Bomberg 1968- for the male with a blood-red spirit
I recently received the press release of a new brand, Bomberg. The press release and website breath a lot of self-confidence for a new marque, and the positioning statement is clear. “Someone is entering the room, and what they offer is not for the faint of heart” is my first impression when I look at what is offered. Take a look at the homepage on www.bomberg.ch and you’ll know what I mean.
Of course, self-confidence and a good presentation is needed when a new brand enters the watchworld arena, whether it in the high-end spectrum or, in the case of Bomberg, in the more crowded and higher-volume lifestyle timepieces. Bomberg ticks the boxes here. Presentation is good, positioning is clear. Let’s have a look at the watches.
Bomberg launches with three model lines, the 1968, the Maven and the Semper. Three models, in 52 variations, destined for the discerning male with an eye for the un-conventional. Muscular design, large casing (42 and 44 mm) and chronometer dials are standard for all three model lines. All watches are in stainless steel, with mineral crystal face and water resistant to 10 ATM.
1968
The 1968 is in my personal favorite. The un-conventional choice of positioning the hands (at 11,12,and 1) impresses, and gives the watch a original look, like stopwatch on a strap. The case is 44 mm in black, sandblasted PVD. The dial offers a tachymeter, day date and eccentric way of displaying hours and minutes: the minutes in the outer “ring” and hours in the inner “ring”, combined with the chronos. Of all color variations, the all-black (leather strap and black dial) is the one to have.
Case:
- 44 mm in black sandblasted PVD
- Mineral crystal with anto-reflective and sapphire coating
- Case back screwed down in black sandblasted PVD
- Water resistance: 10 ATM
Dial and hands:
- Metal black dial print in with with silver applied counters
- Tachymeter
- Nickel hands with luminova
- Day Date
Movement:
- Chronograph Miyota OS11
Strap and buckle
- Black leather strap standard holes with black stitching
- Black sandblasted PVD buckle
The Maven
The Maven shares the same case size with the 1968, but without the un-conventional hands positioning. The case is of brushed stainless steel instead of sandblasted PVD. The Maven comes with a nylon strap, giving it a pilot watches resemblance, which is not looking bad.
Case:
- 44 mm brushed stainless steel
- Mineral crystal with anti-reflective and sapphire coating
- Case back screwed down in brushed stainless steel
- Water resistance: 10 ATM
Dial and hands:
- Embossed silver and black dial with applied chapter print in white
- Tachymeter
- Nickel hands with luminova
- Day Date
Movement:
- Chronograph Miyota OS25 with retrograde 1/20 sec.
Strap and buckle
- Black nylon strap with grey stitching
- Brushed stainless steel buckle
Semper
The third model line is the Semper: Bomberg’s interpretation of the classic chronograph. With 42 mm casing it’s not too big, compared to competition. The choice of black sandblasted PVD here, instead of stainless steel gives the conventional design a special twist.
Case:
- 42 mm black sandblasted PVD
- Mineral crystal with anti-reflective and sapphire coating
- Case back clipped down in black PVD
- Water resistance: 5 ATM
Dial and hands:
- Metal black dial print in vintage green
- Tachymeter and telemeter
- Nickel hands with luminova
- Day Date
Movement:
- Chronograph Miyota )S21
Strap and buckle
- Black leather strap with black stitching
- Brushed sandblasted PVD buckle
1968
BOMBERG has announced to launch the three models thoroughout the world in the next year.. Starting in Mexico, where delivery already is taking place, Colombia, Venezuela and Panama will follow, with a planned roll-out to several countries in the rest of Latin America, Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia), Asia (Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia) and Europe (Switzerland, Germany, Austria, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Turkey).
In the extremely crowded marketplace of lifestyle watches with popular pricing, I give Bomberg good chances. I must admit that I haven’t got the opportunity yet to see the watches in real live, fitting them on the wrist to make the ultimate judgement, but the signs are good. When the watches are looking as good in real life as they do on www.bomberg.ch, and the pricing range (495 to 665 euros) is definitive, I welcome Bomberg as a promising new brand.
Written by Nick A. Meijer
