The Best Of Both Worlds | The Baltic Aquascaphe Diver

WatchGecko Review
WRITTEN ARTICLE: www.watchgecko...
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Model Wrist Sizes
7 inches

Products featured;
The Baltic Aquascaphe Diver
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Simple Handmade Italian Leather Watch Strap
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Vintage Highley Genuine Leather Watch Strap
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Sennen NATO Watch Strap By ZULUDIVER
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LINKS:
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Blog: www.watchgecko...
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#WatchGeckoReview #BalticWatches #BalticAquascaphe
The world of microbrand watches has taken some interesting twists and turns in its lifetime. Some of the original brands that would have been regarded as micro, grew both in size and popularity. Other brands are dedicated in creating only certain types of watches such as chunky divers with an emphasis on providing a solid value proposition. We’ve started to see a lot of microbrand developments over the past few years with a new focus and understanding of stylish, universally attractive and more mainstream aesthetics. One of the most popular of these newer brands is Baltic Watches.
The brand began through the notes and journaling of a father who over his years developed a passion for collecting watches. The father’s son (the founder of Baltic Watches) harnessed both his father’s and his own obsession to create a brand that takes inspiration from the watches his father collected over the years.
n 2017 Baltic began their journey with two models that captured that romanticised aspect of 1940s design through the HMS 001 and the BiCompax 001. What started as just an idea on Kickstarter evolved into becoming one of the leading microbrands for modern watches created and designed with vintage fully on the mind.
The Baltic Aquascaphe Blue Gilt
Since their first two models, Baltic has only released one more watch, the Aquascaphe. If vintage watches are your thing, you’ll be quite familiar with the style of this piece as it has that ‘skin diver’ feel to it. Back in the day these skin divers were more casual diving watch options for the general public that embraced elegance as a viable feature of the watch. If Doxa or Panerai are the Ferrari FXX-K of diving watches, skin divers are more closely aligned to a Ferrari Portofino, still enjoyable, nimble and has a prancing horse on the bonnet, but you get air conditioning, a sat nav and comfortable seats.
As you can probably tell by now, the Aquascaphe takes its inspiration from and sits at the table where elegant skin divers from the past sit. With a case at 38mm wide, a lug to lug of 47mm and a thickness of 12mm an appropriate balance has been met between the original skin divers proportions and modern day expectations. In fact if we count the bezel, the watch comes in at 39mm wide.
The fully brushed case is relatively simple in its design, however the lugs have a satisfying width to them when looking head on at the watch. It’s very reminiscent of the untouched condition we all dream of finding vintage watches in. Speaking of reminiscence, the Aquascaphe’s bezel is excellent at capturing just that. Simple 15, 30 and 45 appear with dots for the other markers and a triangle at 12. But, because it’s the 21st century the bezel is sapphire.
Another key factor in this watch having the skin diver vibe is the dial itself. The old world sporty design choices ensure the influence of this piece is duly noted. Much like the bezel, simple aesthetics executed in a considered manner is the name of the game here. An understated sunburst blue dial acts as the backdrop with the gilt coloured seconds track, partial sandwich construction and triangle indices at 3,6 and 9 being the main act. An unobtrusive and elegant handset ensures the watch effectively portrays the essence of vintage watches it’s so desperate to capture. And of course the watch has a double domed sapphire crystal.
Powering this neo-vintage watch is the Miyota 9039 which is the slimmer, dateless brother to the 9015. This popular 24 jewel movement for the microbrand world comes with 42 hours of power reserve and 28,800 vph. It’s a solid movement and a logical choice for Baltic. The movement is operated through a screw-down crown which drops any sign of crown guards.

[@emc3065]

That Sennen strap honestly looks like it was made for that watch. Incredible match!

[@jjp6975]

Thank you for this beautiful, precise report. I bought the Aquascaphe at the "Baltic" store, in Paris, and I have been wearing it for a week with the greatest happiness. In addition, this "diver" dives! Thank you for seeing my video: "Aqua ... Splash!" Jacques.

