The Bravur Team Heritage STR

By now, Bravur, the watch model from Båstad, Sweden, has created sufficient cycling-themed watches to supply the entire professional peloton with them. This isn’t a criticism or a quick comment however a impartial statement. And from that statement comes enthusiasm. As a bike owner, I applaud a properly achieved biking watch. Now you may be within the breakaway with the Bravur Heritage Workforce STR sporting a dial within the colours of the historic St. Raphaël biking group equipment.

Within the late Nineteen Fifties and early Nineteen Sixties, the St. Raphaël biking group, named after the sponsoring French aperitif model, was a drive to reckon with. Directeur sportif Raphaël Géminiani led a squad with legendary rider Jacques Anquetil, the primary five-time Tour de France winner. Anquetil’s nickname was “Monsieur Chrono” as a result of he was a time-trial rider the ultimate. Between 1953 and 1966, he gained the Grand Prix des Nations, a well-known and grueling 140km time-trial race, no fewer than 9 instances. Strapping on the Bravur Workforce Heritage STR might make you’re feeling like Monsieur Chrono, who was not simply an distinctive bike owner but in addition a trendy bon vivant. This watch seems good within the breakaway and on a sunny terrace in Provence sipping a St. Raphaël on the rocks.

Within the breakaway with the Bravur Workforce Heritage STR

Sitting on the wheel of the Tudor Pelagos FXD Chrono Professional Biking Version and the Breitling Prime Time B01 Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali LEs is one other sturdy watch from Bravur. The Workforce Heritage STR joins the prevailing Peugeot, Renault, and Mercier fashions and is available in vibrant colours paying homage to the St. Raphaël biking group equipment. The pink and blue circles on the shimmering silver-white dial, mimicking the colours of the jersey, are vibrant and a little bit hypnotizing. The utilized indexes at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock are stuffed with Tremendous-LumiNova BGW9, guaranteeing readability in all situations.

Aside from the colours, the small “biking cap” at 6 o’clock will give its wearer “morale.” I could be biased, however I believe the composition works. The colours are contemporary and clear, and though the design is borderline gimmicky, it might in all probability additionally attraction to non-cycling watch followers, I presume. Writing down “non-cycling followers” makes me consider Tim Krabbé’s well-known novel The Rider, through which the biking writer writes, “Meyrueis, Lozère, June 26, 1977. Sizzling and overcast. I take my gear out of the automobile and put my bike collectively. Vacationers and locals are watching from sidewalk cafés. Non-racers. The vacancy of these lives shocks me.”

The Sellita “group set” matched to a metal “body”

The Workforce Heritage STR’s 316L metal case has a 37mm diameter, which isn’t simply basic but in addition sufficiently small for a trouble-free and comfy sporting expertise whereas biking. You may even hit the showers with it after a trip as a result of it’s water-resistant to 100 meters. The group set — sorry, motion — Bravur selected for this watch is the automated 4Hz Sellita SW200-1 with an influence reserve of 41 hours. It’s a fool-proof alternative. You don’t purchase this look ahead to the motion, however it’s good to understand it’s a sturdy caliber that can tick steadily when your coronary heart charge goes up as you push the gears.

Once you go to the Bravur web site, you’ll discover that the Workforce Heritage STR is out there in both a metal or a black PVD metal case. You’ll even have a alternative of various FKM rubber and leather-based straps and a metal Milanese mesh bracelet. The worth is US$1,195 / €1,305.95, however earlier than you pay that and have the model construct your watch within the workshop in Båstad, Sweden, you also needs to take a look at Bravur Biking Couture. You would possibly wish to full the look with some crisp, matching equipment.

Watch specs