Minimalist Design Done Right—Introducing the Bravur Scandinavia

Earlier this year, we reviewed the BW003, Bravur’s first mechanical series. We were thoroughly impressed with that collection, and the Scandinavia, the latest watch from the Swedish brand, continues the brand’s new mechanical trajectory with stylish, minimalist flair.

When done incorrectly, minimalism can veer dangerously into boring or derivative, but the Scandinavia avoids that easy pitfall. The watch is restrained, for sure, but it’s also oozing some serious style, and the design is far from staid.Produced from Sandvik Swedish steel, the case measures 39 millimeters across, about 44 millimeters lug-to-lug, and 10.8 millimeters thick. The mid-case is brushed, the bezel is polished, and a proud domed sapphire sits over the dial. It’s largely the same case we saw on the BW003, but with a different bezel design. It was a smart call to use the same case—I am a big fan of the design, and the on-the-wrist fit was spot on for me.

An internal AR coating keeps the dial clear of any serious glare and reflections. The signed and decorated case back is secured via six small screws, and is adorned with the brands motto, “Swedish Soul Swiss Heart.” To that end, powering the watch is a Swiss-made Sellita SW300-1, essentially an ETA clone of the 2892.

The Scandinavia is being offered up in three distinct dial colors: Sparkling White, Midnight Blue, and Jet Black. I usually have a preference when presented with numerous dial options, but here I think all three are winners. The Jet Black is the most classic and restrained of the bunch, while the Midnight Blue packs the biggest punch. Sparking White with its gold accents is a nice throwback to the ’50s, and it looks to be incredibly versatile. Okay, gun to my head, I’d probably go for Midnight Blue, and I usually shy away from blue dials.The dial is domed and features applied hour markers and a printed internal minutes ring. The skeletonized syringe hands complement the applied indices nicely, and the minutes and seconds hand dome along with the dial. A framed date window above six and sitting within the minutes ring offers a clean , well-thought out implementation of the complication.The Scandinavia comes paired with one of Bravur’s leather straps made from vegetable-tanned leather sourced from either Sweden or Italy. Bravur sources their Swedish leather from a 140-year-old tannery, Tärnsjö Garveri, and the brand’s Italian supplier is a small family-owned company out of the Tuscan countryside. The straps are exceptional, and are much nicer than most OEM straps at this price point. You won’t be in a rush to swap these out.Each watch is made-to-order, and it’s assembled and tested in Båstad, Sweden by the company’s in-house watchmaker. The price of each watch (within the US) is $995. Bravur

Disclaimer: The Windup Watch Shop is an Authorized Dealer of Bravur.