Latest Review
If you’ve followed our recent coverage of Straum, you probably already know that they’ve been teasing a new entry in their Jan Mayen collection for some time. This weekend, at the Windup Watch Fair, the new watch from the Scandinavian brand made its public debut. The Jan Mayen Basalt Limited Edition builds on the themes the brand has been working with for a few years now with their contemporary integrated bracelet sports watch design, adding some new dial elements with this LE that change the dynamic of the watch considerably while leaning into the brand’s ethos. It’s perhaps a little more avant-garde in nature than their previous efforts, but it seems like the type of watch that Straum’s biggest fans will immediately identify with.
The star of the show here is clearly the dial, which Straum tells us is made from volcanic basalt rock sourced from the island of Jan Mayen. The ultra thin wafers of rock are filled with naturally occurring holes through which the dial base is seen, creating the effect of a magma-like substance gurgling under the surface of the earth. If that sounds dramatic, it’s because, well, it is. The effect in person is quite remarkable. Because the dials are made from rock, no two are exactly alike, and asymmetry abounds, so this watch feels like more an art piece than a hearty tool, but that’s perfectly fine in my opinion. There are three limited dial variants: Magma Red, Radiant Mist, and Volcanic Grey. The latter is likely the most reserved of the bunch, while the first two use color (and lume, in the case of Radiant Mist) to really drive home the brand’s storytelling.
Straum is using the same 39mm integrated bracelet case design for these limited editions that we’ve seen them deploy in their most recent Jan Mayen inspired releases. It’s a very nice, well proportioned, integrated design, with a 45.7mm lug to lug measurement and bracelet that tapers from almost 25mm to 18mm at the clasp. It’s very easy to wear and quite comfortable, and the steel is well machined throughout. The case is water resistant to 100 meters and features a screw down crown.
The watch is powered by the LJPG101 by La Joux-Perret, a movement we’ve seen more micro and indie brands turn to just in the last year or so. It has a power reserve of 68 hours and should have an average daily rate somewhere in the vicinity of +/- 15 seconds per day.
The Jan Mayen Basalt Limited Edition is limited to 100 pieces across all three variants. The retail price is €1,900. Pre-orders open on October 23, with deliveries expected to be completed within 6 months. Straum
