to all situations but also to meet all expectations. 

Price: from €2,500 

Tudor website

Montblanc – Summit 3

Combining classic design with modern functionalities, the new Summit 3 should be able to attract those who are resistant to advanced technology applied to watchmaking. 

On the Montblanc Summit 3, the digital dials – here the Montblanc Geosphere – that is just as good as the dials of the mechanical watches. 

By using the very last version of Wear OS by Google, this novelty is available in three versions each available with two bracelets. The first is in grey titanium. The second is in black PVD coated titanium and the third is two-tone to allow those who like the first two but do not know which one to choose, to have a bit of the best of both. Among the novelties to keep in mind for this piece, we particularly keep in mind: the addition of Montblanc dials inspired by the traditional watchmaking heritage of Montblanc to appreciate the design of its classic case.

Among the most exceptional, we notice the Montblanc 1858 Geosphere, the Montblanc Bohème and the well-known Montblanc 1858. Among the different health apps, we have the step counting, sleep tracker and the blood oxygen measurement. Classic, but multifunctional, this piece also includes an advanced fitness app with diverse trainings that can be followed over time. Are also integrated: Google Maps, Google Pay and so many other things. And because the pleasure of being able to take advantage of it is essential, the battery life lasts longer.  

Price: €1,260 

Montblanc website

March LA.B – « Surfer » watch – the Belza 2022 

The enthusiasts who do not know either surfing or Biarritz will not know where the name of this new collection offered by March LA.B comes from. It refers to the name of la Villa Belza that overlooks the beach of Biarritz where the American film director Peter Viertel surfed in 1957. Faithful to his origins and honest with his passions and his outlook, March LA.B did not try to offer another version of a dive watch, but a timepiece for the surfers. 

On the case back is an engraving of the famous villa Belza from which it is named.

Water-resistant to 200m with its screw-down crown at 4 o’clock, this 40 mm-diameter fine steel piece to fit all wrists -including women’s – keeps -despite its ceramic bezel- its little vintage look that suits it so well. In order to draw attention of customers who appreciate beautiful watches, March LA.B, which is known to have called on surfers from the Basque country to create it, has chosen a La Joux-Perret G100 automatic calibre to power it. Equipped with a 68-hour power reserve and assembled in France in Besançon, it is perfectly suitable for surfing. Effective and timeless, this French watch that had a test situation in the waves, is put on a very flexible silicone strap to be unnoticed in the action.

Price: €1,295

March L.AB website

The Baltic Aquascaphe Titanium

A more technical advancement of the Baltic Aquascaphe Classic and last creation in the range of the Baltic dive watches, the Titanium version is designed for the committed athletes and the adventurers. 

Black or blue, the Baltic Aquascaphe Titanium is the most technical watch of Baltic.

Its 41 mm-diameter case is made of titanium, a metal perfectly adapted to challenges faced by the athletes. Lightweight (it weighs 55g without the strap), non-magnetic, corrosion resistant and non-allergic, it has a unidirectional rotating 120 clicks bezel for a fine automatic movement and an insert in brushed ceramic, minute graduated. This material has been chosen to make the case almost rot-resistant that is very exposed to shocks. This watch carefully made to be water-resistant to 300m to resist to all water sports, has a glossy or grained black dial with both strong luminescent hour markers and hands. The black version is equipped with C3X1 Super-LumiNova® whereas the blue piece is equipped with BGW9 Super-LumiNova®. Sober, the Aquascaphe Titanium goes to the essential. Here is why it does not have a date aperture. However, as each proper dive watch, it is equipped with a second hand which tip is equipped with a luminescent oval that is used for power indicator. For this collection and to be able to make it accessible to many people, Baltic made the choice to use a Miyota Automatic Caliber. However, the Miyota Caliber 9039, equipped with a 42-hour power reserve is renowned in the watchmaking industry for its reliability, robustness and resistance.  Finally, for the first line, the two versions are available in 300 pieces by colour and individually numbered. Sports, they are worn on black or blue rubber “Tropic” straps fastened with titanium clasps. 

Price: €850

Baltic website