A few years ago I visited friends at their newly renovated house in Essen. Although I am originally from England it was my first ever visit to Germany. Whilst I was there I visited the sensational Red Dot Museum and discovered a local watch company called Uhr-Kraft. Even though they are essentially a fashion brand, their timepieces are still pretty cool. Ultimately this stimulated me to write a few articles about German watchmakers. In many peoples opinions high-end watchmakers A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte Original and Chronoswiss are certainly at the same level as their Swiss rivals. There are also a fine selection of boutique labels like Ventura, Kaventsmann and Vintage VDB making their mark in the world of horology.
Within a relatively short space of time Vintage VDB have gained a solid reputation with watch enthusiasts. Although they have a well designed website most of their business comes via Facebook. What makes the company really special is that they produce all their own timepieces in house and in very limited numbers. Essentially this makes their watches exceptionally exclusive and highly coveted. Another bonus is that they are equipped with Swiss mechanical movements and priced very competitively.
Previously I have written about Vintage VDB’s GMT Prototype and their formidable bronze/carbon fiber Chronograph. However up until a few days ago I had never seen any of their watches in the metal. A few months ago the company unveiled a new range of four watches called the No Limits project. The one I decided to test first was the striking PVD Orange. Dimensionally the timepiece measures 47mm x 56mm x 17mm and is definitely designed to make a powerful statement. Surprisingly for a watch of this size it actually felt comfortable and fairly lightweight on the wrist. Primarily this is down to the innovative case design and choice of 316L (black PVD treated) stainless steel in production. Realistically this watch could be worn for most occasions and definitely on a daily basis.
Visually the No Limit PVD Orange has a bold and striking appearance. Presently it seems very popular for brands to inject an element of colour into their designs. In this instance Vintage VDB have opted to equip this timepiece with a vibrant orange dial and rotating bezel. This detail gives the watch an enormous amount of character and works in perfect contrast with the sleek matt black PVD case. Other features include bold white markers, small date window and sapphire crystal lens. Overall the composition is very stylish and the finishing is exceedingly high.
Beneath the robust exterior lies a self-winding movement sourced from the Swatch Group. The Calibre ETA 2824-2 comprises 25-jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz). Unfortunately on this model the mechanism isn’t visibly showcased. However the watch does have an elegant engraved VDB logo on the case back. Functionally the No Limit PVD Orange features hours, minutes, seconds and date facility. The timepiece also has a power reserve of 40-hours and is water resistant to a depth of 200 metres.
The No Limit PVD Orange is limited to only 40 pieces and has a durable black leather strap with matching steel (black PVD treated) buckle. Priced attractively at: €1,715 (approximately $1,874).
For more information about Vintage VDB visit the company’s website: http://www.vintage-vdb.com