[@davids.2317]

I'm not usually a fan of nato straps, but this one looks perfect 👍

[@edwardkollar448]

I purchased the Baltic Aquascape last fall on the beads of rice bracelet. Seeing it on the Sennen strap does make me want to get one for it. It is a good watch at the price point; the vintage look was what drove me to it. I also have 2 other Baltic, their diver in Bronze and their Bicompax manuel wind chronograph with the open caseback.

[@scottgovers3347]

Great review and photography of a beautiful watch. You are the first watch reviewer, that I've watched, to include several strap ideas that by the way are exceptional choices.

[@STROND]

A nice clean looking watch for a change. looks even better with the vintage leather strap !

[@rockon21ful]

Great looking watch and on the nato strap it even looks better😎👍

[@Frank-zv5sp]

Awesome watch, it looks like a fantastic vintage watch. Well done Baltic.

[@j.j.h.atemycereal]

I’m usually not big on padded leather straps, but that Highly is gorgeous.

[@VinnyTheCuz]

Great review and pairing with the straps. I enjoy wearing mine on the Baltic tropic strap or a sailcloth too.

[@roadgent7921]

I have loads of Watchgecko straps including 3 Sennen's. Most of the range are pretty good and quite different from each other, but the stand-outs are the Sennen range imo.

[@cinemenico]

The Black Cream looks nice too. Might need to get a 'vintage highley' for my Fifty-Eight. Looks alright.

[@jinglemyberries866]

It is such a beautiful watch. I wish Baltic would make this one with the same dark rich blue color but with white instead of gold. Im a younger guy in my 20s and dont feel like i can pull off the gold color very well, doesnt suit me well, but in white this would be the absolute perfect watch (in my opinion).

[@carniedph]

was gonna get the GMT but man this looks so good on that strap.

[@Humbleyoself69]

Everyone has preferences on the strap but my favorite is the beads of rice and leather strap

[@JamesAlexander14]

That looks like a mighty fine watch to me.

[@tomasinacovell4293]

It's "pierced-lugs" not "drilled lugs"! You've no business talking about straps and watches if you can't learn that, you daft git!

[@dr.bananapepper6350]

hands finishing is much better than I expected from this price range

[@WillyMcCoy50]

Great review and suggested straps. The NATO strap is marvelous!

[@edjack1993]

That looks like an stone-cold-classic on that NATO.

[@alexthomson7465]

Hmm I can't find the vintage Highley in those colours on geckota website. 🤔

[@SillyVintageWatches]

I own one of the earliest aquascaphes for about 2 years now and I am really happy with it. I also made a review about that watch on my channel.

[@eddienoel1149]

Great watch, I brought one with a rubber strap which I knew I would bin and replace with a nato blue and gold strap, love it and is my latest addition to my micro brand collection, funded by selling a pre ceramic Rolex no date sub which I enjoyed and sold on for a significant gain to allow me a great micro brand collect for free

[@eddienoel1149]

Actually I got the senna and beige nato strap as shown

[@roadgent7921]

@@eddienoel1149 "Sennen" - _senna_ is a type of laxative. Lol.

[@RedNip123]

I just wish it had the date at 6 o'lock like the Oris 65

[@reviewtube5005]

That Sennen NATO is perfect.

[@belessbutbetter]

How’s the bezel action?

[@lolollolol5654]

all watch community asked: this baltic aquascaphe diver vs the yema navygraf marine nationale? which one you pick?

[@kamlapati]

Nice comparison. My '98 with a stainless steel bezel has aged really well. Like you, love the slim fit on the wrist. But when it came time to complement it, I went with a new Aqua Terra. No need to have two watches so alike IMO.

[@simonsteadman5973]

I may have to get me one

[@willbrink]

Ordered the new Ti version, did not live up to my expectations personally. My review: kzbin.info/www/bejne/foCQZoGCZbx0fdE

[@Blueish99]

Hi mate, thanks for the review. Do you know what import charges I’d be likely to face ordering one to the UK?

[@1SaG]

I'm not sure about that beads-of-rice bracelet... nor about the price. But the watch itself is absolutely gorgeous. And thanks for featuring that Sennen-strap. I was just looking at this one in your store, trying to decide whether it would fit my Steinhart Marine Blue and its vibrant, light-blue bezel and dial.

