A few weeks ago I attended a Bollywood theme charity ball, which was raising money for sports for blind/ visually impaired. The event was a tremendous success and exceptionally enjoyable. By coincidence I was seated next to a prominent Adelaide artist called Daniel Connell. Interestingly he only pursued Fine Art as a career about seven years ago. Subsequently he left his job, sold his house and has used the money to finance his true passion in life. This got me thinking about many people in the world of horology that have also made this incredible commitment. German based watchmaker Vintage VDB perfectly illustrates this point.
Over the last three years I have written two in depth articles featuring Vintage VDB (GMT Prototype and Chronograph) and more recently a hands on review of their No Limit PVD Orange. Even though in the scheme of things they are a pretty small brand they have attracted celebrities like Ralf Möller and the terminator himself; Arnold Schwarzenegger. Essentially this is because all their timepieces are exceptionally well-designed, limited to small numbers and are reasonably priced. For example the No Limit PVD Orange (which is limited to only 40 pieces) retails for well under $2,000.
When I first was introduced to the No Limit collection I was instantly attracted to all four watches. I really enjoyed testing the PVD Orange and it felt fairly lightweight on the wrist (considering the case is made from steel). The Bronze model has the same size case (47mm x 56mm x 17mm) and I would say feels slightly heavier to wear. However overall it did feel comfortable to wear and I didn’t experience any friction from the lugs. For that reason I still feel this watch would be a viable option for daily usage.
Visually the No Limit Bronze has a really distinctive and high quality appearance. I personally love bronze as a watchmaking material, especially when it develops a unique patina. This watch also has a complimentary green dial, which is slightly reminiscent of the Officier De Marine by Montres-Militaire. Although it is fair to mention the No Limit Bronze is a lot more exclusive and competitively priced. Other features include a rotating green ceramic bezel, bold luminous (Super-LumiNova ® treated) markers, discreet date window (located at 6 o’clock) and sapphire crystal lens. Overall the design is cohesive and the finishing is first rate.
At the heart of the watch 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 316L stainless steel case back. Functionally the No Limit Bronze 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 Bronze is limited to only 60 pieces and has a durable black leather strap with matching steel bronze buckle. Priced attractively at: €2,175 (approximately $2,424).
For more information about Vintage VDB visit the company’s website: http://www.vintage-vdb.com
