A watch amateur discovers stealth, the BR 126 Commando
I never really got stealth watches, I mean a watch should be as visible as possible right ? What's the secrecy about hiding the time from the person looking over your shoulder ?
The first stealth watch I came across was from Christopher Ward, the nice titanium one. I also read about the Omega dark side of the moon, twice the price for extra black paint ...
but that was before I saw the BR 126 Commando in the flesh ....
This is a seriously handsome watch. The case is smooth black, PVD treated.
The case is dual layer, not like the Bremont multi layer, but there is a top disc set on the bottom mount
The dial is dark grey, with the classic large Bell & Ross 12 and 6 and pips set in black.
Its interesting as under different light it can be light grey, or dark grey (most of the time) to almost black
Funnily enough, unless you are in a dark room, the display is surprising legible. Obviously out side, but inside the glint of artificial lights plays nicely to highlight the pips and hands. The hands BTW are a slightly different shade of grey with a rough surface. Again subtly keeping them highlighted, except in the darkest of environments. I guess one of the benefits of this type of face is that it doesn't needlessly distract you.
The sapphire crystal is unusually highly domed, which provides interesting reflections and contrasts beautifully with the case
The back of the watch is also black PVD and has the serial number and details printed across
The movement is the ETA 2894-2 which is unusual in that it is not derived from the Valjoux 7750, which is the basis for most of ETA's chronograph movements. Instead, like the ETA 2094, the 2894-2 is a modular design pairing a traditional base with a self-contained chronograph module. In this case, the 2894-2 is based on the low-profile ETA 2892-2. The 2894 is somewhat smaller than the 7750 family, measuring 12½ lignes (28.00 mm) in diameter and 6.10 mm high compared to the typical 13¼ lignes (30.00 mm) diameter and 7.90 mm height of the 7750 family.
Unlike the Valjoux, which can be serviced by a watchmaker, the 2894-2 chronograph module is only serviceable by the factory.
The upshot is a reassuringly weighty watch that still sits comfortably on the wrist and is further lightened by the lovely grey rubber strap.
The strap is lovely and soft, not quite as soft as the Apple Watch sports bands, but very comfortable to wear.
The water resistance is an enigma. Perhaps someone can comment on it here. It says 100m which is very unusual for a non-screw down crown. Normally they receive 20m or 50m resistance, both are somewhat splash proof in the rain, with 50m being ok for the occasional light shower. But 100m normally means you can swim with it. The sales person told me its ok for light swimming but not diving, as the button shuts do have rubber seals. Interesting. I will probably test it some time.
Its simply a very beautiful, unusual and very well made watch. Most non-watch aficionados I show it to go "wow!", which is not an expression I have heard before.
The bottom line however is that its actually a beautiful piece to wear that you want to keep looking at and that you don't want to take off your wrist. I guess that's the litmus test ...
The first stealth watch I came across was from Christopher Ward, the nice titanium one. I also read about the Omega dark side of the moon, twice the price for extra black paint ...
but that was before I saw the BR 126 Commando in the flesh ....
This is a seriously handsome watch. The case is smooth black, PVD treated.
The case is dual layer, not like the Bremont multi layer, but there is a top disc set on the bottom mount
The dial is dark grey, with the classic large Bell & Ross 12 and 6 and pips set in black.
Its interesting as under different light it can be light grey, or dark grey (most of the time) to almost black
Funnily enough, unless you are in a dark room, the display is surprising legible. Obviously out side, but inside the glint of artificial lights plays nicely to highlight the pips and hands. The hands BTW are a slightly different shade of grey with a rough surface. Again subtly keeping them highlighted, except in the darkest of environments. I guess one of the benefits of this type of face is that it doesn't needlessly distract you.
The sapphire crystal is unusually highly domed, which provides interesting reflections and contrasts beautifully with the case
The back of the watch is also black PVD and has the serial number and details printed across
The movement is the ETA 2894-2 which is unusual in that it is not derived from the Valjoux 7750, which is the basis for most of ETA's chronograph movements. Instead, like the ETA 2094, the 2894-2 is a modular design pairing a traditional base with a self-contained chronograph module. In this case, the 2894-2 is based on the low-profile ETA 2892-2. The 2894 is somewhat smaller than the 7750 family, measuring 12½ lignes (28.00 mm) in diameter and 6.10 mm high compared to the typical 13¼ lignes (30.00 mm) diameter and 7.90 mm height of the 7750 family.
Unlike the Valjoux, which can be serviced by a watchmaker, the 2894-2 chronograph module is only serviceable by the factory.
The upshot is a reassuringly weighty watch that still sits comfortably on the wrist and is further lightened by the lovely grey rubber strap.
The strap is lovely and soft, not quite as soft as the Apple Watch sports bands, but very comfortable to wear.
The water resistance is an enigma. Perhaps someone can comment on it here. It says 100m which is very unusual for a non-screw down crown. Normally they receive 20m or 50m resistance, both are somewhat splash proof in the rain, with 50m being ok for the occasional light shower. But 100m normally means you can swim with it. The sales person told me its ok for light swimming but not diving, as the button shuts do have rubber seals. Interesting. I will probably test it some time.
Its simply a very beautiful, unusual and very well made watch. Most non-watch aficionados I show it to go "wow!", which is not an expression I have heard before.
The bottom line however is that its actually a beautiful piece to wear that you want to keep looking at and that you don't want to take off your wrist. I guess that's the litmus test ...
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