First presented two years ago in Basel, Switzerland, the EvoTec series is once again extended with the beautiful Carl F. Bucherer Patravi EvoTec Calendar. Available now in stainless steel (Ref. 00.10629.08.33.01) and rose gold (Ref. 00.10629.03.13.01,) the new timekeeper brings to the party a gorgeous hand-decorated caliber that is hidden inside a case that is as discreet as it is sporty.
Like the original version, the Carl F. Bucherer Patravi EvoTec Calendar will be officially presented later this month at Baselworld 2011. The timepiece will sport the gorgeous CFB A1004 automatic caliber designed and produced solely in-house.
Being a modified version of the original CFB A1000 movement from 2009, the Caliber A1004 features the same peripheral winding rotor and offers such functionality as Big Date (at 11 o’clock,) a day of the week (at 9 o’clock,) a subsidiary seconds indicator and an “extended” weeks scale that includes not 52 but whole 53 weeks in order “to avoid having to put the week calendar back in the relevant years.”
Even if you are not that much into technical specifications of a mechanism that powers your wristwatch, there is a good chance that the cal. CFB A1004 would still attract your attention thanks to its impeccable exterior finish.
While the quality of decor is something to be expected when buying a watch that has a recommended price higher than $25,000 USD is something to be expected, it is the tiny engine’s “industrial” aesthetics that make a real impression here: while the incumbents like Breguet or Patek Philippe still use designs dating back to 18th Century or beyond, it is brands like Carl F. Bucherer that drive the industry into the 21st Century (if not in terms of revolutionary designs, then at least when it comes to pure beauty.)
The Swiss watchmakers didn’t forget about usability and legibility, as well. In order to make the “weeks” scale even more legible, the standard small seconds display is substituted with a partly-visible rotating disk with the current date indicated with a bright red triangle.
While the previous representatives of the EvoTec series sported cushion-shaped cases, this one comes in a more classic-looking round body that visually supports the theme of the “weeks” scale.
Being 42.6 mm in diameter and 12.85 mm thick, the case is neither large nor small. Comparing it to cars, this is a Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Or, rather, a C63 AMG sports sedan.
See also: Hermes Cape Cod Tonneau Bleu de Malte
Photos: Carl F. Bucherer
Carl F. Bucherer Patravi EvoTec Calendar (refs. 00.10629.08.33.01 & 00.10629.03.13.01) specification
Price: €22,400 (MSRP, ref. 00.10629.03.13.01 in 18-karat rose gold)
Movement: Automatic, Caliber CFB A1004, peripheral rotor, 32 x 6.9 mm, 33 jewels, in-house, Swiss Made
Movement decoration: Decorated by hand
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, day, week
Power reserve: 55 hours
Case: Stainless steel (Ref. 00.10629.08.33.01) or Rose gold (Ref. 00.10629.03.13.01)
Shape: Round
Size: 42.60 mm
Case height: 12.85 mm
Dial: Silver or Black
Hands: Skeletonized
Water resistance: 50 meters
Strap: Calfskin strap in black or brown with a folding clasp
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective on both sides
Back: Sapphire