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Baltic Aquascaphe-Now open for pre-order.

  1. MTROIS Jun 12, 2019

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    Sorry to read this... but the watches are being shipped as planned, so just a tiny bit more patience is required. :thumbsup:
     
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  2. Shabbaz Jun 12, 2019

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    The most important thing is... I was first...:D
     
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  3. MarktheTime Jun 12, 2019

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    Totally understand - and am looking forward to its arrival!
     
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  4. opahman Jun 12, 2019

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    Can’t wait to get mine. Fantastic watch
     
  5. GregH Jun 13, 2019

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    wagudc, Larry S and MTROIS like this.
  6. micampe Jun 13, 2019

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    Today a package showed up totally unannounced and earlier than expected, I’m not complaining!

    If, like me, you were concerned about the clasp being bulky like many modern ones, I’m happy to say that it’s quite nice, similar to the good old ones.

    6E55A916-9922-4651-ABAC-957D4C47DD2B.jpeg

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    Edited Jun 13, 2019
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  7. KeithS Jun 13, 2019

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    And suddenly the question is no longer "should I get one?", but rather "should I get one with the black dial or the blue dial?"...

    I wish they would hurry up and take my money already.
     
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  8. MTROIS Jun 13, 2019

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  9. MTROIS Jun 13, 2019

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    Gorgeous watch... and pics!! Congrats!!
    Can't wait to get mine....
     
  10. GregH Jun 13, 2019

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    Yes! It’s rainy and overcast today, so not the best day to charge lume, but it is in all places
     
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  11. MarktheTime Jun 13, 2019

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    For those of us still waiting to hear about delivery....interesting to note that a few seem to be showing up without prior DHL delivery notifications. Curious, I checked with the Baltic team on Instagram (they are very friendly and responsive, and have been sharing posts of customers wearing their new Aquascaphes regularly), they checked my order number - and lo and behold, they gave me a tracking number showing mine is set for delivery tomorrow. A pleasant surprise, and I got no previous notices at all from DHL. Yes, I have repeatedly checked spam/junk/trash filters to no avail.
    In any event, loving the pictures I'm seeing out there, and with a little luck, will be able to strap mine on just in time for Father's Day weekend! No ties or socks for THIS guy.... ::psy::::psy::::psy::
     
    Edited Jun 14, 2019
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  12. OHS Jun 13, 2019

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    @micampe great to see the black dial version!

    I'd just managed to convince myself I didn't need one of these (the blue variety) but that is a real stunner!

    I must stop looking at this thread!!
     
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  13. Larry S Color Commentator for the Hyperbole. Jun 13, 2019

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    I do hope that i will walk into the house with a package in the foyer tomorrow. Then jet lagged fun. Can't wait. The watch looks great.
     
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  14. MTROIS Jun 13, 2019

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    Guess whom got a little package delivered earlier this afternoon?
    Unpacking to follow later today.... (can't wait)
    Edit: apparently it was picked up yesterday in Paris and was delivered today (East coast USA)!!!! :eek:
     
    Edited Jun 13, 2019
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  15. Shabbaz Jun 13, 2019

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    Natural habitat...
     
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  16. MTROIS Jun 13, 2019

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    Love that tropic strap!!
     
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  17. MTROIS Jun 14, 2019

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    Ok, gents. It is time of unwrapping + 24 hours so time for a few pics and some early comments concerning this beautiful watch!

    First, the unwrapping:
    Watch box came nicely tucked in a cardboard box and everything was in great shape, no damage.
    F6BCA0C8-2BEE-4613-B14F-D3151681EB51.jpeg
    Love the seawater background on the outer box...

    0619D566-6C27-471E-82CF-A78A16697E23.jpeg

    Below the outer box, in the bottom of the parcel was a little envelope including a change tool to push spring bar through lug hole and the spare tropic strap:

    F880E180-8F73-4C37-9F0A-BCCBAA089075.jpeg

    And here is the watch box (blue “leatherette”), with some spare links for the metal bracelet and the users guide in the bottom of it, all inspiring some very serious quality of what is left inside:

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    And finally, here she is:

    6E681112-FBB5-4F94-A10A-9003F03AFC22.jpeg



    Now, to the watch! Since the metal bracelet was too loose on my ~7”-71/4” wrist, I decided to remove the bracelet to install the tropic strap. That was done in a breeze thanks to the embedded system in the back of the end links that allow to quickly squeeze the pins out of the lugs.
    Interestingly, installing the strap was a bit more of a pain than I anticipated because the spring bars used did not allow me to use my standard Bergeon or Omega spring bar tool as there was no groove you could use to push the pin in the bar. I decided to put some tape on the back of the lug to ensure that I was not going to scratch it when pushing the pin with a flat surface. Not a big deal, but I will try to find a better pair of spring bars for next time. (Lugs are 20mm apart). Anyhow, here she is on my wrist:

