Available Now: Baltic x Peter Auto Tricompax Chronograph

January 09, 2017

The worlds of motorsports and watches have more than harmoniously coexisted since the former s inception. The timing element plays a key role in the adrenaline-fueled, high-octane field of motor-vehicle racing, making a chronograph an essential piece of kit for any racer worth their salt. Some of the most iconic watches in horological history have been created with this purpose in mind. Inspired by the golden era of motorsports (and some would say watches), Baltic has come together with Peter Auto to create the Baltic x Peter Auto Tricompax. This is a 70s-inspired chronograph with sporty ambitions and a sharp look. Naturally, when Baltic reached out and asked if wed like to receive the watch for a hands-on review, I couldnt accept quickly or enthusiastically enough. As a fan of vintage watches with a special love for 70s designs, this felt like a model made just for me.Naturally, a few days later, the watch arrived alongside its two stopwatch companions. But did it live up to expectations? Before I answer that question, there are a couple of things worth keeping in mind. The first is that this is the most expensive Baltic model to date. Sure, it comes with a full kit of goodies and represents a very special partnership for the brand. But when releasing your priciest watch, especially as a microbrand, you have to make sure youre swinging for the fences - though perhaps aiming for pole position is a better analogy here. If you dont deliver on your fans expectations, its easy to besmirch your reputation and potentially lose the faith of those who have enjoyed following along the brands first steps. Im relieved to report that this has not been the case for the Baltic x Peter Auto Tricompax chronograph.Inspired looks with plenty of standalone charmLook at the Baltic x Peter Auto Tricompax from a distance, and your mind might wander in the direction of a Paul Newman Daytona. But look at it up close, and you ll see a plethora of details that set this watch apart significantly. Now, Im not here for the endless, pointless debate of how some watches look to the past for inspiration. This story is as old as time and something not worth getting too upset about… Especially when that inspiration leads to watches that look this sharp.Something that is worth addressing is the Tricompax name. Calling a watch with this three-register layout a tricompax chronograph is a now commonly accepted (and understandable) error. The correct term is simple compax. The true tricompax layout includes four sub-dials. The tri- in the name (which leads to this confusion) designated the three complications (chronograph, calendar, and moonphase) as opposed to the number or layout of the watchs sub-dials.The movement powering this watch is the Sellita SW510-M. This brilliant hand-wound chronograph caliber offers an impressive 63-hour power reserve. The cam-operated chronographs timekeeping is displayed on the 30-minute counter at 3 oclock and a 12-hour counter at 6 oclock. This movement can be found in virtually every single modern Nivada Grenchen chronograph. However, on those dual-sub-dial models, the 12-hour timer is omitted. Personally, I enjoy the elapsed-hours register, especially when timing a long drive or a flight. I also prefer the 3 and 6 oclock layout also found on the Speedmaster and older Daytonas, not the 3 and 9 oclock one used by modern chronographs. Call me old-fashioned, but in a world thats all about details, these things matter.?The Baltic x Peter Auto Tricompax ChronographSpeaking of details, Baltic is a brand that clearly gets it. Not just because of the clean layout of the chronograph, but also because of its many lovely design elements. Along with the finely textured black-and-beige panda dial, we see a brilliant set of sharp, colorful hands that match the orange and yellow accents on the corresponding chronograph sub-dials. A more subtle set of hands is used for telling time, with both the hour and minute hand featuring lume. The sub-dials not only feature the aforementioned color accents, but they also have a nicely executed radial grain pattern. The running seconds register is marked nicely with a crosshair, adding a bit of vintage flair. Applied baton markers line the dial, the only exception at 12 oclock taking on the shape of its corresponding number. The brands logo in its tasteful typography can be found just below. Youll admire all of these lovely details through a double-domed sapphire crystal, which (when viewed at an angle) gives just the perfect amount of distortion. Surrounding the dial, the aluminum tachymeter bezel insert with a subtle circular grain is a great touch. In a very useful fashion, the tachymeter begins with 200 units/hour at around the 4 oclock mark and finishes with 50 units/hour just after 2 oclock. Not that knowing if youre going 500km/h isnt useful, it just doesnt tend to happen too often in a context in which a tachymeter would be useful (not for me, anyway). And you get quite a bit of kit for your hard-earned cash ($2,389.75 including Dutch VAT). Not only do you get the watch, but you also get two matching stopwatches. One comes in black, and the other is in the same off-white used on the watchs dial.Built for comfort and for speedThe watchs sweet-spot 39.5mm (47mm lug-to-lug) stainless steel case is fully brushed, except for the outer edge of the tachymeter bezel, the pushers, and the engraved top of the crown. The case back? It s solid, engraved (on the production models), and given a polished chamfer around its outer edge. The lugs? Theyre drilled as they should be. But that didnt stop Baltic from making things easy and giving both the brilliant flat-link bracelet and the included taupe calfskin strap quick-release spring bars. Lets talk about the bracelet for a second. Forstner-like in its fit, quality, and finish, its the perfect complement to a retro-styled chronograph. Could Baltic have gone with a generic Oyster-style bracelet and called it a day? Sure. But in going with this slim and extremely comfortable bracelet, Baltic has done the watch justice.I know what youre thinking. This guy- He gave us the case diameter and lug-to-lug, but does he expect us to guess how thick the watch is? And the answer to that is both no and 13.5mm (just over 11mm not including the domed sapphire glass). For those of you who don t know, thats almost the same thickness as the Omega Speedmaster Professional. If youre aiming to build a decent hand-winding chronograph, it could be said to be a good standard to aim for. So in other words, the Baltic x Peter Auto Tricompax chronograph is a watch built for comfort and speed. What else to say? The Baltic-signed clasp has one micro-adjust and fastens with a reassuring and solid click. The chronograph has crisp action and is satisfying to operate. And the watch has 50 meters of water resistance (again, just like the Speedy).Final thoughtsDoes Baltic take the checkered flag with the Baltic x Peter Auto Tricompax chronograph? In my eyes, and after a week on my wrist, it absolutely does. If it werent for the stiff competition that is the brands brilliant titanium diver released earlier this year, this would be, without a shadow of a doubt, my favorite watch in Baltic s catalog. And for the money (again, $2,389.75 including Dutch VAT) youre getting a brilliant chronograph from a microbrand thats quickly edging away from the competition to become a fan favorite. Plus, the Baltic-branded stopwatches are a very cool addition indeed and perfect for collectors and horological nerds alike. Personally, I dont have a car Id deem worthy of mounting them in, but having had them on my desk for over a week, they also make for great conversation pieces, as well as perfect fidget toys/meeting timers.If you want to get your hands on the Baltic x Peter Auto Tricompax, youll have to be quick! Only 300 units will be made available. And if youre reading this, you can head to the Baltic website, where theyll go on sale at 4:00 PM today (August 26th, 2022).What do you make of the Baltic x Peter Auto Tricompax? Do you also find it one of the coolest microbrand releases of the year? Or is it a pass for you? As always, let me know your thoughts in the comments below.