Updated:
Readtime: 8 min
Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here.
We’re back with another round of The Wind Up! This is our weekly wrap exploring the horological encounters, events, and developments that have made waves in the Man of Many office over the past seven days. I’m Rob, someone who’s learned the hard way that watches do not make great first-date conversation, and it’s my pleasure to be joining you again.
This has been a fun week. I’ve been getting about town with Timex’s new Atelier Chronograph Automatic on my wrist, and I’m excited to share my thoughts with you. We’ll also have a look at Blancpain‘s release celebrating 70 years since the first Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe, as well as a pair of flyback chronographs from Glashütte Original.
As ever, there’s no time like the present and not a second to waste, so here we go with the latest edition of Man of Many’s The Wind Up.
On the Wrist: Timex Atelier Chronograph Automatic M1a Ti
When you think of Timex, it’s a safe bet that a $4,000 titanium chronograph is just about the furthest thing from your mind. Having built its reputation on good-looking, reliable, and extremely affordable timepieces across a very broad range of styles, the American watchmaker has dabbled in the premium space before, but until recently had never fully committed.
That shifted last year with the launch of Timex Atelier. This is an ambitious, Swiss-made line helmed by Timex’s Global Creative Director and Design Director, Giorgio Galli. The move justifiably caused a splash and has since produced some really interesting pieces (I’m a particular fan of the Atelier GMT24 M1a).
Of the range, the 42-mm Chronograph Automatic M1a Ti is the flagship. It’s the most premium and priciest of the Atelier releases thus far, making it the most expensive standard-production Timex ever. Fortunately, it absolutely looks and feels the part. The reverse panda dial realised in matte black is distinct without being flashy, while the titanium construction feels premium and keeps this admittedly large watch to a very manageable 124.4 grams.
The dial’s matte black colour absorbs light, and paired with the titanium-toned sub-dials, it gives the whole affair a slightly washed-out look. It’s like someone’s turned down the contrast on their TV. Normally, that would sound like a criticism, but here I think it elevates the look immensely and perfectly complements the hue of the titanium case and bracelet.
Without any luminosity across the hands and other details, visibility is limited. However, I think it’s the right call from Timex. The whole aesthetic would be undermined by strips of glowing material. As it is, it maintains an almost sculptural vision that’s really appealing. This is only further enhanced by the shape of the double-domed sapphire crystal.
The sculptural effect also carries over to the watch’s tachymeter bezel and its slight overhang, which obscures part of the crown and the twin rectangular pushers when viewed from the front. This means that, at a glance, the pushers don’t appear to protrude far from the side of the case, yet they have plenty of room to move. When they do, they offer a satisfying snap as you activate, pause, and reset the watch’s chronograph function.
Further, the titanium bracelet offers a light touch on the wrist, and I’ve found it very comfortable. Speaking of which, if I’m honest, my 6.5-inch wrist is probably too slight to entirely pull off the watch’s 15.75 mm case height. That said, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed wearing it all the same.
It’s exciting to see Timex, a brand that plays an enormous role in the watch world, pursuing such ambitious timepieces. The Atelier Chronograph Automatic M1a Ti is an excellent watch that’s absolutely deserving of its price point. As such, I’m excited to see what Timex has planned for the Atelier line’s continued exploration of the premium space. I imagine the next one will be even better.
Timex Atelier Chronograph Automatic M1a Ti Key Specs
- Reference: TW6A02700
- Case: Titanium
- Diameter: 42 mm
- Thickness: 15.75 mm
- Water resistance: 50 metres
- Dial: Matte black
- Bracelet: Titanium
- Movement: Swiss-made Landeron L72 automatic
- Power reserve: 43 hours
- Price: AUD$4,000
Blancpain Celebrates 70 Years of Civilian Diving with the Bathyscaphe Limited Edition
Maisons have to walk a fine line when it comes to recreating vintage releases for contemporary watch lovers. If they remain too slavishly devoted to the past, people will ask what the point is. While those who make too many tweaks risk being accused of sacrilege. Blancpain deftly navigates this issue with its new limited-edition piece marking 70 years since the Bathyscaphe’s 1956 arrival.
