Generally, the watch industry has massively slowed down over the last few years. When I visited Baselworld in 2015 the consensus at that time was that the Apple Watch and similar devices like Fitbit, Garmin etc. wouldn’t really have an impact. However, it clearly has and there are reports from credible sources that collectors are selling their pride and joy just to stay connected. It seems that to a lot of people counting their steps and monitoring sleep patterns is more important than wearing a beautiful timepiece. Certainly, I am not inclined to move in that direction because I love Swiss mechanical watches.
As I have moved away from exclusively writing about timepieces I am more selective of the models I feature. Therefore, factors like strong design, build quality and choice of materials are very important. The 1960s inspired Raider Harpoon from Favre Leuba definitely ticks all these boxes. Fundamentally that is why I included this amazing timepiece in my recently released ‘Independent Watchmakers’ book. This is a brand with true Swiss heritage that dates back 280 – years. Ultimately that means they have developed a solid reputation within the industry for producing high-quality timepieces.
When it comes to producing divers watches the Swiss definitely know best. Obviously the Rolex Submariner is probably the most famous but if you want something a bit more innovative, the Raider Harpoon is a good contender. With a 316L stainless steel cushion shape case measuring 46mm x 16.5mm (excluding the crown), I feel it is very well proportioned. However, what makes this watch truly stand out from the crowd is the way time is presented. What Favre Leuba has devised is an ingenious (Swiss-made) patented self-winding mechanical movement that displays hours on a rotating disc. Other cool features include a unidirectional anodized two-tone (orange/black or blue/black) aluminium bezel, helium valve and central running seconds indication. Overall I absolutely love the stylish retro composition and would definitely be proud to own this distinctive piece.
The Raider Harpoon has a high-quality black rubber wrist band with matching 316L stainless steel pin buckle. Priced competitively at: 4,450 CHF (approximately $4,445).
For more information about Favre Leuba visit the company’s website
