U-BOAT expresses their Vintage History

These are simply stunning watches! Limited editions and built with a totally unique design and identity.

U-BOAT expresses its Vintage history with the new “Chimera” U-51 Bronze and “B and B” models.

Italo Fontana, creative mind behind U-BOAT timepieces, has always been attracted to design and to particular objects characterized by a strong and timeless identity.

His passion for “Vintage Culture” gave him, in 2000, the idea of rejuvenating his grandfather’s 1942 project for the manufacture of watches specially designed for Pilots of the Italian naval forces.

Every U-BOAT creation from all the different collections (such as Classico, Flightdeck and Thousand of Feet) has been characterized by this “retro-style” and unique design.

Examples are the two U-51 models, Bronze and “B and B”, one completely in bronze and the other one matched with black IPB stainless steel, both with the case originally designed for the 2010 limited edition, U-51 Rattrapante.

Every detail has been studied in order to increase the Vintage look and let the material naturally change and age with time.

These are limited editions of only 300 items, the bronze metal has been treated with carefully selected acids and it has not received any rhodium coating in order to keep the raw material natural.
Following the concept, the hands have been painted first, discoloured and then scratched by hand meticulously to intentionally age them.

They are completed with a range of straps in leather, which are great example of fine Italian craftsmanship. These have been deliberately and patiently distressed , shaped one-by-one  and hand-stitched by craftsmen from Tuscany, which is the homeland of the finest leather craftsmen, and the home of Italo and of-course U-BOAT.

MOVEMENT: Top Soigné with black screws, rhodium plated, automatic mechanical chronograph personalized to U-BOAT specifications for date display and stem to be positioned at 9 o’clock.
Frequency 28.800 vibrations per hour, 4 Hz. Power reserve 44 hours. 25 jewels. Height 7 mm.

FUNCTIONS: Hours, minutes, chronograph, counter small seconds at 3,counter 12 at 12, counter 30 minutes at 6. Date window at 9 o’clock.

CASE: Bronze, naturally aged and AISI 316 Plus stainless steel with subsequent PVD coating treatment. 46mm diameter. 54.50 mm diameter including external crown-clutter. The bezel and the back of the case are locked together by external tubing and a customized key that ensures absolute water-resistance. Oversized cup crown for an easy manipulation, secured on the carrure, positioned at 9 o’clock. Winding crown in steel, heat-treated. Chrono pushers screwed in on the carrure.

Back case, external tubing and screws, protection device of the winding crown, chrono pushers frame and serial number plate in bronze, naturally aged.
Case, bezel, chrono pushers, pin for hook, screws of the plate, fixing screws of the strap made of steel AISI 316 Plus, with PVD coating.

Personalized rotor, in silver, 3 bridges construction, rhodium plated and fixed with blued screws.

Thickness: 18.10 mm. Weight: 186 g approx.

DIAL: there are 2 superimposed dials, one treated with composite pigments and laser cut on the counters and hours, the other in bronzed glass, cut and printed.

HANDS: hour and minute hands laser cut, hand brushed on the surface, central joint hand painted. Hands of the counters, bronze color, hand brushed.

CRYSTAL: bronzed glass, sapphire curved on the face and flat crystal on the back of the timepiece, double gasket sealing.

STRAP: hand made and hand finished calf leather, carefully selected and processed following the traditional artisan handicraft techniques used in the 1800’s, which gives the strap a naturally distressed feel and look.
Tongue steel buckle, with subsequent coating PVD opaque black.

WATER RESISTANCE: 100 m, 10 ATM. Limited edition 300 units.

MOVEMENT: Top Soigné with black screws, rhodium plated, automatic mechanical chronograph personalized to U-BOAT specifications for date display and stem to be positioned at 9 o’clock. Frequency 28.800 vibrations per hour, 4 Hz. Power reserve 44 hours. 25 jewels. Height 7 mm.

FUNCTIONS: Hours, minutes, chronograph, counter small seconds at 3,counter 12 at 12, counter 30 minutes at 6. Date window at 9 o’clock. CASE: Bronze, naturally aged. 46mm diameter. 54.50 mm diameter including external crown-clutter. The bezel and the back of the case are locked together by external tubing and a customized key that ensuresabsolutewater-resistance.Oversizedcupcrown foraneasy manipulation, secured on the carrure, positioned at 9 o’clock. Winding crown in steel, heat-treated. Chrono pushers screwed in on the carrure.

Personalized rotor, in silver, 3 bridges construction, rhodium plated and fixed with blued screws.

Thickness: 18.10 mm. Weight: 185 g approx.

DIAL: there are 2 superimposed dials, one treated with composite pigments and laser cut on the counters and hours, the other in bronzed glass, cut and printed.

HANDS:  hour and minute hands laser cut, hand brushed on the surface, central joint hand painted. Hands of the counters, bronze color, hand brushed.

CRYSTAL: bronzed glass, sapphire curved on the front and flat crystal on the back of the timepiece, double gasket sealing.

STRAP: hand made and hand finished calf leather, carefully selected and processed following the traditional artisan handicraft techniques used in the 1800’s, which gives the strap a naturally distressed feel and look.

Tongue buckle, in bronze, naturally aged. WATER RESISTANCE: 100 m, 10 ATM. Limited edition 300 units.

Italo was born in 1965 in Lucca, a medieval walled city in Tuscany, Italy. Since a young age, he has been attracted to design.

At the beginning, he joined his family clothing business in Lucca. He later on found his niche in accessories and gadgets. Then he moved to contemporary furniture before embarking on his dream.

He has a real passion for his designs, a real dedication to innovation and perfection. Much of which he shares with his hands-on team and his partner Mounir Moufarrige.

Italo shares his time between designing these unique masterpieces, overseeing every tiny detail of them and his beloved family (wife Laura and little daughter Alba). He has a long list of spare time activities such as car racing, horse riding, scuba diving and aeronautics.

For more information about U-BOAT please visit their website:  www.U-BoatWatch.com