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Watches and Wonders could have drawn most of our consideration final week, however that doesn’t imply nothing is occurring elsewhere within the watch world. Baltic, one of many younger weapons making waves lately, introduced a brand new restricted version. I received the possibility to strive it out. That is the brand new Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 Restricted Version. It celebrates the model’s sponsorship of and participation within the yearly French Tour Auto rally.
The Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 Restricted Version is proscribed to 400 items. The watch prices €2,117.50 (together with 21% VAT), and the restricted run is out there now. Let’s have a more in-depth look.
Baltic and motorsports
Daan coated final yr’s Baltic Tour Auto version, and Nacho even rode shotgun through the rally whereas carrying it. This makes me surprise why I’m penning this at the hours of darkness underground Fratello HQ with a lukewarm cup of Joe. What’s up with that, Baltic?
In any case, this can be a yearly launch. Baltic sponsors the rally as its official timekeeper. This yr, the race is split into six levels between Paris and Good. Baltic takes half with two vehicles — a 1963 Lotus Elan 26R and a 1965 MG B.
The Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 Restricted Version celebrates the 2025 version of this yearly motorized Tour de France.
What’s new concerning the Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 Restricted Version?
The brand new Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 Restricted Version shares loads of its DNA with final yr’s model. We see just a few modifications, although. For starters, Baltic now suits screw-down pushers for a 100m water resistance ranking. The watch additionally gained some weight, measuring 14.1mm thick as a substitute of final yr’s 13.5mm. I’m guessing that the case again and/or crystal needed to be thickened barely to succeed in that 100m ranking.
The dial has seen a number of modifications too. For starters, it now has a big-eye format with an enlarged minute counter at 3 o’clock. The hour counter at 6 now not will get a visually distinguished sub-dial, mimicking the looks of a two-register chronograph. Lastly, this yr’s dial appears way more distinct, with its a number of shades of pale blue, a chief instance of what the French would name “ton-sur-ton.”
Lastly, whereas final yr’s mannequin featured numerals throughout, this model is fitted with utilized concentric hour markers. I don’t find out about you, however this was the very very first thing I seen when seeing press pictures of this new Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 Restricted Version.
Conceptual points with the Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 Restricted Version
On paper, the larger water resistance makes little sense. Computerized chronographs are typically cumbersome, and that is no exception. So as to add to its thickness for the sake of arguably redundant water resistance appears odd. In actuality, the added girth isn’t noticeable. This isn’t a slim watch, but it surely wears simply tremendous. Nonetheless, the screw-down pushers really feel over-specced. They make the chronograph finicky to function, and I discovered myself merely not utilizing it. Additionally, that is no do-it-all watch. With such a rally-themed design, I’m wondering what the added water resistance is for. In my ebook, this can be a case of specs over conceptual congruence.
I’m afraid that could be a little bit of a theme with this watch. The just about-hidden hour counter incorporates a hand in the identical coloration because the operating seconds. In the meantime, the chronograph seconds and hour counter are blue. Why not color-code the chronograph components to obviously distinguish between capabilities?
I’ve the identical challenge with the tilted hour markers. That is one thing you do for ornamental causes, so it is sensible on a watch like, say, the Czapek Antarctique Darkish Sector. This, nevertheless, is offered as a rally timer. I’d say legibility and precision ought to high every part else, and tilted hour markers don’t promote both. All in all, this makes me really feel just like the Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 Restricted Version is extra of a romantic rally watch than an precise instrument. That is true, after all, however I would like it to be much less apparent. This makes it really feel extra like a advertising train than wanted.
Carrying the Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 Restricted Version
Okay, that was very harsh, and I promise it isn’t as a result of I’m writing from a basement. It’s simply that with so many watches being launched on a regular basis with so many intelligent (or convoluted) backstories, I believe we must always stay vital. The factor is, I do just like the Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 Restricted Version. No, actually, I do!
For starters, this can be a very fairly watch in actual life. I like the finely grained dial texture and its icy blue hue. Moreover, the big-eye format with the 2 framed sub-dials appears plain cool. And whereas I’ve conceptual points with the hour markers, I just like the dynamism they supply. All in all, I believe the dial appears incredible.
Baltic additionally received the proportions proper. It is a very wearable watch with loads of classic attraction. Certain, it’s a little tubby, however so are all of its rivals. Sellita, in case you are listening, please develop a slimmer chronograph caliber for us! Carry us again to the ’60s, will ya?
Closing ideas
Okay, that was a little bit of a blended bag, wasn’t it? The factor is, my gripes are all on the conceptual stage. I believe the fellows at Baltic merely got down to make a really fairly retro racing chronograph, and so they succeeded. In spite of everything, to what extent will these watches really be used as rallying chronographs? Aren’t they extra about reflecting the allure and attract of the race? And in that case, shouldn’t they simply feel and appear cool quite than make excellent sense?
My reply is an ambivalent “sure and no.” Your mileage could differ, and I suppose it will depend on whether or not you employ a watch to calculate your mileage or not.
What do you consider the brand new Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 Restricted Version? Tell us within the feedback part under!