    6DE97BA7-4375-4A2B-8403-21CBB2CDC7DA.jpeg


    Dial is gorgeous, very dark indeed, and the nice blue reflections come especially out in bright lighting... so not very visible in these indoor shots:

    CCB7BBA0-76AD-4615-86EE-797764EDBF0E.jpeg

    With a side shot to show you thickness and screw-in crown, although I am wearing the watch a bit loosely since I am in between two settings on the strap (more on this later):

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    Here are a couple of shots in day light:

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    Lastly, here is a “lume shot” after only a few seconds of loading with UV light:

    C67C6B3E-E374-4D05-891F-50C243C0EA9F.jpeg


    So here are some initial thoughts on this watch:

    - the build quality is quite high for this price point and right off the back, the watch comes in above my expectations!
    - the watch has a definite vintage feel to it, one of the main reasons why I wanted to get this piece! 39mm case size (but feels a bit smaller with the bezel width), nice warm color of the lume material, lovely appearance of the “sandwich” construction of the dial and plots at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock.
    - love the railroad track of the dial, the vintage font used for the 12 numeral, and also enjoy the cleanliness of the writing with only three lines of text total!
    - I will need to evaluate this a bit more, but intensity and duration of lume seems average, I would say. Certainly not as bright as my SMP bond or even my Rolex BLNR, but I will check again when fully loaded.
    - bezel is nearly flat (contrary to what some pics online suggested), great feel, especially when you rotate it: solid grip and it is not too easy to rotate, unlike a modern sea-dweller 43 that drives me bonkers as the slightest touch on the bezel makes it turn! Super Minor detail: bottom of the arrow at 12 o’clock “bleeds” when you look at the watch under an angle. Only when you are face on will you see the arrow, and only the arrow.
    - crystal is nicely curved on the periphery, but actually flat in center.
    - case is brushed everywhere and lugs have a nice shallow curvature. Well done.
    - bead of rice bracelet had a very solid and high quality feel, but since I am not wearing the watch on it, I won’t comment on it just yet.
    - the tropic strap has a nice SS tang buckle with BALTIC engraved on it. My grief with it, and one of the few I have with the watch so far, is the fact that it is a bit too tapered for my taste. The consequence, especially for someone like me who has a wrist on the rather larger size (but not large by any stretch of the imagination), is that the strap is a bit “wobbly” inside the buckle as there is a bit too much spare space in there for the narrow strap. Here is a pic:

    57A40819-C1FE-484D-8E55-BA4D834D3174.jpeg

    Not sure if I am conveying the idea, but I would have preferred for the strap to only taper from 20mm to perhaps 18-16mm, but not thinner. Small potato!

    - movement seems to be running at +4-5 sec/day so far, not bad and I enjoy the fact that it does not feel “cheap” when you pull out the crown to set time: the click inspires confidence.

    In conclusion: great watch, quality and value for this price point. Definitely recommend it for a daily wearer or a casual watch. Very classy and sporty at the same time.

    I am very happy with this addition!! Bravo Baltic!! :thumbsup:
     
    Edited Jun 14, 2019
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  18. Larry S Color Commentator for the Hyperbole. Jun 14, 2019

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    I’m gonna let @MTROIS review stand.. 110%. Jet lagged pics follow. Noise from Mrs S was quelled by: purchased before I promised a moratorium and a well executed Whiskey Sour on the patio. I don’t see using the rubber strap ever. Debating adding the extra BOR link. Well worth the long wait.
    BC5E68B8-F3A6-4F9C-ADC3-1AAB6CBD5A1D.jpeg 4247A8EA-F374-4270-9251-B97B27B0D9AE.jpeg F4AB8804-2FB8-44D8-94FA-7461DABC2338.jpeg A90E8BAC-29D0-499E-9861-773BDAA8F13D.jpeg 6179B5D1-138D-4991-8446-633917368762.jpeg A8811975-CF57-4443-9E73-9AAEB787F4CB.jpeg AB2AC51F-1080-49E2-AE4A-0B5BDF3E5762.jpeg
     
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    Edited Jun 14, 2019
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  19. Larry S Color Commentator for the Hyperbole. Jun 14, 2019

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    Oh and there some limited inventory. Mark your calendars ...

    “They are BACK!

    We are glad to introduce a first stock of Aquascaphe on June 25th. This stock will be available to order and will be sent within a week after the purchase.

    We plan the re-opening on :
    June 25th, 4PM (Paris time)

    Altough, be aware that the demand on the Aquascaphe is high and our stock isn’t inifinite. To secure an order, we advice to be there at the very beginning of the re-opening : First arrived, first served !

    Remember, the quicker the safer.”
     
    Shabbaz likes this.
  20. OHS Jun 14, 2019

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    I've had this in my diary for a few days now but sort of hoping someone reports some kind of issue or something before then so I can convince myself not to buy one!

    That black dial really is a beaut!