Carl F. Bucherer is a brand with multiple facets, which are mirrored in their varied collections – Manero, Patravi and Heritage. The Manero collection was envisioned for the urban explorer, with its assortment of both sports and dress watches – check out the the Manero Tourbillon Double Peripheral that came out earlier this year. The Patravi collection is comprised of robust diving watches, such as the Patravi ScubaTec Verde that I had the pleasure of testing during a private diving lesson with the brand in Luzern. And the latest collection, the Heritage, showcases the brand’s vintage-inspired designs. For some reason, I had never seen one in real life before, so when I found out that the brand was launching the Heritage Chronometer Celebration, I was excited to get a closer look.
For those of you who didn’t know, the Heritage Chronometer is a timepiece inspired by historic timepieces from the brand’s archives. It first came out in the early 1960s, an era of cultural revolution, from the counterculture and civil rights movements to free love. It was a time when fashion broke boundaries with men sporting long hair, flared trousers, and tie-dye shirts and musical icons, like The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Janis Joplin, took the world by storm. When it was released, the Heritage Chronometer marked a pivotal point for Carl F. Bucherer as the company was rapidly expanding internationally and introducing a progressive, new sleek aesthetic.
To celebrate this historic watch, the brand introduced retro-futuristic limited editions of their timepiece last year. Now, they have unveiled more limited editions featuring new leather straps tailored to match - dove grey or dark brown straps for the gold case model, and dove grey and black for the stainless steel version. While not revolutionary, this is a welcome update. I have to say, trying it out, the watch felt particularly comfortable and with its 39mm case, hugged my (slightly smaller) wrist to perfection.
As for dial options, there are galvanized silver, black lacquered, or brown gradient lacquered finishes that are both subtle and make a statement. Plus, for those who enjoy options for styling, these new models are classic enough to go with any outfit. So, whether you enjoy the quiet luxury trend (that everyone seems to be talking about lately) or whether you are feeling inspired by 1960s fashion, you can experiment with a variety of different looks!
The watch is powered by the COSC-certified automatic movement – the Calibre 1965 – that in turn powers the hours, minutes, seconds and date, and comes complete with a 42-hour power reserve. If you turn the timepiece over, you will notice a depiction of the 1960s-era Bucherer family crest on the caseback, along with an image of a swan (the symbol of Luzern – Carl F. Bucherer’s hometown) and a beech tree (representing the Bucherer family), as well as the date of the manufacture’s foundation in 1888.
My personal favourite was the galvanized silver dial and brown leather strap version. It just so happens to have made my top 10 Watches and Wonders list. And at the very attractive price of CHF 5,500, temptation may just get the better of me.
For more information, please visit the Carl F. Bucherer website.
