Louis Erard Carree Chrono
Unique Timepieces As Seen From A Beginner's Perspective
For many men buying their first fine timepiece can be intimidating. Like great wines or expensive cars, getting to a comfort level to engage in said pleasures can be daunting for inexperienced buyers. And that would be truly tragic if you let a lack of knowledge stop you from owing an amazing timepiece. It’s our right as men.
What follows is a novice’s (that would be me) point of view on his first truly great timepiece and what I’ve learned in the process. If you know of watches, then you may have heard of Louis Erard. For the rest of us this is the perfect time to not only conquer our watch phobia, but also to partake in an opportunity to finally own a great looking timepiece and do it without breaking the bank.
Louis Erard has been crafting watches since the early 1930′s and have evolved into a brand full of style and grace befitting a Swiss watchmaker. Today they have a staff of 20, including 9 watchmakers and technicians – this team have earned their stripes in the watch world.
When investing in a timepiece keep an eye out for the following. First, the movement (read: the watch’s engine) and it’s country of origin. Many watchmakers buy movements and then alter them for their specific needs (don’t worry they have to get them recertified if they alter them). In this case Louis Erard uses the very popular and trusted Swiss made ETA movements. You’ll either choose an automatic (kinetic) or manual. There are others, but we’ll save those for a different article. Also, if you opt for a timepiece that uses an automatic or manual movement, you’ll want to check to see how long the power reserve is. Last thing you want is to be constantly resetting your watch after it winds down. Next, keep an eye out for a term called sapphire crystal. It’s used in lieu of glass, strong and scratch resistant. The rest is entirely buyer’s preference: leather strap vs. metal bracelet, round vs. square body, chronograph (read: timers), styling, etc.
I took a decidedly large step outside of my comfort zone and have been wearing the Carree Chrono for the past few weeks. Instead of my usual sporty non-leather look I decided on a bolder timepiece. So far I’ve been amazed at how quickly I’ve adjusted to it, both in feel and aesthetics. With a square body design, leather strap, and brown dial the Carree Chrono is a perfect companion whether I’m at the office or more formal weekend plans. My biggest worry was the watch’s heft given that it’s significantly larger than my current one. I was told that once you learn to appreciate a heavier watch, others will seem to pale and feel inadequate by comparison. I’m starting to believe that. While not an entirely heavy watch, the Carree Chrono feels significant while not dominating my arm, like it’s worthy to be there.
Buy Now: $1,600
Reader Discount: Use coupon code GP0310 to receive a 50% discount on any Wolf Designs timepiece. Offer expires April 16th.
