Gentlemen, wind your engines!
Celebrating Straton’s 10-year anniversary, the cult watchmaker is jump-starting the racing machine that crossed the line first: its beloved Curve Chrono Watch. And you can practically smell the oil rags, battered leather and exhaust fumes.
The ‘MkII’ features four predictably exuberant dial colors, bold retro looks and two movement choices – either fully automatic courtesy Seiko’s famous NE86 chrono’ or mechanics-jacked-into electronics as the homologated ‘Meca-Quartz’ model.
You’d better put pedal to metal, though, since Straton are only making 50 pieces per color available, at least for the first ones to roll off the line.
It all started in 2015, when petrolhead Zurich native, Kyle Schut ploughed his love for classic cars, racing and watches into a singular pedal-to-the-metal passion project. He wanted to create a watch brand whose each creation – all in thrilling, go-faster stripes – would tell a story.
Least of all prove pure catnip to gear heads:
The Swiss-based microbrand burst into life in 2010 with a Kickstarter campaign that was over ten-times subscribed, revving into the red along the shores of Lake Zürich ever since. Originally launched in tribute to Italy’s notorious, legendary Targa Florio road race, the Curve Chrono of 2015 became one of Straton’s most in-demand models – alone raising over $240,000 on Kickstarter.
Named after the legendary Targa Florio road race, “Curve” takes its name from the Italian word for corner, a nod to motorsport’s winding heritage. The MKII edition refines the original concept while staying true to the spirit that made it a fan favourite.
In line with Mr Schut and Straton Watch Company’s core belief, it’s a quartet of remarkable accessibility. Only right, when the passion for vintage cars threads through all walks of life. Hence just $799 for the Automatic’s $799 launch price (a rare opportunity to own something as high-quality as Seiko mechanics, let alone a mechanical column wheel chronograph), while the Meca-Quartz (a Seiko VK64 movement) comes in at $399.
Turn over the hefty 47mm steel case and a surprise: the caseback of the Curve Chrono MKII features a wheel pattern inspired by an iconic wheel design that dates back to the ’70s, and is still in use today.
In fact, Kyle’s personal Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT wears these very wheels…