Even though luxury watchmaker Montres Sea-God was launched nine years ago they only released their first series of timepieces in 2012.
The brand is the brainchild of Italian born Enzo Palazzolo. As a serial entrepreneur and avid watch collector he established the business in 2003. To achieve his vision it took nine years to create the perfect timepiece. The result is a range of quality Swiss made watches designed for the discerning collector.
Eighteen months ago Montres Sea-God unveiled two debut collections at Baselworld 2013. The BlackStorm comes in a variety of different designs whilst the Portorotondo Limited Edition is slightly more exclusive. As far as I am aware both series have received a very positive response throughout the industry. In my opinion any praise is well deserved, as they are particularly good looking timepieces.
A few months ago Enzo Palazzolo contacted me via LinkedIn to introduce his brand. From the outset I have appreciated the enormous commitment he has made to produce an original quality timepiece. Rather than use off the shelf product (which would have got the watches to the market a lot sooner) he decided to design each element from scratch. From researching, writing and speaking to watchmakers I have come to realise how difficult producing a watch really is. To make production viable CNC (computer numerical control) machines have to be calibrated to make at least a 100 pieces at a time. This process is normally costly and also very time consuming. On that basis it explains the epic journey Enzo has encountered to fulfill his dream.
The Sardinian Marina of the same name apparently inspired the Portorotondo GMT. With a diameter of 46mm excluding the crown and lugs, the watch is generously proportioned. These masculine dimensions should appeal to a wide variety of buyers. I can also imagine this timepiece would be comfortable to wear on a daily basis. Essentially that is down to the contoured shape of the case and materials used in production. The watch is constructed from DLC (Diamond like carbon) treated 316L stainless steel with a titanium bezel. Realistically this timepiece is designed to endure the rigors of every day life.
Aesthetically the Portorotondo GMT has a very bold and distinctive appearance. I am a huge fan of all black timepieces and so I am completely seduced by the watch’s façade. The matt finish of the dial perfectly contrasts with the oversized numeral and indexes. Other stylish features include a large bezel with 12 titanium screws and embossed numbers. I also like the red ‘Portorotondo’ inscription, which adds a subtle injection of colour into the composition. Overall the design is cohesive and the finishing first rate.
Beneath the watch’s robust exterior lies a Swiss ETA (Swatch) 2893-2 caliber. This movement comprises 21 jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations an hour. The Portorotondo GMT features hours, minutes, seconds, date and GMT function. It also has a power reserve of 42 hours and is water resistant to 300 metres. The Portorotondo GMT has a bespoke black rubber strap and is limited to 499 pieces.
You can read more watch reviews by Steve Huyton on his own website www.totalwatchreviews.com