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Featherlight and wafer-thin can nonetheless be an excessive amount of, as evidenced by the well-known scene from the 1983 Monty Python film The Which means of Life by which Mr. Creosote explodes after consuming a wafer-thin after-dinner mint. One factor did certainly explode after I first appeared on the ultra-purple Behrens Extremely-Gentle 11G — my thoughts. How can one thing so odd feel and appear so good? And is that this skinny, mild, and colourful watch an excessive amount of?
Till now, the Behrens Extremely-Gentle 11G has existed in black, white, and pink. There was additionally a inexperienced iteration, “The Timeless Bamboo” Juice Group Channel special-edition watch, a run of 48 bamboo-inspired watches. Purple is the newest colorway. It is likely to be the quirkiest and most stunning shade, but it surely’s additionally my favourite. That’s bizarre in itself as a result of purple isn’t a shade. That’s what Sir Isaac Newton’s Principle of Gentle proved. Purple, orange, yellow, inexperienced, blue, indigo, and violet are within the shade spectrum. Purple is nowhere to be discovered. That’s as a result of purple is non-spectral, that means you should utilize the time period “purple” to explain any shade of shade between pink and blue. At Fratello HQ, “purple” is certainly the phrase to explain this model of the Behrens Extremely-Gentle 11G, an version made particularly for Blue Lake Watches.
Getting a style of the ultra-purple Behrens Extremely-Gentle 11G
The Extremely-Gentle 11G (BHR030) is a part of the Behrens Inventor collection, by which we additionally discover the Extremely-Gentle 20G. That titanium creation will not be precisely a “porker,” however the modern Chinese language watch model from Shenzhen needed to push the boundaries of lightness even additional. That’s why the oldsters there ditched titanium in favor of SPSCF. This materials, which makes up the case, is a diamond-coated carbon fiber developed solely by Behrens. The fabric is not only mild however, because of the coating, additionally exhausting — a necessary high quality for a watch this skinny and this mild. The load didn’t undergo an excessive amount of below the coating, although, as the burden of the watch with out the strap is a mere 11 grams.
The nonexistent shade purple seems to be candy and gentle, and since it received’t color-match something you put on, it is going to appear like the cherry — or, ought to I say, blackberry — on the cake. In different phrases, the ultra-purple Extremely-Gentle 11G will look ultra-special once you put on it. That’s how I felt, anyway. I didn’t really feel the watch on my wrist, however my eye definitely noticed it very often, after which my mind authorized. And so did my fellow Fratelli. Even those with a gentle spot for classic stuff and/or traditional designs seen it with a glance of approval.
Contained in the hu-inspired trapezoidal case
The 11G’s asymmetrical trapezoidal purple carbon case has a 42mm span on the longest facet. Its 38mm diameter means it’s not too extensive, and with its slim 5.2mm profile, it’s something however thick. One other quantity I ought to point out is the three ATM water resistance. In different phrases, you are able to do nearly something with this featherweight besides aquatic actions. A little bit of water or rain received’t harm it, however you in all probability received’t wish to put on it for diving or waterskiing, as an illustration. Anyway, the form is attention-grabbing. The trapezoid is impressed by an historical Chinese language historic software, the hu, a slender pill worn on the belt in the course of the Tang dynasty and utilized by Chinese language ministers of tradition and martial arts to document notes and orders.
The Extremely-Gentle 11G’s case is curved and skinny, identical to the hu. As a result of the motion and the case are built-in (extra on that slightly later), the watch is skinny. As a result of it’s curved, the watch follows the form of the wrist. The aim of the curved type is to create a watch that matches gracefully and comfortably. Behrens has handed that take a look at with flying colours.
Just like the 20G, the motion contained in the 11G is the in-house caliber BM02, consisting of fairly just a few titanium motion elements. Although I wrote “inside,” that isn’t fairly correct. The hand-wound motion is the watch. The curved again of the watch additionally capabilities because the motion’s base plate, so what you see is not only a really skinny and delicate motion. If you happen to observe carefully, additionally, you will discover that the BM02 caliber is curved. Every connecting gear has a slight angle distinction of 15 levels.
Sporting the purple Behrens Extremely-Gentle 11G
Earlier than I strapped the Behrens Extremely-Gentle 11G to my wrist, the watch had already achieved one thing vital. It put an enormous smile on my face and captured my consideration. It sort of seems to be like a toy, however I’ve nothing however good recollections of toys. I need to admit that the carbon-based SPSCF materials additionally feels prefer it might be used to create toys, but it surely doesn’t really feel low-cost or fragile. It simply takes a little bit of getting used to.
It does make you are feeling that you just’re sporting one thing particular in your wrist. The mix of shade and lightness does that, as does the face of the watch. Beneath the curved sapphire crystal, the watch/motion, with its skeletonized gear-train bridges, reveals itself in all its delicate mechanical glory.
Studying the time, like sporting the watch, takes a little bit of getting used to. The watch reveals retrograde hours on the underside left and retrograde minutes on the underside proper. Possibly it’s exhausting to focus on the timekeeping capabilities with all these uncovered gears. Relating to these gears, all of them obtained a particular clear coating for sturdiness. To find out when to prime up the motion’s 38-hour energy reserve, take a look at the top-left nook the place the ability reserve indicator sits. The three red-tipped arms offering useful data are a neat little sprinkle of additional shade in an already vibrant timepiece.
Ultimate ideas on the Behrens Extremely-Gentle 11G
Two questions want answering. First, did the ultra-light and ultra-bright 11G persuade me it’s a severe watch? Second, would I pay US$11,800 for a watch like this? The primary query may be very simple to reply. Sure, the Behrens Extremely-Gentle 11G is a really severe watch. The design, the idea, the development, and the execution are wonderful. Behrens created an enchanting, enjoyable, and technically fascinating timepiece. On the identical time, it additionally entertains with its daring and unique design.
The US$11,800 price ticket on a watch that’s among the many world’s lightest mechanical timepieces isn’t overly heavy. Does this imply the Behrens Extremely-Gentle 11G is a “poor man’s” Richard Mille? Effectively, primarily based on weight, the lightest Richard Mille on the market, the RM27-01, the first-ever watch the model constructed for tennis star Rafael Nadal, has nothing on the Behrens. Why would you pay a whole lot of hundreds of {dollars} for a watch weighing a “hefty” 18.3 grams?
I do know luxurious watches will not be nearly chilly numbers, however nonetheless, primarily based on seems to be, originality, and technical capabilities, the Extremely-Gentle 11G is a watch that deserves respect. This very purple, very mild, and really skinny Behrens wants an open thoughts to understand it, however I can promise you that when you open it, the watch will reward you. First, it is going to carry an enormous smile to your face, and in my e-book, that’s a wonderful begin.
