For many of us, updating our watch wardrobe marks the beginning of another business season. Classical three-handers or “divers” that easily fit into a business image are an unconditional choice, but too conservative. The non-obviousness of the choice is a hallmark of the era of turbulence and those who prefer something piece and vintage to the classics, for example, the Impetus model from the Swiss brand Titoni.
The brand was founded a little more than a century ago by the watchmaker-enthusiast Fritz Schlup in the small town of Grenchen (today's population is about 16 thousand people), located near Bern.
Even at the start of the project, Fritz Schlup clearly articulated the brand's philosophy: “We don't aim to be trendsetters in watch fashion. We make watches for self-confident people who know exactly who they are and what they want from life.”
For some, this will sound like an excuse for the lack of ambition, for others - as faith in oneself and adherence to one's own principles. The watches that the company produces 100 years later, I think, will dissuade the former and confirm the correctness of the latter.
Over the years, the Titoni manufactory has managed to release many collections, including the Master Series and Heritage Bi-Compax Chronograph, which were popular at the end of the last century. And not so long ago, it launched a new line in the segment of luxury sports watches - Titoni Impetus, interesting for its expressive retro style and design solutions.
The laconic vintage design of the Impetus model refers to the "golden" time of the middle of the last century and the post-war heyday of the United States. The model has become a kind of "time machine", returning us to America during the times of liberalism and "old money". At a time when the American financial and cultural elite began to settle in the Hamptons, on the streets of which you could meet Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, Mick Jagger, Bridget Bardot, Steven Spielberg and other old Hollywood stars.
Active recreation has always been preferred here: surfing alternated with jogging along the seashore, beach volleyball with a horse polo match, and a bike ride ended with a game of tennis. Integral companions of such a pastime were sports watches, which are echoed by Titoni Impetus.
The thin matte case (with polished bevels along the lug), smoothly integrated into the bracelet (another reference to the sporty watch style of the middle of the last century), has a relatively small size - 39,5 mm, and a height - 8,2 mm. The top of the dial is protected by a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating. The gold-plated self-winding rotor (caliber ETA 2892-A2 is installed in the watch) is visible from the side of the transparent sapphire crystal case back. The dial is decorated with a guilloche Clous de Paris pattern (typical of the Haute Horlogerie).
Applied hour markers are a combination of Roman numerals and dash marks. The latter are divided into two parts, which is an excellent design solution that distinguishes the model from a number of similar ones. Time is counted by rectangular Baton-style hour and minute hands with Super-LumiNova luminescent coating. The watch is available in several versions: with dark blue, anthracite, gold and silver dials, which makes the choice much easier.
The automatic movement ETA 2892-2 is installed inside the case. This is a real workhorse - accurate, reliable, trouble-free and very easy to maintain.
The Titoni Impetus watch is worn on a single-link stainless steel bracelet that brightly emphasizes the retro style indicated by the designers. The watch is easily fixed on the wrist with a convenient triple folding clasp.
