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As someone who lives within a mile of the Pacific Ocean, the smell of the sea is one of comfort to me. Naturally, this leads me to like candles and fragrances that have a hint of that crisp aquatic breeze. Of course, this has little to do with watches; or at least I thought it did. But Amsterdam-based microbrand Batavi has launched a yacht-inspired fragrance and wristwatch pairing that evokes the ocean in all its aesthetic and olfactory glory, so you can bring that sweet, salty scent with you in more ways than one.
The Marina Chronograaf lineup introduces four variants, each with identical specs but relatively singular designs. To start, each Chronograaf measures in at 46mm lug-to-lug, and a 38mm stainless steel case with 13.5mm of thickness conveys a sporty silhouette. Each model features two subdials, a running seconds and a 30-minute counter at the 9 and 3 o’clock positions respectively, a railroad track around the dial, and hands that lay somewhere between GMT, chronograph, and diver styling. Inside, a hand-wound Seagull ST1901 movement keeps the yacht-timer functionality of each reference ticking and promises a 45-50 hour power reserve. Fifty meters of water resistance, a domed sapphire crystal, see-through caseback, and stainless steel quick-release bracelet round out the package.
Four dial options are available, and each colorway is about as distinct from the next as is possible. “Sunrise” features a cotton candy-esque combination of blue and pink, with a gradient dial and Eastern Arabic numerals. The other three references wear standard numerals: “Mist” is a clean, appropriately-oceanic white and blue, “Sand” is a playful off-white, orange, blue, and brown, and “Night” is a combination of charcoal, purple, salmon, and mint. Batavi’s willingness to play with aggressively bright colors is admirable, and veers more towards tasteful summer fun than tacky carnival, thankfully. The grounding element of the stainless steel case helps bring attention to the colors and design, and gives the dial more room to breathe.
So what about the included scent? I know next to nothing about fragrances, but Batavi has provided a handy breakdown of what to expect with the Marina scent: top notes of bergamot, grapefruit, and lemon, a heart of sandalwood, and a base of musk, ambergris, and cedar. The idea is to get you thinking of boats and the marina, bringing you right back to the romance of the yacht timer. The summer vibes are in full swing with all four Chronograaf references and the included Marina scent, and as the first microbrand to offer a fragrance with a wristwatch (at least that we know of), Batavi has carved out a fun themed niche for their Chronograaf line.
The Batavi Marina Chronograaf with included Marina scent retails for approximately $819. Batavi
