It's rare to have locals dipping into watchmaking and selling watches of such specific tastes. I love local entrepreneurship that services niche markets of my interests and hobby.
This is not a review as there is no product per se, as such, the post is abit disorganised. Its just a noticing of a watch company.
enter Gruppo Gamma.
This is a watch company, microbrand I suppose they are, that makes homages of Panerai's radiomir 1940 or the crownguard-less 1950 luminors. Gruppo Gamma is the top secret italian naval divers that originally used early Panerai models. It meant frogman group or something, this name is a love or hate, but I think it is a good conversation topic.
When other watch forums were discussing this watch, the immediate response is that, the name is stupid to pronounce. Until someone came along and explained the meaning of gruppo gamma then people started to accept it. How shallow is that? Its like dangling any fried food in front of children is useless without mentioning the word "Macdonald".
Come about
Panerai Radiomir 1940. from web
The company makes homage watches of 1940s Radiomir as seen above. They have some good features which I will get to, but the thing about them that impresses me the most is their interaction with people, their passion which can be felt in the way their product is delivered. One thing I learnt in during school days as my lecturer explained the main reason for apple's success. Its not the functions and the features nor is it the looks and material and what not. Apple is not selling the product, it simply makes you believe in what they believe, the product is merely the medium.
Looking at Gruppo Gamma, it makes me feel that, the company, started because a bunch of people says, "hey, surely, there will be alot of people who wants to buy this watch. Lets fulfill their wishes." And the affordability is just the cherry on top of the whip cream.
This seems like their MO: providing a modern interpretation of a historically legendary time piece for people who love such watches.
Their company sticks to certain things they say, the respect exclusivity and promises to customers. Their customer service seems to be top notched, not afraid of complains made public as they stand by their products.
That is belief.
Watch
Their watches for now comes in 2 types of case materials: Stainless steel (Genesis) and Brass (Ascent).
Their standard offering Genesis model. Their debut model is G-0.
G-0 will never ever ever be in production again
It is the base model of which all of its other offerings will pivot against. Now the G-0 is not available anymore, it's launched with only 10 pieces and that's that.
Now the current models being offered or temporarily ceasing production for newer models.
Features the watch has in common
44mm Cushion case (Genesis 316 S Steel, Ascent Brass)
Brevet etched crown
Brevettato signed edge and see-thru case back, some models are serialised
Domed mineral crystal
Sandwich dial be it cali dial or normal dial
Seagull movement (auto has date)
Matching finished buckles with brand
There is many more tiny tweaks made that sets them apart from regular homages. I, being a owner of 2 homages, I feel that the cases these guys (Getat and Jackson) use, is from a similar source, there is no tweaks or what to the case, they look and feel almost the same.
Here's what sets GG apart, they made tiny unnoticeable changes to improve the ergonomics of the watch, a higher positioned crown to avoid it digging into the wrist, small stealthy date windows on automatic function as opposed to other watch brands using cyclops to enlarge. The curvature of the lug and the size is more palatable to the general population.
They offer brass watches under the ascent line up, which is good at least they do not pass up brass as bronze unlike some manufacturers outside. But from what I gather, probably due to it's freshness, it isn't picking up yet. For me, bronze is not my thing. I think that it is too malleable a material that would react very well against knocks and bumps and lastly, I do not see what the fuss is all the patina thing about, I for one, do not like to touch oxidised metals.
Packaging
Each watch comes with a pouch that is seemingly useful.
Straps
Another cool feature that I like you can choose from several high quality straps such as this one in Tan colour, this watch fits 24mm straps.
Also available in brown and black too.
They have a collaboration with other strap maker,
74 watch strap, as their premium strap offering, so if you get the watch you can spend abit more to get the premium strap and it will be cheaper than getting one seperately. Straps seems really nice in my opionion and not that particularly expensive when we have people peddling straps around S$150 - S$200 (not dissing their quality, its price not for everyone).
"stagionato 74"
The highest end strap offered, looks really nice and has the good aging of leather without the wear marks, which is think is stupid when you buy anything with worn marks as you are going to have 2 marks, a fake one and your actual worn mark.
Nonetheless, part of the owning experience is the endless possibility of strap options. These bad boys will be leashed on with plenty of leathery goodness.
Lume
Another draw factor to this watch is the lume. Each of the models will have either C1 or C3 lume, gold hands will have C1 lume and silver hands will have C3 lume.
Lume, to me, is part of the quality assurance of the watch, a watch with good lume usually has the better QC. I kinda read time in the dark, so it is important and part of the heritage as lume is one of the main key features tool watches have over dress watch.
G-5
Currently aiming this model
The G-5 is special because this is has 'the next step' thinking, as with most of their designs. Its Iron Man's extremis or bleeding edge armour equivalent. It retains classic stuff like the polished case, something which I've been wanting to own, a polished steel case instead of a brushed one. Looks aside, it is powered by an automatic movement and a date window.
One thing I like about what they have to say in their journal about their micro sized date window.
"We designed the G-5 for people who use the date function only occasionally.
In other words, if we're looking for a watch that tells the date when it really has to but otherwise is stylishly discreet about its date function, the G-5 is THE WATCH to have. "
Whilst other are complaining about the date being there or too small, they decided to go ahead and do both. I feel that its a bold move, but it seems to come up looking good and the explanation is very valid, at least for me. I have never tried it before as no one has done it or have I seen it in that manner. I am willing to try it out and it might work.
The new batch of G-5 will also be serialised individually, which 50 years down the road, the unserialised ones maybe very expensive as they are the pioneer batch.
The current delivery date for G-5 is Nov, so when I get the watch, will give it a review, and if things are good, why not get their genesis II series? G-2 looks good. Gold hands.
