The latest model by a small German watchmaker Steinhart is a retro-styled timepiece supplied with a dual time zone feature. It includes an automatic movement developed by Soprod which was additionally decorated in the brand’s workshops. The vintage looking piece is available with a metal or a leather attachment and is available at the price of around $950.
The dual time feature was first introduced in the 1950s, during the boom of transcontinental flights. Rapid moving through different time zones required watches which are able to keep track of time in various locations in a simultaneous manner and this is how the complication was developed.
Steinhart wanted to recreate the specific period when this feature first appeared, so it made a timepiece with the styling that replicates some of the traits of the watches from the time. One of these features is the used ecru colored hour markers which are made in three different shapes. These elements in beige shade are meant to resemble the appearance of aged radium or tritium which were the materials that were used in the era. These markers are placed on a silvery-grey background of the dial which is the lightest at its center and gets gradually darker and darker towards the periphery.
The main complication of the watch is its dual time display. The second time zone is shown by the means of a painted red colored central hand which corresponds to the marking on the unidirectional rotating bezel. The bezel in question is serrated, divided to 24 hours and inscribed with Arabic numerals. It features an aluminum insert which is divided to red and blue sections in order to designate whether it is day or night in the second time zone. Due to the choice of colors, the watch sort of resembles iconic Rolex GMT II Master piece in its appearance. This renowned watch likewise features the same colors on the bezel which gave it the nickname “Pepsi”. This is clearly because it features the same color scheme as the famous soft drink’s logo.
Steinhart Ocean One Vintage Dual Time Premium is also equipped with a date display which is shown in an aperture that sits on the right side of the face. The date scale includes red numerals for even numbers, while the odd ones are shown in blue color. This way, the date display replicates the colors that are shown on the watch’s bezel that can be turn only in a single direction.
The functioning of the watch is based on Soprod SOP A10-24hTop caliber. It is a self-winding movement with hacking central seconds. The movement with 25 jewels is embellished with decorations which include blued screws, as well as a Steinhart’s own skeletonized guilt rotor. The caliber and its decorations are exposed through a transparent case-back section.
The Stenihart’s novelty with the reference number T0227 is placed inside a round housing made of stainless steel which is treated with alternating polished and satinized finishes. Its diameter measures to 42 mm, while its thickness is 16 mm. The watch also includes a highly domed sapphire crystal with two layers of glare-proof coating on the lower side. Its construction with screwed back allows respectable water resistance to 300 meters (990 feet). Such high waterproofness is understandable, since the watch belongs to the brand’s Ocean One collection which includes diving watches.
Steinhart Ocean One Vintage Dual Time Premium piece can be paired with two types of attachments that are joined with the housing by the means of lugs that are 22 mm apart from each another. The first type of supported wristlet is a three-link stainless steel bracelet, while the other one is a leather strap. To be more precise, the specific type of the strap is the brand’s own No. 262 attachment. Regardless of the type of the wristlet, the supported bucke is a safety clasp in steel. As the manufacturer stated, the weight of the watch with the metal bracelet included measure to exactly 195 grams.
All in all it is a very nice looking automatic watch with captivating vintage styling and a relatively affordable price of about $950.