The original Bathyscaphe followed the ’53 debut of the Fifty Fathoms and introduced a more casual, civilian-friendly take on the diver watch. That’s what Blancpain has recreated here. Although rather than use that original ’56 release as its blueprint, this 300-piece release more closely resembles a 1968 release and meticulously updates it for 2026.
In terms of walking that aforementioned fine line, Blancpain takes plenty of authentic elements from its muse. There’s a vintage Blancpain logo, which is a lovely touch, and the maison has also lifted the sunburst meteor grey dial directly from the ’68 incarnation. The same is true of the baton hands and indexes crafted in 18k white gold. Plus, the stainless-steel 37.4-mm case also mirrors its predecessor.
But this watch isn’t a mere recreation of the ’68. Crucially, the original’s closed caseback has been replaced by a sapphire crystal display case, which lets the Blancpain manufacture calibre 1150 shine. It features an open-worked 18k gold oscillating weight inspired by the original ’53 Fifty Fathoms, and also packs modern touches like a 100-hour power reserve and a silicon hairspring.
At AUD$25,100, it might seem expensive when you merely look at the specs on paper. But for a very limited piece of Blancpain history? Yeah, it’s probably fair.
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe 70th Anniversary Limited Edition Key Specs:
- Reference: 5903 1110 63A
- Case: Stainless steel
- Diameter: 37.4 mm
- Thickness: 12.3 mm
- Water resistance: 300 metres
- Dial: Sunburst meteor grey
- Strap: Chocolate calf leather
- Movement: Calibre 1150
- Power reserve: 100 hours
- Price: AUD$25,100
Glashütte Original’s Contrasting Senator Chronograph and Senator Chronograph Navigator
This week, Glashütte Original updated its flyback chronograph offering via two very different aesthetic takes. These watches share the same 41-mm stainless steel case, with a 12.9-mm height, and a lug-to-lug measurement of 48.5 mm, but outside of that, the difference could not be more stark.
The Senator Chronograph keeps things traditional, maintaining the line’s classical design language. Its German maker achieves this via a galvanic silver dial executed in soft white, with solid-gold applied Roman numerals that are coated in blue to match the colouring of the watch’s steel hands. The effect is one of considerable elegance and refinement that belies the serious functionality on offer here.
By contrast, the Senator Chronograph Navigator offers a matte-black finish that grounds a more utilitarian take on the flyback chronograph. Glashütte pairs this hue with three-dimensional, luminescent-applied Arabic hour numerals and white dial text for a high-contrast effect. The watchmaker also deploys the luminescence across the watch’s sword hands, while it finishes the sub-dial hands in white lacquer. This results in a release that looks every inch the tool watch, and has an air that’s far more military-adjacent than its softer counterpart.
Whichever of these takes appeals to you, you’re getting a serious piece of kit, and you can expect to pay accordingly. Both watches are priced the same, but you’ll hand over $25,150 for the privilege on a steel bracelet, or $23,800 if you opt for a textile or alligator leather strap.
Glashütte Original Senator Chronograph Key Specs
- Reference: 1-37-24-01-02-64
- Case: Stainless steel
- Diameter: 41 mm
- Thickness: 12.9 mm
- Water resistance: 50 metres
- Dial: Galvanic silver
- Strap: Stainless steel, textile or alligator leather strap
- Movement: Calibre 37-24
- Power reserve: 70 hours
- Price: AUD$25,150 (stainless-steel bracelet), AUD$23,800 (textile or alligator leather strap)
Glashütte Original Senator Chronograph Navigator Key Specs:
- Reference: 1-37-24-20-12-71
- Case: Stainless steel
- Diameter: 41 mm
- Thickness: 12.9 mm
- Water resistance: 50 metres
- Dial: Matte black
- Strap: Stainless steel, textile or alligator leather strap
- Movement: Calibre 37-24
- Power reserve: 70 hours
- Price: AUD$25,150 (stainless-steel bracelet), AUD$23,800 (textile or alligator leather strap)
Comments
We love hearing from you. or to leave a comment.