Black and gold has always been a classic combination, especially when it comes to dress watches. Gold is associated with luxury and elegance and in contrast to the versatility of black, it creates a visually striking finish and exudes a real sense of opulence and refinement. For young French watch brand Baltic, they’ve combined these colours together to launch a new trilogy of MR01, HMS 002 and Bicompax 002 watches.
Baltic MR 01 Black & Gold
Baltic MR 01 Black & Gold - Credit Baltic
Starting the line-up is the Baltic MR 01 Black & Gold watch which takes the architecture of one of their most classic dress watches and reinterprets it in new colours. The case is clean and simple, measuring to 36mm wide and 9.9mm tall (or just 8mm if you don’t include the domed hesalite crystal glass). It is crafted from stainless steel with a bright gold PVD coating with polished finishing on the bezel and lugs. The sides contrast with horizontal brushing.
For the dial, the new black glossy backdrop is applied with golden Breguet appliques and leaf-shaped hour and minute hands. As is standard for the Baltic MR 01, the guilloche-adorned small seconds is positioned at 7 o’clock and hosts a printed scale and a golden hand to match with the rest of the hardware.
Powering the small seconds is the Hangzhou CAL5000a automatic winding movement with a micro-rotor and 42-hour power reserve. The exhibition case back of the MR 01 Black & Gold watch allows you to admire the mini rotor on display alongside plenty of handsome decoration. The watch secures to the wrist by an Italian calfskin leather strap in black.
Baltic MR 01 Black & Gold - Credit Baltic
The Baltic MR 01 Black & Gold watch retails at €545 (excluding taxes).
Technical Specifications:
- Case Size: 36mm wide, 9.9mm thick
- Case Material: Stainless steel with yellow gold plating
- Glass: Domed hesalite crystal
- Water Resistance: 30 metres
- Dial: Glossy black with guilloche small seconds
- Strap: Italian calfskin leather
- Movement: Hangzhou CAL5000a automatic micro-rotor
- Power Reserve: 42 hours
- Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds
Baltic Bicompax 002 Black & Gold
Baltic Bicompax 002 Black & Gold - Credit Baltic
ZULUDIVER 1973 British Military Watch Strap: CADET Marine Nationale - Black & Grey
The French watchmaker’s 1940’s inspired chronograph looks more elegant than ever adorned in its new black and gold colourway. The Baltic Bicompax 002 hosts a 38mm wide step case engineered from a single piece of stainless steel coated with gold PVD. Once again, finishing is nicely done with horizontal brushing along the case middle, circular brushing on the lugs and a brightly polished bezel. The case sits nice and low on the wrist at 13mm tall with a lug-to-lug width of 47mm.
The dial of the Baltic Bicompax 002 Black & Gold watch feels rather different to those already in the collection. The black backdrop and golden hardware enhances its Art Deco-inspired aesthetic further than before and certainly gives it a dressier feel. The outer-section is brushed and lays a foundation for the hour markers while the two subsidary dials for the small seconds and 30 minutes chronograph have azurage decoration. The rest of the black sector dial is glossy with the golden leaf-shaped hour and minute hands joined by a perfectly straight chronograph seconds hand.
Like all of the models in the Baltic Bicompax 002 collection, this novelty is fuelled by the Seagull ST1901 manual-winding chronograph movement. It arrives with a 42-hour power reserve and a column-wheel mechanism which can be admired through the hesalite crystal glass case back. The watch is wears on a black Italian leather strap.
Baltic Bicompax 002 Black & Gold - Credit Baltic
The Baltic Bicompax 002 Black & Gold retails at €565 (excluding taxes).
Technical Specifications:
- Case Size: 38mm wide, 13mm thick
- Case Material: Stainless steel with yellow gold plating
- Glass: Domed hesalite crystal
- Water Resistance: 50 metres
- Dial: Glossy black with azurage counters
- Strap: Italian calfskin leather
- Movement: Seagull ST1901 manual-winding chronograph
- Power Reserve: 42 hours
- Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, central chronograph seconds, 30 minutes counter
Baltic HMS 002 Black & Gold
Baltic HMS 002 Black & Gold - Credit Baltic
Finally, the most technically classic model in the entire collection is the Baltic HMS 002 Black & Gold watch. This dressy three-hand watch is very similar in style to its Bicompax 002 counterpart, delivering a 1940’s inspired aesthetic. It has the same step case with dimensions of 38mm wide and 13mm tall. Finishing is replicated with the gold PVD coating horizontally brushed down the case middle, circular finishing on the lugs and the bezel standing out nicely with polished finishing.
The dial is simple and sober. It opts for a two-toned black display; the outer sector is brushed and set with golden hour Arabic numerals while the centre contrasts nicely with a glossy finish. There are three simple leaf-shaped hands at the centre for the hours, minutes and seconds also in gold. The Baltic HMS 002 Black & Gold watch is powered by the Japanese made Miyota 8315 automatic winding movement with a 60-hour power reserve. The movement is put on display through the case back.
Baltic HMS 002 Black & Gold - Credit Baltic
The Baltic HMS 002 Black & Gold retails at €385 (excluding taxes).
Technical Specifications:
- Case Size: 38mm wide, 13mm thick
- Case Material: Stainless steel with yellow gold plating
- Glass: Domed hesalite crystal
- Water Resistance: 50 metres
- Dial: Glossy black
- Strap: Italian calfskin leather
- Movement: Miyota 8315 automatic winding
- Power Reserve: 60 hours
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
