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Straum has announced a new permanent addition to their popular Jan Mayen Collection of sports watches, the all new Frozen Metal Titanium. While at a quick glance you could be forgiven for thinking this is simply an iterative redeployment of a proven sports watch formula, there are actually a handful of notable upgrades when you start looking at it a little more closely. Like just about every other watch Straum makes, it takes inspiration from the natural landscape and a spirit of outdoor exploration, but here we also have some additional refinements and hints at potential new aesthetic directions that will have many enthusiasts curious about the brand’s future.
The first notable upgrade on the Frozen Metal Titanium is right there in the name of the watch. While not their first grade 5 titanium model, it does represent the debut of their long awaited grade 5 titanium bracelet. It has a blasted finish to match the case and an H-link design, and Straum says that it is fully backward compatible with other titanium watches in their catalog. That’s a big win for Straum’s existing customers, and makes good on what amounts to a social compact a brand makes when they develop an integrated bracelet sports watch: provide workable strap and bracelet options that your early adopters can take advantage of.
The other new developments here can be found in the dial treatment. Straum is using a new galvanic treatment for this dial execution that they say “frosts” the edges of the dial, creating what they call a “reverse fumé” effect. It’s tough to get a clear read on what it looks like in person via photos, but this is an area where Straum really pays close attention to details – much of the brand’s success is down to their evocative, textured dial design, so I’m really looking forward to getting a closer look at how they’ve handled this new process soon. The white/gray tone of the dial is actually a bare metal surface that has been coated with a protective layer to prevent oxidation. Straum made this choice in part to demonstrate the effect of the galvanic process, so I think it stands to reason we’ll see it interpreted through a more colorful lens eventually, which is in and of itself exciting.
A close look at the dial furniture reveals yet another new process: the use of PVD coated indices and hands. Usually when we see blued hands or other surfaces on a watch we assume heat treatment, but PVD is another option that can sometimes yield a more intense blue hue. It’s a matter of taste in terms of what any collector prefers, of course, but the more saturated blue seen here makes a lot of sense with the white dial. It’s a really cool contrast, and another display of an additional arrow in Straum’s quiver that they can now use on future projects.
Specs fall in line with other watches in the Jan Mayen collection. The case measures 38.7mm in diameter and 11.5mm thick (it’s 45.7mm from lug to lug). The watch runs on a La Joux-Perret G101 automatic movement with 68 hours of power reserve. The water resistance rating is 100 meters, and the crown screws down.
The Frozen Metal Titanium is expected to ship in November and, as mentioned, is a permanent part of the Straum collection. The retail price (on the bracelet) is set at $2,950. It’s also available on a rubber strap for $2,600. The bracelet alone, sold as an accessory, is priced at $900. More information can be found at the Straum website here.
