Hands-On With The Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025

January 12, 2023

Watches and Wonders may have drawn most of our attention last week, but that doesnt mean nothing is happening elsewhere in the watch world. Baltic, one of the young guns making waves in recent years, announced a new limited edition. I got the chance to try it out. This is the new Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 Limited Edition. It celebrates the brands sponsorship of and participation in the yearly French Tour Auto rally.The Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 Limited Edition is limited to 400 pieces. The watch costs $2,117.50 (including 21% VAT), and the limited run is available now. Lets have a closer look.Baltic and motorsportsDaan covered last years Baltic Tour Auto edition, and Nacho even rode shotgun during the rally while wearing it. This makes me wonder why I am writing this in the dark underground Fratello HQ with a lukewarm cup of Joe. Whats up with that, Baltic?In any case, this is a yearly release. Baltic sponsors the rally as its official timekeeper. This year, the race is divided into six stages between Paris and Nice. Baltic takes part with two cars - a 1963 Lotus Elan 26R and a 1965 MG B.The Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 Limited Edition celebrates the 2025 edition of this yearly motorized Tour de France.Whats new about the Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 Limited Edition?The new Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 Limited Edition shares a lot of its DNA with last years version. We see a few changes, though. For starters, Baltic now fits screw-down pushers for a 100m water resistance rating. The watch also gained some weight, measuring 14.1mm thick instead of last years 13.5mm. I m guessing that the case back and/or crystal had to be thickened slightly to reach that 100m rating. The dial has seen several changes too. For starters, it now has a big-eye layout with an enlarged minute counter at 3 o clock. The hour counter at 6 no longer gets a visually distinguished sub-dial, mimicking the appearance of a two-register chronograph. Lastly, this years dial looks much more distinct, with its multiple shades of pale blue, a prime example of what the French would call ton-sur-ton.Lastly, while last years model featured numerals all around, this version is fitted with applied concentric hour markers. I dont know about you, but this was the very first thing I noticed when seeing press images of this new Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 Limited Edition.Conceptual issues with the Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 Limited EditionOn paper, the greater water resistance makes little sense. Automatic chronographs tend to be bulky, and this is no exception. To add to its thickness for the sake of arguably redundant water resistance seems odd. In reality, the added girth isnt noticeable. This isnt a slim watch, but it wears just fine. Still, the screw-down pushers feel over-specced. They make the chronograph finicky to operate, and I found myself simply not using it. Also, this is no do-it-all watch. With such a rally-themed design, I wonder what the added water resistance is for. In my book, this is a case of specs over conceptual congruence.I am afraid that is a bit of a theme with this watch. The almost-hidden hour counter features a hand in the same color as the running seconds. Meanwhile, the chronograph seconds and hour counter are blue. Why not color-code the chronograph elements to clearly distinguish between functions?I have the same issue with the tilted hour markers. This is something you do for decorative reasons, so it makes sense on a watch like, say, the Czapek Antarctique Dark Sector. This, however, is presented as a rally timer. Id say legibility and precision should top everything else, and tilted hour markers dont promote either. All in all, this makes me feel like the Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 Limited Edition is more of a romantic rally watch than an actual tool. This is true, of course, but I would prefer it to be less obvious. This makes it feel more like a marketing exercise than needed.Wearing the Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 Limited EditionOkay, that was very harsh, and I promise it isnt because I am writing from a basement. It is just that with so many watches being released all the time with so many clever (or convoluted) backstories, I think we should remain critical. The thing is, I do like the Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 Limited Edition. No, really, I do!For starters, this is a very pretty watch in real life. I love the finely grained dial texture and its icy blue hue. Additionally, the big-eye layout with the two framed sub-dials looks plain cool. And while I have conceptual issues with the hour markers, I like the dynamism they provide. All in all, I think the dial looks fantastic.Baltic also got the proportions right. This is a very wearable watch with plenty of vintage appeal. Sure, it is a little tubby, but so are all of its competitors. Sellita, if you are listening, please develop a slimmer chronograph caliber for us! Bring us back to the 60s, will ya?Closing thoughtsOkay, that was a bit of a mixed bag, wasnt it? The thing is, my gripes are all at the conceptual level. I think the guys at Baltic simply set out to make a very pretty retro racing chronograph, and they succeeded. After all, to what extent will these watches actually be used as rallying chronographs? Arent they more about reflecting the charm and allure of the race? And if so, shouldnt they just look and feel cool rather than make perfect sense?My answer is an ambivalent yes and no. Your mileage may vary, and I suppose it depends on whether you use a watch to calculate your mileage or not.What do you think of the new Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 Limited Edition? Let us know in the comments section below!Watch specifications Brand Baltic Model Scalepgraph Tour Auto 2025 Limited Edition Dial Pale blue with finally grained texture, darker blue outer ring, applied concentric indexes, two off-white sub-dials with concentric graining and applied framesCase Material Stainless steel with dark blue aluminum bezel insertCase Dimensions 39.5mm (diameter) 47mm (lug to lug) 14.1mm (thickness)Crystal Double-domed sapphireCase Back Stainless steel with Tour Auto engraving, screw-in Movement Sellita SW510 M: manual winding with hacking, 28,800vph frequency, 63-hour power reserve, 23 jewelsWater Resistance 100 metersStrap Stainless steel beads-of-rice or flat-link bracelet (20mm width) with push-button folding clasp; additional dark blue Alcantara strap includedFunctions Time (hours, minutes, small seconds), chronograph (12-hour and 30-minute registers, central seconds), tachymeterPrice $2,117.50 (including 21% VAT) Special Note(s) Limited to 400 pieces