Lower No Corners: VANDAAG’s New Schallmauer Automated Bi-Compax

As any historian will verify, any sufficiently developed enterprise — watchmaking included — will, over a protracted sufficient timespan, develop distinctive epochs. These sufficiently old to recollect the Quartz Disaster that kicked off 50-odd years in the past attest to how watch manufacturers nice and small survived (or perished) on account of what absolutely should have appeared to the normal (and largely Swiss) world of horology, lightning-fast and seismic adjustments. So too has the appearance of world communications, mass media, and the web modified timekeeping. The ever-present smartwatch and huge democratization of electronics, a lot of which might inform the time, led many observers to foretell robust sledding forward for the world’s watchmakers. Thus, 20-some years since Al Gore invented the Web, it has really confirmed to be a boon in some ways for watchmaking innovation.

And thus we arrive at VANDAAG. The North German model hailing from Oldenburg in Decrease Saxony is about as far-off as you may get from that different hub of German watchmaking, Glashütte, but as soon as once more, this geographical disconnection is far much less daunting due to the fashionable connectivity that helps manufacturers like VANDAAG flourish. Backed by a Kickstarter marketing campaign, VANDAAG heads down the trail of superior watchmaking, getting into the world with its first computerized chronograph, the Schallmauer.

Launched on March eighth, the Schallmauer (German for “sound barrier”) is a bi-compax pilot’s watch that, thanks to some small however not insignificant particulars, manages to face out in refined methods. Broadly talking, it’s onerous to deviate an excessive amount of from the usual design pointers of pilot’s watches with out ending in one other type’s territory. However the Schallmauer succeeds due to the custom-made pink date wheel and a dial that manages to keep away from two of the typography cardinal sins: chopped numerals and boring font. To the previous level, a divisive side of many army and pilot’s watches is the tendency to chop off numerals for the location of dial components. Sustaining symmetry, the Schallmauer succeeds in proffering giant, legible subdials on the 3 and 9 positions whereas leaving the primary numerals untouched. This consideration to element extends by means of the fonts employed across the dial and bidirectional ceramic bezel. Sans-serif numbers are clear and symmetrical, but even have a vaguely Artwork Deco allure. The minute markers tracked across the bezel echo these printed on the dial, making exact timing a cinch.

With a lot practicality at work in a single place, you would possibly assume the Schallmauer is, nicely, a bit of boring. Not so. Due to a formidable 5 reference fashions — so much for a microbrand in simply its second yr — the Schallmauer takes on new life relying on the chosen shade scheme. Every variant is contained in a 42.5mm chrome steel case providing 100m of water resistance. Certain to be a favourite is the all-black dial/black bezel combo due to the way in which the pink date window pops captivatingly. Maintain it up aspect by aspect with the vintage-inspired “Previous Radium” variant, introduced on brown leather-based and with high-contrast subdials, and it’s onerous to imagine you’re trying on the similar watch. In fact, it will be borderline felony to neglect the inclusion of a panda or blue variant chronograph, and right here, VANDAAG is within the clear. Every one is directly acquainted and thrilling, scratching the bi-compax itch many collectors developed thanks to greater luxurious manufacturers like Tudor, IWC, and Carl F. Bucherer.

Flipped over, the Schallmauer displays one other notable function not discovered on many different watches — a {custom} black galvanized rotor that solely provides to the Schallmauer’s sleekness and professionalism. Serving to energy the Swiss Sellita SW510 motion, it performs with an accuracy of +/- 5 seconds per day, only one second off from Chronometer efficiency. The 62-hour energy reserve makes it a real weekend watch, though the intrepid wearer is aware of it’s finest to carry alongside a rugged, practical piece just like the Schallmauer on any weekend foray.

Working by means of the choices, the Schallmauer is offered on a restricted foundation and with structured pricing. Following Kickstarter incentive pricing, it’s obtainable within the following tranches:

• Section A: 20 watches at 999 Euros.
• Section B: 20 watches at 1,099 Euros
• Section C: 20 watches at 1,199 Euros
• Section D: 20 watches at 1,299 Euros
• Section E: 320 watches at 1,399 Euro

Section A kicked off on March eighth whereas Section E concludes April sixth. Every variant is proscribed to only 100 copies. Following the Kickstarter launch, the remaining items can be obtainable on VANDAAG.de for Є1,699 every. Please go to the Kickstarter web page right here and the model’s web site right here.

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