A watch that reflects different facets of the image of a modern girl. The strict style of Rodania Tavannes Moon R31003 will perfectly complement a business suit, and due to its feminine and romantic details, it will perfectly complement an evening look.
Rodania: Belgian of Swiss descent
There is no magical Swiss Made inscription on Rodania, but the watch tag says: Swiss since 1930. Delving into the pedigree of Rodania is quite interesting.
The Rodania brand was founded in Grenchen, Switzerland in 1930. After World War II, the company opened a distribution center in Belgium. A few years later, the Swiss Manfred Eby, living in Belgium, headed the entire international business of Rodania. Over the years, he bought the brand and moved the company's head office to Brussels, Belgium.
In 2020, the company was resold again, and now its owners are a group of Swiss and Belgian entrepreneurs. However, the headquarters remains in Belgium, and there is a certain charm in this: there are many Swiss watch brands in the world, but I can’t name any Belgian ones, except for Rodania. And, most importantly, this fact does not spoil the quality of the watch at all.
Rodania Tavannes
Many lines of Rodania models are named after Swiss cities: Bellinzona, Geneva, Lausanne... Or the heroes of this review are Tavannes Moon (there is also Tavannes Diamonds - without a lunar calendar on the dial).
Tavan is a Swiss town of only 3400 people, which is located about 30 km from the birthplace of Rodania - the city of Grenchen. Tavan is famous for its centuries-old and eventful history. Both Marcus Aurelius and Napoleon were noted here. In terms of hours, this place also left its mark on history. For example, here is the birthplace of the manufactory, which in different years was called Tavannes Watch Co. and Schwöb Frères. And you may know it by its most famous brand - Cyma. Rodania itself is not connected with Tavan in any way.
The Tavannes collection of classic women's watches is characterized by wedge-shaped hands in the Dauphine style without luminophore. White, dark blue and mother-of-pearl dials. Laconic marks in the form of dots or (on some models) strict Roman numerals for “12”, “3”, “6” and “9”. Stylish steel bracelets. The model is decorated with blue cabochons on the crowns. In a word, discreet, minimalistic.
But there is something that really appeals to me about the strict Tavannes collection in general and my R31003 in particular. These are small details and nuances - sophisticated and elegant. The tenderness of mother-of-pearl dials: they flashed in the light and again modestly dived under the sleeve. Rhinestones instead of marker dots - why not allow yourself a little sparkle and festive mood, even in the middle of the working day?
And my favorite thing about this model R31003 and its “sisters” is the day/night indicator, made in the form of a classic moon phase indicator. Because the working day will end, and a leisurely evening will follow. And you can watch the magic as the moon appears from behind the horizon and from under the edge of the dial. This always leads me to philosophical reflections about the transience of time and its insubordination to human will.
Pleasant nuances of R31003
I've never worn a rose gold watch before - this is my first. And I like him. The Tavannes R31003 looks lively and warm, although it is more difficult to match with accessories than a silver watch. Here, of course, it is not real gold, but an IP coating of the desired color. It protects the metal from scratches to some extent, but it also does not last forever. Although, if you treat your watch with care, its appearance will delight you for years.
No matter how many watches I have with a mother-of-pearl dial, I am inevitably fascinated by its “northern lights”, the shimmer in the light. I am impressed that this “design from nature” is unique. Although some might argue that rose gold on mother-of-pearl is hard to read. But for me, everything was done optimally, despite not the maximum contrast.
Tavannes has a sapphire crystal, which means the watch is scratch-resistant. It’s good that the glass is slightly raised above the bezel - it’s better that a diamond-hard sapphire “repels” all possible scratches than steel that is vulnerable to them.
And the hands with a longitudinal edge... Even if one side is in the shadow, the other glows brightly in the light and this gives depth to the dial. Roman hour markers are very neat, voluminous, and rose gold color. The three o'clock clock is cut in half to make room for the date window. It is probably even more difficult to attach it evenly than the other tags, but the manufacturer managed it. The date at the 3 o'clock position is with an applied frame, also in rose gold color. The stars on the indicator are clear and clearly visible against the background of the dark blue “night sky”.
By the way, about the indicator. Here a relatively rare form has been chosen for it - in the form of a “smile”, that is, a semicircle with the convex side down (more often done with this side up). I saw this solution in photographs of some watches with a moon phase indicator. But the most famous such watches are the Wristmons series by Russian watchmaker and inventor Konstantin Chaykin. It’s their Tavannes Moon that reminds me most of all.
