Limes Pharo Full Calendar Chronograph with Moonphase

The German watch brand starts selling its new Limes Pharo Full Calendar Chronograph with Moonphase.

Powered by the wide-spread ETA Valjoux 7751 full calendar chronograph movement, which is both reliable and accurate, this dressy watch could have been a nice Christmas gift for just about any man, if it wasn’t so overpriced.

The Germans ask about ?3000 for this timepiece and, for a watch that looks, well, like just about any other watch powered by the 775x-series ebauche from ETA, this is a definitely lot of money. Or, in other words, buying this watch you are not going to make an investment into the future simply because its collector’s value is close to zero.

However, the German brand seems to perfectly realize this problem and tries to make the exquisitely decorated silvered (or black) dial the main selling point of this watch.

While most Swiss timekeepers in this price range will only offer you dials decorated by expensive CNC machines, this one is actually done by a living person.

Although the hand-decorated dial has a hard time compensating for a pretty average stainless steel case, printed Roman numerals, a set of standard hands and an almost undecorated movement, I highly doubt that you will be able to find such a beauty among offerings from Longines, Maurice Lacroix and other affordable Swiss brands.

Ditto the similar offerings from Chronoswiss (their gorgeous Lunar Chronograph CH7523L-FST sells at a recommended price of $7800) and RGM that offers its M160 model with similar level of decoration at a price of $6300.

Of course, their watches come with solid silver dials and slightly modified movements but, to my taste, the Limes Pharo Full Calendar Chronograph with Moonphase is so far the best offering on the market all things considered. If you don’t count in the price, that is.

Photos: Limes

Limes Pharo Full Calendar Chronograph with Moonphase specification

Price range: €3000
Movement: ETA Valjoux 7751, automatic, 25 jewels, 28,800 vph, 31 mm x 5.05 mm
Complications: Date, day of week, month, moonphase
Power reserve: 42 hours
Case material: Stainless steel
Case shape: Round
Transparent case back: Yes, sapphire crystal
Case size: 40.5 mm
Case height: 14.5 mm
Dial: Silvered, hand-guilloched (also available in Black)
Hands: Blued Breguet hands
Water resistance: 50 meters
Strap: Brown or black leather
Crystal: Sapphire, double AR-coating