Vintage VDB is an exceptionally trendy watch manufacturer located in Erfurt, Germany. In 2010 a trio of friends established the company with the prime objective to produce an eclectic range of timepieces. The team consists of Stephan Obst, Helmut Lamberty and Christian Seidel. Between them they have combined their passion for watches to produce a profitable and sustainable business. Interestingly none of them have actually ever trained formally in watchmaking.
In recent weeks I have had numerous conversations with the charismatic Christian Seidel. He is the youngest member of the team and is predominantly involved in all the company’s strategic marketing campaigns. Compared to other brands they have a pretty low profile and most of their activity is conducted on Facebook. It is clear from our discussions that he would love to significantly increase their visibility within the industry. Over the last five years they have created some interesting models using a range of different materials. In my opinion their most successful creation to date is the rugged Chronograph.
The chronograph measures a whopping 55 mm x 57 mm x 20 mm, which makes it the company’s largest model to date. Realistically a timepiece of these proportions will only appeal to a small minority of people. I absolutely love this watch and feel it is clearly designed to make a bold statement. Primarily this is down to the stylish case design and choice of materials in production. Vintage VDB states this is the first watch in the world to amalgamate bronze and carbon fiber. This combination should also make the timepiece fairly lightweight and comfortable to wear.
Aesthetically the design of the Chronograph is mind blowing. The unique patina of the solid Bronze case perfectly compliments the carbon fiber bezel and dial. I love the square counters displaying the chronograph function. This gives the watch a superb industrial quality and distinguishes it from other watches available on the market. Additional successful elements include bright orange indexes and the oversized black crown/pushers. Overall the chunky appearance of the watch is very attractive and highly successful.
Beneath the robust exterior the watch is equipped with a Swiss (Valjoux) ETA 7750. This automatic mechanical movement comprises 25 jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. I have worn a few watches with this caliber and found them to be very reliable in general. Functionally the timepiece features hours, minutes, seconds, date and chronograph facility. The watch also has a uni-directional bezel and is water resistant to a depth of 200 meters.
Due to fact these watches are made by hand, the Chronograph is limited to only 30 pieces. The timepiece is presented with a Vintage VDB rubber strap and leather case. Priced competitively at: €3,030 (approximately $4,142).
