I am really delighted at the emergence of exciting brands hailing from the UK. In recent articles I featured many British watchmakers including Bremont, Schofield, Oceanarc and Kennett. A few months ago I received a presentation from an English based company called Terranaut. The entrepreneurial Dale Rollinson established the business in 2010. From our many conversations it is clear that he has an enormous passion for watches in general. This obsession started when he was only 16 years old.
Dale Rollinson’s first encounter in the world of horology involved buying and selling his favourite timepieces. These watches were predominantly from well-known brands like Rolex, Breitling, Omega and TAG Heuer. Subsequently this prompted him to launch his own brand four years ago. Over this period progress has been slow due to the fact that Dale’s primary source of income is from his day job. This isn’t unusual in the world of horology and many other watch labels I have featured rely on other sources of funding. A good example is jet engineer Frank Heydrich who produces exquisite timepieces at nighttime and during his weekends.
Presently Dale Rollinson has produced one model called the XL 50mm (available in four versions). When the watch arrived, my first impression was very positive. As the name suggests this is a very large timepiece that measures 50mm x 13mm (excluding the pushers and crown). Although the timepiece won’t entice everyone I feel it will certainly appeal to fans of TW Steel and U-Boat. Considering the size and weight (170 grams) I found it sat fairly comfortably on the wrist. Primarily this is down to the ergonomic and lug free case design. Realistically this watch could be worn for most occasions and is definitely a practical option for daily usage.
When I last communicated with Dale Rollinson he explained his design process and how he had fastidiously studied many watches over the years. Ultimately he wanted to maximise the usable area of the dial. What makes this timepiece so attractive is the bold and sporty appearance. I love features like the carbon fiber dial and contrasting oversized numerals. Other successful elements include a stylish small second counter, bezel with Tachymetre scale, open worked hour/minute hands and a distinctive brushed steel crown guard. Overall the composition has been well considered and the attention to detail is first rate.
Beneath the robust exterior lies a Japanese Caliber Miyota OS11 quartz Chronograph movement with an approximate battery life of two years. Hopefully Terranaut will consider producing a Swiss mechanical version in the very near future. Functionally the XL 50mm feature hours, minutes, small seconds and date facility. The watch also is water resistant to a depth of 100 metres and comes with a two-year warranty.
The XL 50mm has a premium leather strap (with carbon fiber pattern) and a matching brushed steel buckle. Priced competitively at: £399 ($668).
For more information visit the company’s website: http://www.terranaut.co.uk
