The automatic Altanus Master Classic Gran Data offers you everything that you can expect from a dressy timepiece: style, understated elegance, and a mass-produced, but reliable Swiss-made movement manufactured by ETA S/A.
I suspect that for about 83 percent of our readers this is the very first exposure to the brand: although Altanus Geneve dates its official history right to 1914, I have the impression that a great deal of space within these 97 years it was not particularly active on the radars. So, a brief introduction first.
Although Altanus started around a hundred years ago as a purely Swiss brand, some time ago it was sold to an Italian investor and today Altanus runs its operations from Italy.
However, since the “Swiss Made” lettering on the dial significantly increases asking price of just about any timekeeper that has a body, and at least one hand, the manufacturing facilities are still located in a municipality of Chene-Bourg, in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland.
Having a population of just over 8000 people, the small town is also a home for another, more popular brand Frederique Constant.
Judging by the list of their retailers, the brand is either not popular outside of Italy or the owner simply lacks means for (or interest in) international expansion.
However, if you plan to spend your oncoming vacation in Rome or Napoli or some other historical place in Italy, you may consider buying this new Master Classic Gran Data.
Delivered in a contemporary-sized 43 mm stainless steel case, the Master Classic Gran Data sports all the necessary features of a dressy timekeeper and certainly deserves some attention from customers looking for a new watch that could be worn with formal attire.
Its dial, which is available not only in black (pictured) but also in blue and in silver, is adorned with applied Roman numerals and hour markers, and the oversized days of week window at 12 o’clock are flawlessly integrated into the general layout.
Well, the small date aperture, which is now located at 3 o’clock, could look more in place at 6 o’clock, right below the “Automatic” inscription, but even as is the actual design still looks good. Or, at least, satisfactory.
Like the overwhelming majority of “affordable” Swiss watches, this product is powered by the well-known ETA 2834-2 self-winding caliber.
So, even if the warranty is void outside of Italy (I highly doubt that) servicing the watch will not be a problem: everybody knows how to deal with this self-winding engine.
See also: Raymond Weil Day-Date Automatic (Ref. 2965 SG5 00658)
Photos: Altanus
Altanus Master Classic Gran Data specification
Movement: Automatic, Caliber ETA 2834-2, 25 jewels, 28,800 vph, Swiss Made
Movement decoration: Branded oscillating weight
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, days of the week
Power reserve: 40 hours
Case: Stainless steel
Shape: Round
Size: 43.00 mm
Dial: Black / Blue / Silver
Numerals: Roman, applied
Hands: Steel
Water resistance: 50 meters
Strap: Black leather with steel stainless steel clasp
Crystal: Sapphire
Back: Sapphire