MICRO MONDAYS: Betting on black with the Brellum Wyvern GMT LE.1 Ghost Chronometer
Ricardo SimeWhat would you do if you were an independent brand and created a specced out sports watch? A sports watch made with limited production and containing a chronometer-grade movement. Well, it seems for Brellum, you double down on the sportiness and provide something special. That something special in this case is a DLC-coated version, in an even more limited number. Say hello to the dark traveller, Brellum’s Wyvern GMT LE.1 Ghost Chronometer.
In some ways, Brellum only just qualifies as a microbrand given its prodigious capacity and the fact that it has roots dating back to 1885. The Brellum Wyvern GMT LE.1 Ghost Chronometer is the next chapter in the story that is the Wyvern. Brellum introduced the Wyvern collection nearly three months ago and I fell in love with what the brand was offering. Which was a compact, thin, GMT that “skates that fine line between dressy and sporty“. After introducing that family of watches, I wondered what was next for the brand. The GMT LE.1 Ghost Chronometer is a strong answer.
Upon first glance, you can see that this new version of the Wyvern shares similarities with the introductory models. Thickness is still a very svelte 10.9mm, with 1.5mm of that going to the boxed sapphire crystal being used. Lug-to-lug is the same 45mm while the width has shrunk slightly to 42mm. As for water resistance, it is still 100m, even with a crown that doesn’t screw down.
Here though, is where we’ll find the first big difference on this version of the Wyvern. Gone is that mostly brushed stainless-steel case. It is replaced by a black Diamond-like Carbon (DLC) coating that visually shrinks the case. Since the coating takes on the characteristics of the materials below it, we still get the mixture of brushed surfaces with polished trim.
Moving in from the case, we’re met with the second big change on this version of the Wyvern. That would be the dial. It features a blue fumé pattern with touches of red that highlight the GMT function. When coupled with the black DLC coating, it seems as if the dial is bleeding into the case, creating an amazing overall effect. Seeing as this is the first time the brand is using a fumé dial, with these results, I hope it’s not the last.
On the inside of this “dark traveller”, and beautifully displayed through a sapphire crystal caseback is the Brellum BR-893-GMT movement. The movement is based on the ETA 2893/2, thus it has Office GMT functionality. This means the 24-hour hand is independent and can be used to keep track of an international timezone. And though the movement is ETA based, Brellum has gone to great lengths to provide a ton of value. You get perlage, Geneva stripes, blued screws, a gold-coated rotor and chronometer-grade certification.
To complete the overall look, Brellum has placed the Wyvern GMT LE.1 Ghost Chronometer on an integrated rubber strap. It features a deployant steel Black DLC buckle with safety push button. Unlike previous Wyverns, this is the only strap offered for the watch.
Overall, this new version of the Wyvern is a great addition to the collection. Though it will be made in a very limited run of only 33 pieces (individually numbered below the sapphire crystal on the caseback), it still provides a look into what the brand can do in the future. At the end of the day, I see this as a test run for Brellum; a way to see if there is an appetite for this new aesthetic. I for one hope this test run succeeds and we get more DLC-coated, fumé-dialled watches from this resourceful independent brand.
Brellum Wyvern GMT LE.1 Ghost Chronometer pricing and availability:
This new version of the Wyvern is now available on the Brellum website. Pricing is 2190 CHF
Made in partnership with Brellum Watches. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.