The assortment of many watch stores has been replenished with models from the young international brand Technik 4x. The information posted on the official website of the brand is as follows:
• The founder and head of the company is Hans Peter Grödel, a Swiss engineer and designer with half a century of experience in the watch industry. He is responsible for the concept of Technik 4x, as well as the development of the structure and design. For many years, Grödel has been passionate about the idea of environmentally friendly watchmaking and examples of the implementation of this idea in the automotive industry. Hence his concept of a watch with a hybrid “power plant” – that is, a combination of mechanics and quartz in one model. All Technik 4x watches are equipped with two calibers - mechanical with self-winding and quartz with solar battery.
• If the development of models, their construction and design are a product of Swiss watchmaking thought, then the “driving force” is of Japanese origin, and the manufacture of watches is of Chinese origin.
Today we are looking at the Technik 4x Skeletor Globe Edition watch.
First impression
The packaging is very modest - an ordinary box made of fairly thick cardboard. However, on the already mentioned site it is emphasized that this cardboard is secondary, that is, it is the result of recycling, roughly speaking, waste paper.
Inside the box is more elegant. Everything about it is quite familiar: the watch itself is on a pad (as expected) and a Milanese bracelet, a replaceable calfskin strap (with a classic clasp), and a warranty card.
Unfortunately, there are no operating instructions. But this is not a big problem - everything is on the Internet...
Mechanisms, functionality
As already mentioned, the watch is equipped with two mechanisms.
Seiko's first automatic caliber NH05B
As you know, Seiko movements are made in Japan, Malaysia and China. This version is made in China.
The mechanism counts hours, minutes, seconds and date. Its diameter is 17,5 mm, thickness is 5,92 mm. Note that due to such compactness, NH05B is especially in demand for women's watches. But this small size was very useful for the hybrid Technik 4x, where it was necessary to fit two mechanisms at once into a case of quite “male” sizes.
The caliber is built on 21 single stones. The balance performs 21600 vibrations per hour. Manual winding is provided. Guaranteed power reserve – 40 hours. The stated accuracy is -35/+55 sec. per day (however, on one of the pages of the official website it is indicated -5/+20 seconds per day). Well, let's check... But we won't check the shockproof properties provided by the Dialshock module - we'll take their word for it.
Note that, contrary to the official description, we were unable to find a “stop-seconds” option: when you pull the crown out two clicks, you can set the hour and minute hands, but the second hand continues to run. It's a pity. Let's add that when you pull out the crown one click, you can set the date.
Epson VS17A solar-powered quartz movement
This is a three-pointer. Let's say right away that the presence of two mechanisms, each with its own control head, complements the watch as a whole with the function of a second time zone.
Diameter – 12 mm, thickness – 4 mm. When the battery is fully charged (it takes only 2,79 hours in bright sunlight), the power reserve reaches 4 months in complete darkness. A “running down” battery is indicated by jumps in the second hand (6 seconds at a time). Guaranteed battery life is 2 years. Accuracy – ±8 sec. per month (we won’t check).
The reaction of the owner of this watch to the inevitable discrepancies between the mechanical and quartz readings is curious. Probably, these discrepancies instill perfectionism in a person, forcing them to eliminate them every day... On the other hand, it’s even convenient: to accurately set the hands of a mechanical watch, a quartz dial is enough, and there is no need to turn to extraneous signals of the exact time.
Dials
Naturally, they are not large, because we have a “two in one” configuration. But there is not the slightest complaint about the clarity of the evidence. Both the markers and the hands are very clearly made (and they are luminescent). The only difference is that the date in the aperture at 3 o’clock is a bit small. However, this is not critical.
What should be especially noted: the specific configuration of the Technik 4x watch provides ample opportunities for decorating it. Here, too, a world map is chosen as the background for a pair of dials. Moreover, it is also luminescent (very impressive in the dark), and, in addition, is visible from both sides of the watch. Interesting!
Case, straps
The case is steel, good “masculine” sizes: diameter – 44,5 mm, thickness – 11,45 mm, water resistance – 50 m. The manufacturer emphasizes that much of his watch, including the steel of the case, is the result of recycling industrial and other waste.
The body is carefully finished, interspersed with polished and satin surfaces. Sapphire crystals with 10 layers of anti-reflective coating are installed on both sides of the case. This coating ensures full readability even in the brightest sunlight.
Both winding (control) heads are quite comfortable and grippy.
Our example is presented on a steel Milanese bracelet (plus an additional leather strap with a classic clasp). Both are absolutely comfortable on the hand. There is a quick change from bracelet to strap and back.
Express testing results
Winded as prescribed by 55 turns of the crown, the mechanical watch stopped after 44 hours and 29 minutes. This is much more than the guaranteed power reserve.
During the day they fell behind by 30 seconds. – within the limits of the declared accuracy of movement.
Results
We examined a model that is unusual, even exotic, and even extravagant - moreover, equipped with a noble “ideology” (the fight for a clean environment), not devoid of romance (the globe, especially when it glows in the dark!) and made quite well. All this together gives reason to assume that these watches will be in high demand by energetic young people who want to impress others, their friends and (especially!) girlfriends, and who also want to raise a toast “To clean energy!” – after all, the Technik 4x slogan is engraved on the watch bezel: “Powered by clean energy.”
True, to be fair, no mechanical watches are powered by UNCLEAN energy... and even quartz watches with solar panels... but oh well.
More Technik 4x watches:
