Approximately 5-years ago I met with a gentleman called Christophe Hoppe who had co-founded a brand called Bausele. Even though Christophe originates from France he met his wife in Australia and now resides in Sydney. At the time he showed me visuals of a really cool watch concept. This timepiece eventually went into production and is called the Terra Australis. One of the most distinctive features of this watch is the lightweight ceramic granite type bezel (developed with Flinders University in Adelaide). Interestingly this material (trademarked Bauselite) is formed by injecting nano-particles of ceramic into molten rock. At the time this was considered pretty radical. However, since then brands have become even more experimental, especially with lightweight carbon composites. A great example is Romago Swiss who have developed the first bright red forged carbon watch (I am aware of).
A few months ago, I created a watch called the Kaleidoscopic that is created from a multi-coloured carbon composite. The manufacturer who made the components normally supplies parts to the automotive industry. Recently they have diversified and are trying to expand their product range. Horology is one of their growth areas and they have developed many unique materials. Certainly, many high-end luxury brands like Hublot, Panerai, Richard Mille, Roger Dubuis and (new kid on the block) Vault have yielded some amazing results. However, prices are beyond the realms of possibility for most buyers. That is why I was so keen to review SUPER CARBON X by Romago Swiss. For only $3,091 you can purchase an amazing Swiss mechanical watch that is crafted from a distinctive red carbon fibre composite.
Prior to this review I wasn’t that familiar with Romago Swiss and became aware of their work through their Singapore distributor TVG. Mainly, I have been dealing with their marketing department who advised me the company is managed by industry veteran Jean-Claude Racine. Apart from that, they’re a bit of an enigma and there is limited information about the company on their website. However, that doesn’t matter because their watches are exceptionally well designed and competitively priced. Certainly, my personal favourite is the SUPER CARBON X red version. That is why I was delighted when the watch arrived last week. Without question, this timepiece massively exceeded my expectations.
Dimensionally this watch has a 46.5mm x 46.5mm case that is vaguely reminiscent of the BR 01-92 by Bell & Ross. Mainly because both have similar size square cases. However, the SUPER CARBON X has a more industrial aesthetic, especially the red carbon version. This model is milled from forged carbon and has a striking black and red layered pattern. Not only does this make a really bold statement but it is also exceedingly lightweight, weighing in at only 98 grams (including the strap). I’ve now been wearing this timepiece for the last few days and it feels very comfortable on the wrist. Certainly, I haven’t experienced any friction and would be content to wear this watch on a daily basis. Potentially you could wear the SUPER CARBON X for formal events. However, I feel due to contemporary appearance it would look better with casual attire.
Visually the SUPER CARBON X has a really high-quality appearance that is normally found in watches several times the price. I absolutely the love the multi layered black dial, which exposes parts of the mechanical movement and date wheel. This feature is inspired by the sporty façade of high-performance racing cars. Other details include sword shape hour/minute hands (with red lume) revolving skeletonised second wheel, date indication and raised 3D numerals. Powering the watch is a self-winding Swiss mechanical movement produced to Romago’s specifications. The Calibre RM097 comprises 31-jewels, oscillates at 28,800 vibrations per hour and has a power reserve of between 42-44 hours.
The SUPER CARBON X Red I reviewed is presented on a 24mm red rubber strap with a matching engraved buckle. To purchase this amazing watch follow this link
