Presented during the Inside Basel.Geneva 2013 tour, the Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec automatic diver is their first professional-grade diving tool. While not terribly original in its styling, this is still an interesting option for those tired of Rolex/Omega dominance on the “luxury tool watch” market and not afraid of the retail price, which is set dangerously close to $7000 mark.
Rated for whole 50 bars (500 meters) of water pressure, the watch sports the usual set of features, those including a screw-down crown, a pretty thick 4 mm sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment and, of course, an automatic HEV valve. Located at 8 o’clock, the contraption is supposed to protect the gadget during fast decompression: you don’t want the crystal to pop out at the wrongest moment possible, do you?
Another must have that people expect from a modern diving companion is, of course, a scratch-resistant ceramic bezel insert with steel Arabic numerals polished flush in its surface, as well as an electric blue sector rated for first 15 minutes of diving time. Although I would probably prefer the bezel to have more luminous elements for the legibility sake, otherwise the part looks absolutely beautiful with its oversized Arabic numerals on the minute scale nicely matching the overall “heavyweight” exterior styling.
As you can see in the photos, the Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec features traditional for the Swiss brand heavy-(a bit too heavy for my taste)-looking hands and massive hour markers with bright luminous compound inside them.
Although the huge elements allow easier reading at great depths (or just in an IMAX theater), they don’t fit with the styling of the Arabic numerals on the bezel (while definitely bold, the numerals still look more refined and contrast than the hour markers and hands with their all their rounded corners). Well, at least the watch has its own face: you will never mistake it for a Rolex or Omega.
The watch is animated by a COSC-certified Carl F. Bucherer caliber CFB 1950.1 automatic movement, which is, as far as I understand, based on the Sellita SW200 blank movement. The choice of a caliber not only means that the watch will be as accurate as a mass-produced mechanical timekeeper gets, but will also be reliable: something that you expect from a professional-grade diver.
There is still no info regarding the timekeeper’s price and I have a strong suspicion that it won’t be released before the upcoming Baselworld 2014 trade show.
See also: Eberhad & Co. Scafodat 500 (Ref. 41025) Professional Diver
Photos: Carl F. Bucherer
WWR verdict:
Originality 4/5
Build quality: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Legibility: 4.5/5
Value for money: 4/5
Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec 500M specification
Price: $6800 (MSRP)
Movement: Automatic, caliber CFB 1950.1, COSC-certified chronometer, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 26
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Power reserve: 38 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Case: Stainless steel
Bezel: Stainless steel, with polished ceramic insert
Shape: Round
Size: 44.50 mm
Case height: 13.50 mm
Dial: Black, stamped
Numerals: Arabic (on the bezel)
Hour markers: Luminous
Hands: Luminous
Water resistance: 500 meters
Strap: Stainless steel bracelet or a black rubber strap with blue accents
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective, approx. 4 mm thick
Back: Solid