Approximately eighteen months ago I contacted CX Swiss Military to see if they would send a watch for review. The owner of the company Frank Bürgin was very receptive to the idea and immediately shipped the wonderful Typhoon. Since then my relationship with Frank has been incredibly positive. Not only do I love his watchmaking ability but also think he is a really decent guy. Believe it or not these two attributes are not that common in the watch industry.
Last year I assisted Frank to find a suitable and professional retailer down under called Watchpartners (http://www.watchpartners.com.au). Even though previously the Australian market hasn’t been as progressive as the UK or US it is making up for lost time. That is why brands like CX Swiss Military are now thriving in this region. It is fair to say that so far the company’s most notable achievement is the phenomenal 20,000 Feet. This awesome timepiece holds the world record for water resistance and (literally speaking) blows the competition out of the water. Although I haven’t reviewed the watch I have worn it and was mesmerised by its chunky façade.
This year at Baselworld CX Swiss Military unveiled a new and exciting (prototype) model called the Conger Nero. Since then it has taken over six months to manufacture this superb piece. Interestingly the watch derives its name from a 10-foot eel sea predator with razor sharp teeth. Dimensionally the timepiece has a slightly larger diameter than the 20,000 Feet and measures 48.5mm x 22.5mm. I personally feel that these massive proportions will predominantly attract people with masculine tastes. Generally I found the watch sat comfortably on my wrist and I didn’t experience any friction from the lugs. However in comparison to other diver watches I have tested, it did feel very heavy and weighs in at 375 grams. Being really pedantic I would have preferred the case to be constructed from titanium rather than 316L Steel.
Visually the watch has a really cool and distinctive appearance. What makes the timepiece so special is the sleek black DLC (diamond like carbon) treated scratch resistant case and bracelet. The model I tested has a black dial with contrasting luminous markers and hands. However it is pertinent to mention there are three other dial colours (blue, white and yellow) to choose from. Other interesting characteristics include three sporty chronograph sub counters, helium release valve, anti-reflective sapphire crystal and a chunky rotating bezel. Overall I feel the design of Conger Nero is cohesive and the finishing is exceptionally high quality.
Beneath the durable exterior lies a highly reliable Swiss made Calibre Valjoux ETA 7750 sourced from the Swatch Group. This movement comprises 25-jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz). Functionally the Conger Nero features hours, minutes, seconds, day/date display and chronograph timers. The watch also has a power reserve of 42 hours and is water resistant to a staggering depth of 2,000 metres.
The Conger Nero is limited to only 100 pieces and is a superb professional diving instrument. Priced at: CHF 3,485 (approximately $3,679).
For information visit the company’s website: www.swiss-military.com
