Watches by movement: 5 watches powered with an SW200 from divers to dress

Fergus Nash

As far as ubiquitous movements go, the SW200 and its variants is one to make your eyes light up when you see it on a specification sheet. Originally a clone of the ever-loved ETA 2824, once the patent had expired, Sellita’s version remains just as reliable, affordable and well-performing as its ETA twin. The 4Hz beat rate, 38 hour power reserve and moderate 4.6mm thickness makes it a great all-rounder movement for any watches that can house it. Here are five great examples…

Montblanc 1858 Automatic

The SW200 is no stranger to luxury treatment, being disguised here as the calibre MB 24.15 in this Montblanc 1858 Automatic — probably one of the best exploration-themed watches of the modern era. The smoked-blue fumé dial combined with the silver steel case and crisp white highlights evoke the feeling of a snow-swept mountain, as depicted by the instantly recognisable Montblanc logo. The thin, rotating compass bezel just adds to the vintage charm of the 40mm watch, as do the printed minute markers and large cathedral hands. Offering 100m of water resistance, this watch can handle the most intrepid adventure, while the 20mm lug width ensures you can put it on an adventure-ready alternative strap of your choice.

Farer Bradfield

Farer’s reputation as a microbrand grows with each passing month, every new release seemingly selling out faster than the last. The Bradfield is a refreshing take on the pilot watch formula with incredibly compact dimensions at 39mm in diameter and a 45mm lug-to-lug. The white stepped dial and thin bezel ensures that its wrist presence stays just as legible as a large flieger style watch, but with its own unique personality. The pastel blue ring around the inner minute track is contrasted nicely with creamy aged arrowhead hands and it comes to life in darkness when the details light up with lume. The antimagnetic properties of the case show some great engineering nous, while also paying attention to the military inspiration.

Sinn U1

If you want proof that the SW200 gets respect from some of the best wristwatch engineers on the planet, look no further than its inclusion in this Sinn depth-defying diver. The Sinn U1 is as tool-tastic as a watch can get, being hewn from German submarine steel and able to reach as far as 1000m underwater. The white-on-black blocky hands and indices are beyond legible, and the red accents on the dial text and hands make it feel like a genuine piece of submarine equipment. Its 44mm diameter is offset by short and angled lugs to better fit the wrist, and the large crown at 4 o’clock gives you some extra room to rotate your wrist as needed. Check out eight more deadly Sinns here.

 

Baume & Mercier Classima 10274

What better way to appreciate your Sellita movement than with a peek straight through the dial? The open-heart Classima 10274 is the epitome of a classy dress watch, with fine roman numerals, blued-steel hands, and a tapestry centre section to the dial offering complexity so that the dancing balance wheel doesn’t look too out of place. If that wasn’t enough, you can get a look at the movement through the display caseback, too. 

Yema Superman Heritage

Possibly one of the best value dive watches in recent years, the revitalised Superman by the resurrected Yema is a fantastic option for just about any time or place. The characterful skin-diver stylings are only made better by extremely wrist-friendly proportions and the unique bezel-lock system, while the 300m water resistance proves its diving capabilities. It hits a sweet spot of complexity-meets-legibility with the minute track printed all along the aluminium bezel and the elongated minute track on the dial being playfully distorted by the domed sapphire crystal.