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When three Löbner watches landed on my desk, I have to admit that I wasn’t conversant in the Munich-based model. As quickly as I took the watches out of their pouches, although, they intrigued me. They give the impression of being completely different from many different watches, and a few distinctive traits of those timepieces make them stand out for greater than their seems. The primary two fashions we obtained for overview had been the black-dial Löbner Sledge on a rubber strap and a silver-dial model on a stainless-steel bracelet. These are those I’ll deal with on this article. However I additionally had an opportunity to attempt the Steelracer Chronograph with its ice-blue dial. It’s time to search out out extra about Löbner and the watches earlier than us!
Löbner is a German model initially based in 1862 by Franz Ludwig Löbner. On the finish of the nineteenth century, it turned often known as a specialist model for short-time measurement with the power to time 1/one centesimal and 1/1,000th of a second. From then on, Löbner tied its identify to horse racing and was a presence on many European race tracks. Moreover, Löbner turned the official timekeeper for the Olympic Video games within the Nineteen Twenties and ’30s. Lastly, the model turned an official timekeeper for varied motorsports occasions within the early ’30s. Over time, Löbner misplaced traction earlier than finally disappearing. Nonetheless, as we all know, many once-defunct watch manufacturers see a revival due to their exceptional tales. Löbner was formally reintroduced in late 2023 with the disclosing of the Steelracer Chronograph.
The Steelracer was the primary mannequin from the revived Löbner model
Löbner’s resurrection in 2023
Contemplating Löbner’s timekeeping historical past, reintroducing the model with a chronograph made excellent sense. A bit of greater than a yr later, we had an opportunity to take a look at the Löbner Steelracer and Sledge fashions. We obtained the Steelracer Ice and the brand new Sledge in its black and silver colorways for overview. I predominantly centered on the latter two as they’re an attention-grabbing tackle a contemporary sports activities watch. We had an opportunity to attempt them out on each a stainless bracelet and a rubber strap. This gave me the proper alternative to find what makes the Sledge stand out in a sea of similar-looking timepieces. And sure, the Sledge has a few good tips up its sleeve.
Straight out of the field, the Löbner Sledge fashions shocked me. They’re neatly designed watches that really feel extremely nicely made. We obtained the Sledge Black variant on a rubber strap, whereas the Sledge Silver got here on a stainless-steel bracelet. Each, in fact, share a 40.5mm lugless tonneau-shaped case with a pleasing 9.8mm thickness.
It’s a properly designed case with a small protrusion on the left facet and a big cap on the proper. The model calls this cover the “sledge,” making it the watch’s namesake component. This Löbner-designed and patented “bridge” protects the crown and the crown guards beneath. To function the crown, you’ll be able to merely push the sledge upward. Not solely does the cap shield the crown, but it surely additionally provides an attention-grabbing visible component to the general design.
Löbner’s specifically developed Inside Circle Lock system
The predominantly brushed case options small polished components and bevels that add some visible pizzazz to the watch. This mannequin additionally comes outfitted with a unidirectional exterior bezel that controls an inner 60-minuter ring for timing occasions. To additional elaborate on that, turning the outer bezel clockwise will rotate the 60-minute scale in addition to the crystal. You’ll be able to then line up the 0 on the minute scale with the minute hand if you wish to time one thing. After all, aligning the 0 with the 12 o’clock place permits the ring to function a standard minute scale to inform the time.
Löbner calls this specifically designed and quite ingenious mechanism the Inside Circle Lock. Even with it, the case is waterproof 100 meters, and the gorgeous factor is that the engineers managed to offer the watch a sub-10mm complete thickness. The Inside Circle Lock jogs my memory of dive watches with an inner bezel, however these usually use a second crown. At Löbner, they devised a means of linking the turning of the internal and outer bezels with out an additional crown (just like the system discovered on the Sinn 903 St II). It makes timing an occasion simple, and I really like that.
A good looking dial design
Contained in the case is a sunray dial in both black or silver. The black dial has white textual content, markers, and numerals, whereas these parts are black on the silver dial. I instantly favored the dial’s Artwork Deco type. Mixed with the case design, it creates a watch that instantly stands out. The typography is sweet and classy, and the completely different parts have a refined stability to them.
