BY DHANANJAY PATHAK
Crowdfunding platforms have given the watchmaking industry a new lease of life by providing young brands an opportunity to bring their creative ideas and designs to fruition. And while the overall process is certainly not cumbersome, the relative ease of participation also gives rise to immense competition and only brands that offer the best overall value get to taste success. So, on that note allow us to introduce you to Baron Mauer, a young new brand that is getting ready to launch their first watch called the Calaway Ref.2659, on Kickstarter on December 11th, 2018. Featuring an immaculately finished low-carbon stainless steel case, a simple yet intriguing dial design and being powered by high-quality Swiss movements, the Calaway looks like a promising new watch that is ready to make some noise. Let’s have a closer look.
Baron Mauer is a New York-based watch brand which was formed 2 years ago by two brothers fueled by their passion and love towards horology. Being huge admirers of vintage watches, folks at Baron Mauer wanted to create a high-quality watch which seeks inspiration from the classic designs of the past but is modern at its heart, and the result of their hard work is the elegant looking Calaway Ref.2659.
One of the most important ingredients of a vintage-inspired watch has to be its proportions and the Calaway definitely hits the sweet spot in this context. The case of the watch is 39mm wide and 10mm tall implying that it would sit comfortably on a variety of wrists and given its dressy nature would slide smoothly under those cuffs. Machined from a single piece of 316L stainless steel, the case has been beautifully finished and showcases a nice interplay between polished and brushed surfaces. The sides of the mid-case, the top of the lugs feature a brushed finish which is neatly separated by a polished chamfer that runs throughout the sides of the case and broadens towards the end of the lugs giving the case a sharp look. The same is echoed on the bezel which securely holds the double domed sapphire crystal in place and has been brushed on the top followed by a sloped polished bevel transitioning smoothly into the mid case. Water resistance is marked at 50 meters which is perfectly suitable for a watch of this type.
The dial on the Calaway, just like the case has been tastefully executed with some interesting design elements. The applied dart shaped hour markers are fully polished and give the watch a nice retro vibe. The markers are further complemented by a polished dauphine shaped handset which has been thoughtfully proportioned to make reading time a breeze. The minute track is a combination of white printed hash marks and small circular lume pips at intervals of five, which along with the small strips of lume on the handset would aid low light visibility. Another standout feature is that the dial has been slightly domed towards the end, which showcases the brands vintage influence and their attention to detail. Keeping in mind that the Callaway is a dress watch Baron and Mauer opted not to throw in a date window, which to us is a great decision as it helps in keeping the dial clean and uncluttered.
Baron and Mauer wanted to create watches by choosing the best quality materials and certainly shows off in their choices of movements as well. Instead of cutting costs by going for a Japanese movement, the brand has opted for a trusted Swiss movement. The watch is powered by the Sellita SW210-1, which is a hand-wound movement that beats at a frequency of 4 Hz and offers a power reserve of around 38 hours. While it would be great to look at the movement, the brand has taken a conscious decision of hiding it behind the closed case back.
To sum it up, the Calaway Ref.2659 is a sharp looking watch that really packs a punch, and in case you are looking forward to adding a new dress watch to your collection this watch would be definitely worth a consideration. As mentioned before the watch would be launched on Kickstarter on the 11th of December and early bird pricing is marked at $389 which is a substantial 35% lower than the final retail price of $525. There are two different dial colors to choose from: carbon black and micro-blasted white sand, and as for the straps you can opt for either an Italian calfskin leather or a top-grain Saffiano leather strap.
