One not very significant element can create a mood and add an unusual touch to ordinary things. Same with watches. By and large, they are all similar in design and functionality. But even more important are some moments that enliven the image and shape the mood. For me, one of those details is the presence of a convex dome glass. It does not provide anything functional, but it gives the dial an additional light pattern, a plastic play of glare and slight distortion. Well, associations with the good old watch times are pleasantly exciting.
Like the bubbles of carbon dioxide that make ordinary water an invigorating summer drink, domed glass even from inexpensive watches makes stylish and noticeable accessories with a touch of vintage spirit. Soda is not a premium drink, expensive wine or luxury tea. A drink with bubbles is available to everyone. So today we’ll talk about the affordable, but very interesting watch Zep-86701 from the German brand Zeppelin.
Zeppelin is a young brand that appeared in 2007. This is one of the brands of the German manufacturer POINTec. The name Zeppelin refers us to Ferdinand von Zeppelin, who created airships that were fantastic for his time at the turn of the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries in Germany. It is not surprising that the design motifs of the German watchmaking grandees from Glashütte, the cradle of German watchmaking, are visible in the style of the watch.
I've been following Zeppelin for a long time and love their classic German designs. Unlike variations on the theme of Swiss watches, the Glashütte style is much less common. Japanese quartz calibers allow you to implement the necessary functionality in watches, which in purebred mechanics would cost a lot of money. For example, I liked the chronograph from Glashütte Original. So I was looking for something similar and had my eye on a Zeppelin chronograph with a large date in a cushion-shaped case. But today is not about him.
The current hero of the review has a classic round case shape, convex mineral glass and a signature, as if taken out of the cockpit of an airship or airplane, silver dial with clear instrument markings. It’s very pleasing that in such a budget segment, the manufacturer used metal, not plastic, for the dial, and even processed it as needed. The slightly beige hue, concentric guilloché chronograph dials and tiny rivet markers along with the elegantly shaped black hands definitely set the mood.
It is surprising that two scales (tachymeter and telemetry), together with the markings of the chronograph drives, do not overload the dial. The time and chronograph readings are perfectly readable, and the pattern of reflections from the dome glass only decorates the dial. The case with powerful lugs, although it has impressive dimensions (42 mm in diameter with practically no bezel, is a lot), but fits well on the hand. Only the leather belt is a bit stiff. By the way, on it (as well as on the watch) there is an inscription made in Germany.
The case is polished, but one cannot say that its complex shape has exemplary geometry. The edges are somewhat “licked”. The chronograph pushers and crown are clear and grippy. It will be convenient to use, but stylistically and ergonomically, I would like a smaller crown for wearing.
The case is closed with a blank steel cover, which tells us additional information about the manufacturer, materials and water resistance. Under the hood lies a reliable 6s11 quartz movement from Miyota. The 60-minute chronograph has an interesting feature. When starting, the central second hand moves in small, almost “mechanical” increments of 0,25 seconds. This makes the watch look even more mechanically stylized. Agree, this is another nice detail. The next one. Pleasant, because in some areas Zeppelin made their product a little better than they could have (and than we expected).
These touches (dome glass, metal dial with competent markings, expressive hands with a smooth movement, “made in Germany” nameplate on the watch and belt), not so noticeable individually, together transform simple water into an unusual invigorating drink, like small bubbles. And the Zeppelin watches themselves, with their polished cases and rounded crystals, suggest similar associations.
A great option to quench your thirst for new summer watch experiences.