[@AK-pr2nk]

Is 39mm not 38mm you can't remove the bezel

[@Stevenhufnagel]

I can't help, but think this is a rebranded high end vostok amphibia, which is great. Even the name Baltic is a vague reference to its origins.

[@noosamike]

With a $99 Miyota movement and Chinese production with European assembly is it really worth the price? I see most comments on this watch questioning the price equation compared with similarly specked competitors. I look at this compared with a similarly priced Christopher Ward and it seems CW offer a lot more and a similar direct sale marketing approach. At least repairs are cheap as you would just swap out that movement. Size and styling are also great in my opinion.

[@kencur9690]

Yeah, the price is extremely iffy, especially with Certina issuing their 38mm diver - an ISO certified 300m diver’s watch... for a cheaper price.

[@rajan6792]

I really love this watch but I have small 6" wrists is this gonna look to big?

[@rajan6792]

@@Sizzle_Bear i ended up going for the Geckota E-01 Gen 2 instead its a touch smaller with the same movement and a fair bit cheaper

[@shawn1928]

@@rajan6792 weird, i just learned that Geckota is the watch-design sister brand to the straps and accessories British company, Watch Gecko. Had no idea

[@jamie1234591]

I think it's pronounced, "aquascaf"

[@canadianwatchmonkey3992]

This is a beautiful watch. Reminds me a little of the Mido Captain Cook.

[@AndrewH89]

Rado?

[@alexthomson7465]

I love so many straps but I hate HATE the way the taper down. 20mm to 16mm.. WHHYYY ??? Same width all the way please. PLEASE!!!

[@24hourgmtchannel64]

As a vintage homage theme piece the older lower beat non-hacking Myota 8215 would have been better suited for this piece.

[@914Rocky]

I love the watch but it decidedly does not have strong lume. It’s about the worst lume I’ve ever seen. It lasts maybe 3 minutes.

[@adamethancrow]

The straps are nice but let down by the cheap buckles.

[@pas0003]

Beautiful watch, which was, in my mind, ruined by the Miyota movement, as so many micro-brands these days are. Personal opinion of course, however I simply can't stand the loud, ongoing and cheap sounding rotor rattle :( Would most definitely own one by now! Holding out and hoping they would make one with an ETA movement on day!

[@kodakiwc]

Made in france !?...

[@morgan.enfield]

Designed and assembled in France with pieces from Asia (China)......but isn't it the same for most of the world's production including the famous "swiss made" ?

[@pseudo6667]

Yes, made in France

[@fmartmart8099]

I really wanted to love this watch but when I inspected it with high magnification lighted Jewelers glasses I noticed a lot of grease and gunk on the inside of the crystal. This combined with a really wobbly crown and a terrible bracelet clasp has me regretting my purchase.

[@johnt2694]

That’s disappointing to hear.

[@fmartmart8099]

@@johnt2694 I actually sold it and bought a blue gilt and put it on a strap. Crown is still pretty delicate but it's beautiful

[@johnt2694]

@@fmartmart8099 did you see the same gunk on the Blue Gilt model? That’s the model I was looking at. It would be a shame if the quality was that poor.

[@fmartmart8099]

@@johnt2694 no no. It was perfect.

[@jjp6975]

Aqua...Splash ! : kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXzCf4Zsj8h1bpY

[@soundknight]

They are pretty but sapphire is preferred.

[@davids.2317]

Not sure what you mean... Both the glass and bezel insert are sapphire.

[@alexthomson7465]

Even 18mm straps TAPER DOWN!! WHYYYYY 🤔😢😩😭

[@davey2363]

Surely pronounced aquascar and not aquascape?

[@Andrew.W75]

1st!

[@tomasinacovell4293]

"It's "pierced-lugs" not "drilled lugs"! You've no business talking about straps and watches if you can't learn that, you daft git!" Tell him that too.

[@r.o.1330]

@@tomasinacovell4293 hu?

[@davids.2317]

@@tomasinacovell4293 it's drilled lugs for me.

[@squinkygordon1322]

I have a feeling they used a drill to "pierce" the lugs. Stabbing it wouldn't be as precise.

[@highentropy2468]

What's with these less than satisfactory microbrand names though? Formex and now Baltic. smh.

[@Starstreak170]

It's overpriced comared to Swiss made watches.