Baltic is slowly but surely transcending its ‘microbrand’ denomination, having cemented itself as a key horological player with a submission in this year’s Only Watch charity auction — with no less than a perpetual calendar at that. However, despite the lofty one-off, the French-founded watch brand has remained true to its initial proposition, continuing to provide vintage aesthetics interpreted through a contemporary design lens at an entry-level price point.
You’ll also enjoy:
In A Sea Of Sports Watches, Wear A Dress Watch…
Ring Watches Are The Ultimate Microtrend For Irreverent Horologists
11 Steel Sports Watches That Are Worth Their Weight In Gold
The new Baltic Hermétique Tourer delivers on all fronts, offering an appealing take on an everyday tool watch. Housed in a 37mm stainless steel case (measuring just 10.8mm thick; 2.5mm of that being from the domed sapphire glass), it’s water resistant to 150m — more than enough for amateur divers. Notably, the Hermétique Tourer eschews a statement crown in favour of an integrated variant, with the vintage-inspired touch providing an ergonomic fit and allowing the watch to be worn on the left or right wrist with ease. A brushed case is complemented by a polished bezel, the latter working to catch and reflect the light.
The Hermétique Tourer is available in four dial colours, with blue, green, brown, and cream on offer. The dial itself coalesces a sophisticated sensibility with functionality, with the clean layout exuding vintage charm while remaining highly legible. 3-6-9-12 Arabic numerals are broken up with stick hour indices, each treated to a luminescent coating, as are the polished steel syringe-shaped hands. A lightly brushed black minutes track makes for a textural interplay when contrasted with the matte coloured inner section of the dial. Each timepiece is presented on a colour-matched tropical strap, with the option to sub in a beads-of-rice or flat-link bracelet.
The Baltic Hermétique Tourer is powered by the automatic Miyota 9039 calibre, which is equipped with a 42-hour power reserve.
While microbrands tend to sit somewhere between trying to completely reinvent the wheel to somewhat un-aesthetic effect or crossing the line from homage into all-out replica, Baltic has managed to evoke a nostalgic feel through its vintage styling cues while carving out a space of its own.
As for the price tag? The Hermétique Tourer comes in at a modest €550 (approx. $915AUD before taxes) when worn on the tropical strap, while the beads-of-rice or flat-link bracelet will set you back €615 (approx. $1025AUD before taxes). All in all, not a bad value proposition for an attractive daily beater.
The Hermétique Tourer is available for pre-order via the Baltic webstore, with deliveries set to take place in November. For those based in Australia, pre-sale is also available via Time+Tide Watches, priced at $1050AUD (on the tropical strap).
Words by T. Angel
