Stefano Andrean explores watch brand Brera Orologi, the relatively young Italian fashion-oriented company with big ambitions
I adore watches, so any opportunity to explore a relatively new watch brand in-depth is extremely exciting. Brera Orologi was launched eight years ago with a straightforward vision: creating attainable luxury men’s timepieces with Italian design and Swiss precision.
Brera Orologi offers a wide range of timepieces and for this article I have chosen two watches, the Orologi ProDiver, and the Eterno Chrono – in its second iteration
All the Brera watches are designed from scratch from initial pencil sketches on the back of a napkin (figuratively speaking, of course) to the final CAD imagery, before going into manufacture. Also, recent sponsorship of several cars and drivers in prestigious Motorsport events show the brand’s commitment to getting their name out there in the horological world.
Although the movements used in all of their watches are quartz, they are made by Swiss company Ronda and offer a combination of exceptional build quality and accurate timekeeping. The two new releases hint at what direction the company is heading.
The ProDiver is, as the name would suggest, a proper diving watch. Waterproof to 300m, helped by a screw-down crown & pushers, it has a ISO-6425 certification – it is made for and authorised for professional diving use. Whilst quartz movements can be looked down upon in the world of watch aficionados, in the professional diving world they are the standard. The low amount of moving parts within the watch and the unique feature of the hands ‘vibrating’ when the battery is down at 20% or below means you are never caught out – always useful when you have a limited supply of oxygen. The rubber strap is completely waterproof and feels very sturdy; it’s unlikely to ever let you down in the event of any knock or scrape.
The watch itself is certainly a statement piece, measuring 47 mm across excluding the crown and pushers – it definitely gets noticed. Among the Hublot and Audemars Piguet wearing crowd at my members’ club in London, it still got compliments; very impressive for a watch priced at a modest £695.
The large dimensions of the watch mean it would probably suit those of you with larger wrist.
The Eterno Chrono is a a more subtle affair.
At 43 mm excluding crown & pushers, this watch is far dressier than ProDiver and the thinner profile means it can be worn comfortably under your shirt cuff. The Eterno Chromo is still usefully waterproof to 30 m (Breitling, why can’t you do this on your Navitimer?), though desk diving is as far as we would probably want to take it.
As with Brera’s ProDiver, the materials used in its construction are top-notch, with sapphire crystal on the front and the casing milled from a piece of 316L stainless steel. The strap is half rubber, half suede, with the rubber being against your skin at all times, ensuring the longevity of the suede strap.
This is the second version of the Eterno Chrono, the original was slightly clunkier in appearance and we definitely welcome this more svelte-looking and refined model.
If you are on the market for a statement piece or just a stylish dress watch without breaking the bank, either of these will serve you well.
Brera Orologi watches – Where and how
Available at selected stockists.
watchavenue.co.uk
Charles Fish, Chelmsford Store
Wolf and Badger, Mayfair Store
Priced at £695.00 and £595.00 respectively.
Company website: www.breraorologi.com
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