What if you could have the aesthetics of a vintage watch without all of the fuss?
This is the sentiment that Parisian industrial designer and watch collector Etienne Malec infused into his brand, Baltic Watches. Imbued with vintage inspiration but built with modern materials and outfitted with contemporary movements, Baltic timepieces marry looks from Patek, Rolex, and others without veering into homage territory: They encapsulate the essence of vintage watches, but they’re certainly not copies. And best of all — they’re wildly affordable.
This particular Baltic, an Aquascaphe, looks a lot like the classic dive watches of the mid-20th century — but not like any one of them in particular. Housed in a brushed 39mm stainless steel case with a signed, screw-down crown and a double-domed acrylic crystal, it features a steel 12-hour bezel for tracking a second time zone and a grained black 'sandwich' dial with luminescent cutaway indices, a silvered minute track, and a luminescent 'sword' handset.
Powered by the automatic Miyota Calibre 9039 workhorse movement and paired to a signed black Tropic rubber dive strap, this Aquascaphe features a screw-down caseback with a cool diver emblem. Shipping with its factory goodies, it's the perfect timepiece for a vintage lover who doesn't want to compromise on modern convenience.