Oh buoy! The Brellum Pandial LE.1 sets sail to become a real summer watch contender
Borna BošnjakBrellum has become a common feature not only on our Micro Mondays series, but also several top “insert number here” lists, and for good reason. The brand is completely independent, produces only 299 units per year, with all of those units being chronometer-grade. The new Brellum Pandial LE.1 Chronometer is set to become the brand’s carefree, I-wake-up-at-11-on-my-boat, kind of summer watch, owing to its colours and design. Owner Sebastien Muller, a fourth generation watchmaker, is in direct contact with the brand’s customers and shows true dedication to his craft in the execution of every piece.
Panda dial for the Pandial
Brellum did well with their colour choices, and while blue and white is quite a fail-safe combo, it still needs to be proportioned correctly. While still an accent, blue is not used sparingly, featuring on different materials and giving real depth to the dial. The circular graining of the 30-minute and 12-hour counters is matched by rings of the minute track and the surround of the running seconds, all with a metallic blue sheen. An angled rehaut with printed minutes rises to match the textured aluminium tachymetre bezel. The rest of the dial is opaline white, with crisp black printing that also frames the day-date window.
At times, chronographs, especially when sporty, sacrifice their legibility for the sake of putting as much information on the dial as possible. The Pandial LE.1 circumvents this by omitting some elements found on previous Pandial models. The Brellum Wyvern logo is nowhere to be found, while the 15, 30, 45 and 60-minute markings are replaced by blue bisected triangles. The dial has been tightened up overall, which matches the slightly vintage aesthetic given off by the creamy lume plots.
Large case with slender features
The execution of the stainless-steel case is very much in line with the rest of this watch. With a 43mm diameter and 15.9mm thickness, this will be a great option for those used to larger watches, though it should be said that the Pandial LE.1’s sapphire accounts for over 4mm of its height. What surprised me is that Brellum uses a box sapphire on both the front and the back of the case, which I don’t recall seeing before. Fine vertical brushing on top of the lugs and case sides flows into the five-link bracelet, with a high polish chamfer tapering from the tip of the lug into the case. The pump pushers and unguarded crown are proportioned perfectly, with the crown featuring a “carbuncle” gemstone pattern engraving (careful Googling carbuncle, I am now mentally scarred).
The watch is offered on both the aforementioned five-link stainless steel bracelet or integrated Nebur Tec strap on a deployment buckle, which is new for Brellum.
Classically handsome movement
COSC-certified and visible through the box sapphire, the Brellum BR-750-2, based on the venerable Valjoux 7750 is decorated in line with the price point of the watch. The silver-toned combination of perlage and Geneva striping on the plates and bridges is interrupted by blue screws and a gold-coated custom rotor, bearing the wyvern insignia. The rotor also reiterates the limited nature of Brellum’s releases, with an engraved number for every watch. As for performance, it’s classic Valjoux 7750 stuff, with a 46-hour power reserve, beating away at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz).
Brellum Pandial LE.1 Chronometer pricing and availability:
The Brellum Pandial LE.1 Chronometer is available from April 29th, limited to 33 pieces from Brellum’s website. Price: US$2950/£2490/€3000/CHF2750
Brand | Brellum |
Model | Pandial LE.1 Chronometer |
Case Dimensions | 43mm x 15.9mm |
Case Material | Stainless steel |
Water Resistance | 100 metres |
Dial | Silver/blue multi-levelled dial |
Crystal | Box sapphire |
Strap | Integrated Nebur Tec strap with stainless steel deployant Stainless steel bracelet |
Movement | BRELLUM BR-750-2, Valjoux 7750-based automatic chronograph, 46-hour power reserve |
Price | US$2950/£2490/€3000/CHF2750 |