The fluted crown is set with an inky blue cabochon, the name given to a round-cut stone. It is present in all models of this line, but it is precisely in watches with a day/night indicator that they are most appropriate: here their color echoes the dark blue night sky.
In a word, believe me: there is something to admire here.
From a practical point of view
If we leave the lyrics and evaluate rationally, then in general the watch does not give the impression of being particularly luxurious: simple finishing (polished everywhere, smooth edges), day/night instead of a calendar-moon phase indicator. However, everything was done well. However, all Rodania watches come with a 3-year warranty. When registering on the brand's website, an additional 2 years are offered (for a total of 5 years of warranty).
Applied elements on the dial, smooth, neatly polished hands, no blemishes on the simple case. A beautiful watch for real life. And at a price that won’t make you worry about every scratch.
When I say that they are sophisticated, it’s not for the sake of a nice word. The thickness of the case is only 7 mm, which easily fits under a cuff. And the diameter is 30 mm, which by modern standards is quite modest.
Comfortable five-link pusher bracelet with butterfly clasp. Polished steel links alternate with rose gold. True, the gold IP coating is applied only to the outer side of the bracelet. I suppose there is a practical sense in this (at a minimum, the gold plating will not rub off on the wrist and react with skin salts). But it is perceived as... something unfinished, or something. However, Rodania uses 316L steel in its production - with a low carbon content, which guarantees high corrosion resistance.
The bracelet size is designed for a fairly wide wrist. But it will not be difficult to adjust it to your hand, since the links are attached to “studs”. By the way, in the original box, in addition to the cushion for the watch, there are loops for fixing the bracelet. Apparently, the manufacturer assumes that the owner may want to replace the bracelet with an analogue of a different color or with a strap.
“And they also count down time.”
In Belgium, as far as I know, there are no factories producing mechanisms. So the mechanisms in Rodania are Swiss (and where the other parts are made is not advertised). My model, for example, has Ronda 763. It has everything you need for comfortable use of the watch: 5 stones reduce the friction of the axles in the mechanism and give hope for its long service.
The battery will last for 40 months - more than three years. EOL will help you avoid being left without the exact time due to forgetfulness or an unfortunate accident - a warning about the imminent discharge of the battery (by the changed movement of the second hand you can understand that a replacement is coming soon). And the passport recommends that during a visit to the watchmaker you also test the watch for water resistance, since “one of the most important reasons for watch failure is the action of water and humidity.”
The declared accuracy is standard for basic quartz calibers, from -10 to +20 seconds per month (in reality it depends on the specific watch, but is usually much better than the passport one).
By the way, the date will have to be adjusted manually every 30-day month. It’s good that the time will not be lost: the date changes if you pull the crown to the second position, and the time - to the third.
An eternal problem with Ronda calibers is that the second hand does not hit the marks approximately halfway up the dial. You may not notice this, but I am allergic to it. Here, Rodania elegantly solved the problem by removing the second/minute markings and leaving only five-minute markers. It’s harder to miss them, and the look of a perfectionist no longer “scratches” anything.
The Ronda caliber complies with the NIHS 91-10 standard: even if dropped from a meter onto a wooden floor, the watch should not stop moving and no parts should fall off.
5 ATM water resistance allows you not to worry too much about the safety of your watch due to accidental exposure to moisture in the rain, when washing your hands, or because of tears over a financial report that doesn’t add up. In general, as they joke, it would be more correct to write “splash protection”. However, you are unlikely to go swimming, much less dive, while wearing an office watch.
What to wear with and who to give as a gift
Model R31003 has a classic design, in a silver palette with rose gold and mother-of-pearl elements, perfect for a jacket and blouse, a formal office or even a cocktail dress. It can also be worn with jeans and a white shirt. But with oversized clothes (even if it’s a jacket), the watch will get lost - it’s very miniature and laconic.
Other options in this collection - white and dark blue like the night sky - can be combined with looser outfits of a romantic style. In addition, bracelet watches are perceived as more sporty than those on a leather strap. So with a sport-chic style it can also be appropriate.
This model is quite worthy of becoming a memorable gift for a daughter for graduation, a wife for an anniversary, and a sister for her birthday. For a mother aged 50+, reading marks may not be very comfortable if her vision is no longer so sharp. The watch will last a long time without losing its appearance, and will remind its owner of you.
