Ladventure is a particular brand. And the more we discovered, the more we were charmed. Today the launch of Model Automotive Chronograph marks a very big step forward for the brand. Light on this superb novelty.
Laventure: limited editions that are more Swiss than the others
At Laventure everything is entirely managed by the founder. He works alone and uses the best Swiss craftsmenmainly in La Chaux-de-Fonds, in order to offer watches 100% “Swiss-made”. This is something that is found among players in fine watchmaking, but in this price range, quite unprecedented. The idea: focus on quality, not quantity. So, when a model is sold out, it is never reproduced again. And since the quality is pushed to its climax and at all levels – not to mention Clément Gaud’s immense talent as a conductor – the collections have each time been exhausted in a few hours. If you miss the boat, you have to wait a full year for the next collection.
A chronograph inspired by the 60s
With its steel bezel, its panda dial with a cream background and its push-buttons reminiscent of those of the Paul Newman Daytona, this Laventure watch clearly echoes the past. Inevitably, it is part of the heritage of the 60s-70s car racing. It was also the period during which the first automatic chronographs were born, in 1969 to be exact, thus marking a new trend. The box takes up the features of the brand signature casekeeping the diameter of 40.5mm and accusing of a slight extra thickness (chronograph obliges) for a height of 12mm without counting the glass. The latter is moreover in Superdome shaped plexiglass; a choice linked to the vintage DNA of the watch, not to mention that it creates fewer reflections and is more resistant to violent shocks than sapphire. The dial retains a “sandwich” construction with a provision tri-compax in “panda” tones, but cream/green to stick to the colors of the brand. The watch comes on an integrated steel bracelet, while being compatible with all other bracelets available separately.
The brand’s first in-house movement
If you weren’t satisfied yet, here is the main course. Unveiling its first chronograph was already a great step, but logical and expected. The big news is his movement, now house. Developed with manufacturers Chronod (specialist in fine watchmaking) and Dubois Depraz (specialist in chronograph modules), two companies working in the manufacture of movements for watch brands, this automatic movement called Caliber I is clocked at 28,800A/h (4Hz), has 394 components and offers 60 hours of power reserve. Still just as diehard, Clément applied a green surface treatment on the bridges, gray on the mainplate, then 3N (18k) gold on the skeletonized oscillating weight, visible from the back of the case so you don’t miss a thing of the show. It’s great, but of course it comes at a cost. The move upmarket of the brand takes place with a snap, for a price of 8200 CHF (excluding tax), i.e. approximately €9,640 including tax. If we compare with the big luxury brands, the price is right. If we compare with high watchmaking brands, the price is excellent. alone 99 pieces will be producedavailable to order today and delivered from December.
Available for pre-order on the official website of adventure.
Laventure Automobile Chronograph Watch / Features
- Case: 316L stainless steel / Polished & satin finish
- Diameter : 40.5mm
- Length : 48.8mm
- Thickness : 12mm
- Entrecorne : 20mm
- Photoluminescence: Yes (Super-LumiNova)
- Type of glass: Plexiglass Superdome
- Case bottom: Transparent
- Movement : Automatique
- Caliber : Laventure I
- Power reserve: 60 hours
- Straps: Integrated stainless steel
- Loop : Deployant
- Water Resistance: 20 ATM / 200 meters
- Guarantee : 2 years
