14 DAY TRIAL // Leica keeps on celebrating its 100th anniversary in big style. The famed camera maker has managed to team up with independent Swiss watch maker Valbray in order to produce a limited edition timepiece.
So if smartwatches don’t really impress you that much and you’d like to stick to traditional values in terms of time keeping, Leica and Valbray’s “EL1 Chronograph” might be just the thing to look into, notes PetaPixel.
In terms of aesthetic and mechanical features, the Leica-branded watches look pretty similar to the standard “EL1 Chronograph,” but if you look closer, you’ll find the differences hidden in tiny details.
The limited edition watch is built around a central concept, this being the iris-style shutter on the dial, which can be opened and closed by twisting the bezel.
What does this mean exactly? Well, owners of the watch are basically being given the opportunity to change how the watch dial actually looks. Wearers can adapt the look of the watch depending on occasion or mood.
So today you might feel like exposing the chronograph mechanism is a good idea, but if the following week you enter a minimalist phase, you can always complete close off the shutter.
The watches produced in this high-end partnership will be limited to 100 pieces and will be up for grabs in Leica stores and select Valbray dealers.
The watch looks like something Valbray might usually produce, but there are some subtle design details and color changes that make the new watch stand out.
The Iris-style dial we have been telling you about above is deemed the “Oculus diaphragm system” which takes advantage of 16 individual matte black blades that open and close when the bezel is turned.
The EL1 Chronograph is 46mm / 1.1 inches wide and Valbray plans to offer two versions of the limited edition goodies, both of which will be produced using titanium.
The first one will use sandblasted titanium, while the other will come in black-coated sandblasted titanium.
The inner bezel has been designed to give the wearer Leica camera lens vibes. If you’re wondering what lies under the hood, the watch maker has slipped a base Swiss ETA Valjoux 7750 automatic chronograph movement in there.
Leica will not be offering the EL1 Chronograph by itself, but with a stylish leather strap in either black or brown. As you might expect, the limited edition watch will certainly burn a hole in your bank account, because the EL1 Chronograph will sell for $24,700 / €17,999.
