Baltic’s Aquascaphe Returns in Bronze

Baltic is back with a new Aquascaphe in a new material. Their vintage inspired diver has always had a decidedly tool watch flavor. It’s classic and clean but in a no-nonsense kind of way, and because it’s made with modern manufacturing techniques it’s far less delicate than even the most robust vintage watches from the period. The new watch, in bronze, is a bit of a departure. It still pulls from the same period for its design inspiration, but the bronze lends the Aquascaphe a dressier feel that gives the watch an entirely new presentation.

Baltic Aquascaphe Bronze 

• Case Material: Bronze
• Dial: Blue
• Dimensions: 38mm (39 at the Bezel)
• Crystal: Sapphire       
• Water Resistance: 200 meters  
• Crown: Screw-down                      
• Movement: Miyota 9039
• Strap/bracelet: Rubber
• Price: $685
• Reference Number: n/a
• Expected Release: Available now 

Bronze has been used in watches in a number of ways over the last few years as the metal has made something of a comeback in the watch world. The trend started with solid bronze watches that were often big and burly versions of their stainless steel counterparts, with cases that promised to patina dramatically over time. Recently, we’ve seen brands incorporate bronze more modestly into their watches as a substitute for a precious metal, giving watches some of the warmth and luster of gold, but without a dramatically higher price tag. 

Baltic, with this new iteration of the Aquascaphe, comes down somewhere in the middle. At 38mm it’s not an enormous showstopper like some bronze divers, and the aluminum bronze compound used is said to be more stable – it will patina, but not  as strongly or as quickly as a bronze with large amounts of copper. Baltic has made a few small changes to the dial (maxi hands, and a 3/6/9/12 layout as opposed to triangular markers  on the original version) and added crown guards to differentiate the bronze version from the stainless steel. The blue dial is a great match for the tone of the case, and the whole package presents as somewhat more refined and luxurious than the more utilitarian stainless steel Aquascaphe. 

The other key change to the bronze Aquascaphe is in the bezel. The stainless steel version features a sapphire bezel, which has been swapped here with a bronze insert to match the case. Bezel markings have been etched directly into the bronze, which is a very different look and should offer some additional tactile pleasure when handling it. Baltic could have, I suppose, made use of the same bezel assembly as the steel watch, or something close to it, but the decision to go with solid bronze to match the case really draws your attention to the material itself, and in the end is right in line with the slightly dressier vibe they were going for on this piece. 

The Aquascaphe in bronze is available today from Baltic in a numbered edition of 300 (though this is just an initial batch – more will come). The retail price is $685. Baltic