The company was founded in 1888 by Carl Friedrich Bucherer. He manufactured luxury mechanical watches for both men and women. The company has been wholly owned by the Bucherer family. This present day, the brand now carries five core collections. These are the Alacria (jewelry watches for women), the Pathos (luxury watches for women), Adamavi (timeless luxury watches), Manero (elegant complicated watches), and the Patravi, which is a collection of sophisticated mechanical watches.
A member of the Patravi collection is the TravelTec line. The Patravi TravelTec family has captured the hearts of Carl F. Bucherer connoisseurs and aficionados for over ten years. It is for this very reason that the brand continues to expand this line.
This year, the brand is launching the Patravi TravelTec II featuring a distinctive case in warm rose gold coupled with a case back and pushers in lightweight titanium with a black DLC coating. The combination of colors creates a highly vibrant and elegant combination.
The Patravi TravelTec II does not differ much from its predecessor. It still carries the automatic calibre CFB 1901.1 movement that features a chronograph, date display, and a three time zone display. The movement has a diameter of 28.6 mm and a thichness of 7.3 mm. It carries 39 jewels and a 42-hour power reserve.
The slight differences, or modifications, refine the overall design of the TravelTec. The previous model was presented with a clean bezel. The dial was equipped with 2 flanges or rims. Both these rims contained a 24-hour scale (both in a white font) to indicate the second and third time zones. The new TravelTec II (the newest iteration) has been redesigned to give the watch a cleaner and less cluttered look. This was done by transferring the 24-hour scale on the outer flange and laying it out onto the bezel.
On the previous model, the east-west direction indicator was placed at the 12 o’clock position. These labels (with accompanying directional arrows) aid the wearer on which direction the rim should turn when travelling in one direction or the other. The TravelTec II’s direction indicator is transferred down to the 6 o’clock position.
The Patravi TravelTec II gleams in rose gold and blackened titanium.
The older model had a red 24-hour hand with a solid inverted triangle at its tip. In the newer model, this was modified to have the center of the triangle cut out. It’s a very small adjustment, but streamlines the indicator into a cleaner look. Another modification applied to the TravelTec II is the that the colors of the sub dials now match the color of the bezel. The previous models had silver-colored sub dials on the rose gold models. The TravelTec II’s sub dials now bear the same hue as its bezel, offering a more harmonious design.
The last two modifications may seem a bit too trivial, but whether you believe me or not, it is details like these that either make customers buy a watch or not, especially to the very particular ones. Sometimes, customers don’t even realize it. They only get a “feeling” that something is just a little off and they can’t put their finger on it. These small details definitely affects the overall design and appeal of a watch. A big “thumbs up” to Carl F. Bucherer for paying intimate attention even to the smallest of details.
One of the differences that you may surely take note of is the application of a rubber strap on the TravelTec II. The previous model utilized a leather calfskin strap with an 18K rose gold pin lock folding clasp, with an option to get a stainless steel bracelet. The TravelTec II comes with a rubber strap and a folding clasp with stainless steel comfort extension. The other two versions are the stainless steel case with a rubber strap and a stainless steel case with a stainless steel bracelet.
The older TravelTec watch is a very robust piece with its case measuring 46.6 mm and had a water resistance of 50 meters. The new TravelTec II is even bigger with a diameter of 47.4 mm with a thickness of 15.9 mm, and has a deeper water resistance level at 100 meters.
Now that we have gone through the modifications of the new TravelTec II, we can take a look at the features of this watch. Again, it’s not that different from last year’s model, but we can take a quick peek to remind us of the technology behind the watch.
The unique feature this watch carries is its ability to display three time zones at one time. This is due to the patented mechanism that Carl F. Bucherer placed in the movement, which is visible via an opening on the side of the case just below the 10 o’clock pusher. This pusher adjusts the rotating flange (or rim around the dial) in one hour increments, whether forwards or backwards.
The local time is indicated by the central hour and minute hands on a 12-hour basis. The minute hand moves continuously while the hour hand can be adjusted in either direction in one-hour steps. When passing midnight, the date also changes both forward and backward, reassuring the wearer that he can adjust the date backwards without the fear of damaging the mechanism. There is a switch on the pusher at 10 o’clock. This switch tells the user which direction the rotating flange will turn – either eastward or westward. A third position on the switch will prevent the flange from accidentally turning.
The second time zone is indicated by the 24-hour hand and the fixed outer bezel. The third time zone is indicated by combining the 24-hour hour hand with the rotating flange. This unique system is both a masterpiece of watchmaking art and an immensely useful function for everyday travel. The Patravi TravelTec II also masters short time measurements with its highly precise chronometer-certified calibre capable of timing events up to twelve hours.
The Patravi TravelTec II is the newest member of the Patravi family. It gleams in rose gold and blackened titanium, a combination that exudes an aura of elegance. Its 47.4 mm case emits a presence that is bold and imposing. But the minor design upgrades make up for this bulky watch. It is now cleaner and more elegant than its predecessor.
