It just so happened that when they hear the question: “What should the watch be like?”, Many will answer - “Swiss”. The opinion that it is Switzerland that produces the most expensive, highest quality, most accurate and most prestigious time meters is not always true, but it has certain grounds.
Watches from Switzerland can be very different. Insanely expensive from manufactories with a long history and manual labor. Promoted and famous from companies that collaborate with actors and representatives of the fashion industry. Innovative and fantastically complex from young ambitious brands just trying to win their place in the hearts and ratings.
And they can also be inexpensive, but with the same “Swiss made” brand as well-known models of famous brands. But this is not so little! Cherished inscription "Swiss made" legally guarantees the production of 60% of the parts of the product (and most importantly - the mechanism!), Assembly and testing directly in Switzerland.
Cornavin has a long history. It has been producing watches regularly since the first third of the 20th century, had trade and industrial relations with the USSR, was battered by the quartz crisis of the 70s, but now it is back afloat and offers affordable models that meet all the requirements of the “Swiss made” standard. One of them - Cornavin CO.2013-2019 is proposed for our consideration.
Rounded transitions of colors and shadows gave the dial itself. It has a complex convex shape with a recessed edge, dark blue color, an interesting fine-grained texture and embossed applied marks. Combined with the thin, faceted sword-shaped hands and the neat finish of the date window, the result is a very pleasant Glashütte styling. Original sixties. The glass is sapphire, so there will be no scratches. What about readability? The anti-reflective coating is mediocre, but shiny markers and hands save the day. Both at dusk and in the bright sun, the polished steel contrasts well with the dark matte dial. The size matches the style. At the same time, the round case with a diameter of 38 mm with a thin welt does not look small at all.
The satin-brushed bezel does not fit into the bright vintage concept and makes the look more masculine, matte and restrained. The crown does not screw down. It is corrugated and without a logo, with a clear fixation in all positions. It is quite convenient to translate the time and date, despite its miniature size. Short lugs and a classic leather strap complete the look of this thin and light shirt watch.
It was a facade, so to speak, but what is hidden? The back cover is deaf, polished with a modest but informative engraving. Water resistance 5 bar. Standard for costume format and flapper back. No one will swim in such a watch, and the watch will withstand a fleeting contact with water.
Read on… Oh! Yes, this is a limited edition! The number of the presented copy is 108 out of 999 pieces. It is clear that this is more of a marketing ploy, but there are light notes of exclusivity. Inside is a simple and reliable quartz caliber from Ronda. And, at first glance, the second hand even hits the markers! It's nice. Of course, there is no “magic of mechanics” inside, however, there are no repassage costs either.
Summing up, we will rejoice at the curved dial, an interesting round date frame and a comfortable fit on the hand. The lack of a convex glass and the insufficiently high-quality finish of the overlaid elements on the dial (labels, numbers and logo) are frustrating. The watch leaves an ambiguous impression. On the one hand, the modest price does not allow the use of domed glass, a mechanical caliber and other attributes of the vintage style that the manufacturer was striving for.
On the other hand, those opportunities that exist have been used. Compliance with “Swiss made” standards, an interesting shape of the dial, symmetrical design of the date and stylish hands still give us a ticket to those very coveted “Sixties” watches. Even economy class.