The biggest parts on the dial are the three, 6, 9, and 12 numerals, that are nonetheless modest in measurement. However they do set the general tone with the remainder of the weather all smaller. I additionally love the font kind as a result of it really works nicely with precise textual content. I like the Löbner brand on the highest half of the dial. Moreover, the phrases “Automatik” and “Zeitmesser” sit subsequent to one another, providing you with an concept of the accessible house on the dial. It’s clear that lots of thought went into the dial’s composition, and I really like the outcome. Hovering above the dial is a pair of rose-tone pencil-shaped hour and minute fingers with Tremendous-LumiNova. Finishing the handset is a slim seconds hand with a luminous tip.
The Löbner 6717 motion
Hidden behind the metal case again is the Löbner caliber 6717. This 24-jewel computerized motion relies on a Swiss caliber by La Joux-Perret. It operates at 28,800vph, affords 68 hours of energy reserve, and has a tungsten rotor. The model’s calibers are assembled and controlled in Glashütte, and the instances are produced in Pforzheim. Due to this, they proudly show “Made in Germany” on their dials.
Löbner affords the Sledge with 4 dial colours. Apart from the black and silver dials, you even have the selection of blue or inexperienced. You’ll be able to pair these with a stainless-steel bracelet or a color-matched rubber strap. The bracelet may be very nicely made and contains a butterfly clasp. The versatile rubber strap comes with a folding clasp with push-button launch.
Sporting the Löbner Sledge
On the wrist, it’s simple to how nicely these watches are designed, making them a pleasure to put on. The slim profile is sensible, and the bracelet may be very nicely made. However the rubber strap was additionally quite spectacular, feeling tremendous versatile and comfortable proper out of the field. It additionally balances out the watch completely on the wrist, which is an indication of the general high quality that Löbner affords.
As soon as on the wrist, the Sledge’s prime quality is simple to see and really feel. Each flip of the bezel, each slide of the sledge, and each click on of the clasp provides the sensation of a correct luxurious watch. The ending reveals lots of consideration to element, and the design of the watch is nicely thought out. After carrying the Sledge for a few days, I did have some questions, although. The primary one was relating to the watch’s 40.5mm measurement. Whereas it’s removed from large, I did begin to query if it couldn’t have been a bit smaller. First, watches with built-in bracelets are likely to really feel bigger on the wrist, and that is no exception. The Sledge’s slim profile makes this much more obvious.
Asking questions concerning the Sledge whereas carrying it
That feeling will get stronger in case you have a look at the dial design. Whereas it’s lovely, it feels spacious — virtually a bit too spacious. This made me assume the Sledge may’ve been a 39mm watch, which might have hit my candy spot. That is very a lot a matter of private choice, in fact, as a result of I like my watches to be a bit smaller lately. Usually, although, for very visually current integrated-bracelet sports activities watches, I favor a sub-40mm diameter. The sledge crown protector on the proper facet of this case additionally provides it a bigger footprint on the wrist.
This brings me to a second query. I do just like the sledge crown protector as a component that to play with. It has fidget-toy-like qualities that I didn’t count on. Sliding it up is so satisfying as a result of, whereas it strikes easily, it has simply the correct amount of resistance. To present you an concept of the way it works, the higher a part of the sledge connects to a hoop beneath the bezel that turns counterclockwise till it clicks in the long run place. Nonetheless, because of the sledge not being too large, the push/pull crown it protects is pretty small, making it much less sensible to function.
Last ideas on the Löbner Sledge
A few reservations apart, after carrying the 2 Löbner Sledge fashions for a few days, I discovered them fairly spectacular. The Sledge is the proper follow-up to the inaugural Steelracer, which we additionally obtained and can characteristic in a special article. The issues I loved most concerning the Sledge had been its Artwork Deco-inspired dial design, the ingenious ideas of the crown protector and inner 60-minute bezel, and the unimaginable execution of these concepts. The construct high quality was nothing in need of spectacular, and it felt like a correct case of German engineering for a high-end luxurious watch.
In a world always flooded with new watch releases and types, I imagine the issues talked about above make Löbner stand out from the group. Rolex-owned retailer Bucherer additionally acknowledged this and has change into the unique retailer for Löbner watches.
The brand new Löbner Sledge retails for €9,600 on a bracelet and €8,600 on a rubber strap. Both sum will purchase you a formidable watch primarily based on a pleasant and authentic idea with improbable execution. With the Steelracer and the Sledge, Löbner has created two characterful choices that make me curious to search out out the place the model’s story will lead. If the primary steps are something to go on, there are good issues in retailer.
