Reviewing the Baltic Aquascaphe GMT
Baltic is a relatively recent watch microbrand, born in 2017 in France, whose founder developed his passion for watches from an early age due to his father being an avid collector and passionate about watches, hence the creation of Baltic was a natural step, which aims to create watches inspired by vintage watches from his father’s collection.
Today we are going to review Aquascaphe GMT, launched on the market in December, it is our first article about Baltic and although we have not yet had the opportunity to have one in our hands, we cannot fail to say that from what we have seen and read so far, we are truly enthusiastic, but the best thing is to go through the review to be able to understand better.
At first glance, we have a watch with a vintage look but at the same time modern, with a very interesting size of only 39mm in diameter, 12mm thick and 47mm lug-to-lug, with a non-flat sapphire glass which pleased us and that reinforces the vintage aspect but that, like the size issue, we think it will not please everyone. The watch features three variants that vary the colour of the bezel and GMT hand, one with the bezel half blue and half orange and with the GMT hand orange, the other with the bezel half blue and half green and with the GMT hand in green and finally we have one with the bezel half blue and half grey with GMT hand blue. The watch case has a brushed effect and as far as the bracelet is concerned, you can choose between a tropical rubber strap or beads of rice steel bracelet, which reinforces the vintage aspect which seems to fit the watch perfectly.
Regarding specifications, the watch features a 39mm steel case, as we have already mentioned, a signed crown at 3 o’clock and with a sandblasted effect, drilled lugs (we never tire of saying we are fans), sapphire glass, steel case back engraved with the world seen from above and around it the main cities in the world and what seems to us to be the time difference between the different cities (we tried to discover the pattern but we confess that we have not yet discovered) and water resistance 100 meters. Regarding the bezel, it is bidirectional, it comes with 24 clicks (one for each hour), the font used is different from that shown on the dial although it retains the retro inspiration.
Moving on to the dial, it is presented in a matt black colour, with white hour markers with luminescence, presenting the 12 hours with Arabic numerals and just below the brand name “Baltic”, on the other end the introduction for the first time of the date complication through a small window with the background in the same colour as the dial and above it in small the word “Aquascaphe” followed by “GMT” in the same colour of the GMT hand. The dial comes with luminous lipsticks hands and a lollipop second hand, the GMT hand is a combination of the chosen colour of the bezel and ends with a large arrow with luminescence.
Just three more interesting details, first, the watch features C1 Luminova luminescence both on the dial and on the bezel that allows easy reading at darkened heights, another interesting point is to observe the watch in profile which due to its shape allows you to observe four different layers on the corrugated sapphire glass, the bezel, the case and the case back, finally, the first 600 units are numbered on the case back which makes these unique.
In terms of movement, it is presented with an automatic movement Soprod C125, it is a Swiss movement not as well-known as the usual ETA or Sellita movements, but very similar from the point of view of performance, it offers 42 hours of power reserve, bidirectional winding and hacking seconds feature.
Veridito, the watch is very interesting with dimensions similar to the famous Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight, the construction seems to be very good with a credible movement and a very appealing design as Baltic has always accustomed us, in terms of price it is quite competitive, with the price set at around € 1,105 for the rubber strap option and € 1,200 for the steel bracelet option, however, the competition is vast and we could right now suggest equally credible alternatives at similar prices, however also we know that the main market for microbrands is not exactly the same as that of the most well-known traditional brands and therefore our verdict can only be very positive, once again we would like to experience it by our hands, hopefully soon.
General Specifications:
Brand: Baltic
Model: Aquascaphe GMT
Reference: Aquascaphe GMT – Green, Aquascaphe GMT – Grey, Aquascaphe GMT – Orange
Dial: Black
Lume: C1 Luminova
Case Material: Stainless steel 316L
Case Dimensions: 39 mm Diameter, 12 mm thickness, 47 mm lug-to-lug
Crystal: Double domed sapphire
Case Back: Stainless steel
Water Resistance: 100 Meters
Strap: Tropic rubber black strap, tropic rubber blue strap, beads of rice steel bracelet
Caliber: Soprod C125
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, GMT
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 vph)
Jewels: 25
Power Reserve: 42 Hours
Price: € 1,105 (Tropic rubber strap), € 1,200 (beads of rice steel bracelet)
