The new Brellum Wyvern Manufacture Limited Edition
After the inaugural Duobox chronograph, the brand returns with a classic hand-wound watch.
If you are a regular reader of MONOCHROME, you are probably familiar with Brellum. This young microbrand was launched two years ago by Sebastien Muller with the Duobox, a cool, retro-inspired chronograph powered by COSC-certified Valjoux 7750 movements. After this first (and rather successful) attempt with a sporty chronograph, it is time for the brand to expand the collection with a new classic watch, the Brellum Wyvern Manufacture.
One of the specificities of Brellum watches is that they are sold online exclusively. This direct-to-customer strategy cutting out the middlemen allows pricing the Duobox at CHF 2,450, offering excellent value for the money. Today, following the same strategy, a second watch is on its way, the Wyvern.
Brellum now returns with something different, as Sebastien Muller was eager to produce its own mechanical movement. Named after the legendary animal of the Jura mountains, his latest creation, the Wyvern, is equipped with a proprietary movement indicating the hours, minutes, seconds and the power reserve (a comfortable 5-day power reserve). 42.5mm in diameter, the steel case features a thin bezel and elongated lugs. The crown is emblazoned with Brellum’s logo, a symbolic representation of Wyvern’s diamond (named escarboucle). Finished with alternate brushed and polished surfaces, it features a box-shaped sapphire crystal on the front and on the back, offering an uncluttered view on the hand-wound movement.
The dial of the new Brellum Wyvern Manufacture is slightly domed. It features applied Roman numerals and baton-style hour markers paired with alpha-shaped hands. Two versions of the watch are available, with either an anthracite grey dial or a white opaline dial. Each version will be limited to 23 pieces only.
Under the hood is the hand-wound calibre BR-18, a proprietary movement with a 5-day power reserve. Based on an ex-Technotime ébauche, it has been entirely re-engineered – for instance the regulator and hairspring are specific to the brand. This large 30mm movement operates at 4Hz and features a three-quarter plate, nicely hollowed to reveal the two barrels.
The finishing includes hand-chamfering and perlage. The three-quarter plate is decorated with Geneva stripes and the balance bridge features a matte grained finish. The calibre BR-18 comes in two different versions: rhodium-plated with thermally blue screws for the grey dial edition and rose gold-plated for the white dial edition. Last, the precision of the movement is chronometer-certified by COSC.
Completed with an alligator strap secured with a folding buckle, the Brellum Wyvern Manufacture limited edition retails for CHF 3,990 – which represents again a great quality/price ratio for a watch fitted with a powerful hand-wound movement and offered is an exclusive production of less than 50 watches.
Last, Brellum offers an additional free strap and buckle with each watch (the Wyvern but also the Duobox chronograph) ordered in November using the promo code strap18. For more information on Brellum and the Wyvern manufacture, visit www.brellum.swiss.
8 responses
Is ‘anthracite grey’ superior in some way to ‘grey’? Just about evrybody’s (and his wife’s) grey watch dial now seems to have gone up a class or two of late!
Nicely done Brellum. Love the pink gold version of the movement!
That they’ve managed to reach this point in two years is admirable. I like the look of the watch, if not overly keen on the red bit on the power reserve. Speaking of power reserves, tthat’s a whopper. I seem to remember Speake-Marin using a modified Technotime ebauche in the past, so Brellum are in good company.
Well, considering that “Grey” can range from silver to almost black, it is a generic word. Anthracite means dark grey… nothing superior, just more precise
The movement looks speaks quality and nicely decorated. Haven’t heard much about them but it’s admirable that they are able to come out with such a great looking movement.
Wow. Very nice. And the movement! The only thing i dislike is the red on the dial. Honestly red should never be used on any dial.
The movement is ok but the dial design is too “Orient”…
This is a nice looking watch and I really love the rose gold movement. Alas I already ordered the ophion 786 which is also based on the technotime 5 day movement. Frosted movement and guilloche dial. Or I would take a long hard look at this. http://www.ophion-watches.com/