A Closer Look at The Aramar Long Beach Racing Chronograph

Luxury watchmakers in business for decades may have some competition coming up in the form of new entrepreneurs arriving on the scene through the Kickstarter platform. The Aramar Watch Company has been around for nearly seven years, but collaborative efforts with more well-known watchmakers failed to succeed. This hasn’t swayed their intention to position their new brand in the running for popularity with other more established brands in horological circles. Securing their own funding sources, Aramar is offering an automotive watch called the Long Beach Racing Chronograph, and here is how it came about.

Crowfunding for startup capital

Aramar launched a funding campaign on Kickstarter, offering the Long Beach Racing Chronograph at a special price to backers who were willing to make the investment in the development and manufacturing of the watch. These backers supply the startup funds with the agreement that when the funding goal of the company is reached, the products that they support will be shipped to them upon their perfection and completed manufacture. It’s a good way for companies just starting out to become established. Aramar exceeded their campaign goals. There is still time to get in on the deal before the campaign officially ends.

High-end luxury with a lower price tag

This is a new trend in luxury watchmaking that offers people who can’t afford the higher priced brands to own a luxury watch. The Long Beach Racing Chronograph meets the criteria for joining the more elite circles. Here are some particulars about the automotive themed watch.

Aramar Long Beach Racing Chronograph

The creators of this brand were previously dealers for several watch brands in the country of the Netherlands, and were well established and connected in the industry. With a knowledge of the intricacies of high end watchmaking, they set out to create their own versions and offer them at more affordable prices, because they are able to make substitutions that keep the overhead much lower. The Aramar brand has already collected a following of loyal patrons, but the company is moving ahead with a more original piece. The Long Beach Racing Chronograph is vintage inspired, and offers multiple advantages for its new audience.

Case

The case measures 38mm in diameter with a height of 14mm. Although a bit on the thick side, it accommodates the chronograph nicely. It is crafted from stainless steel of a high grade quality.

Dial

The white base is complemented by contrasting black subdials in a Panda style. It features twin chronographs with running seconds displayed on one and the total elapsed time on the minute counter, and a central chronograph seconds hand. Silver hands are lume filled for high visibility and indicate hours and minutes. On the dial, hour markers are indicated by applied silver markers in baton style. The central chronograph seconds hand is lollipop style with a red tip. At the 3 and 9 o’clock positions, subsidiary dials are placed with the running small seconds and a 30 minute counter.

Movement

The movement is made in China, but has roots in Switzerland. The commercial name is the Seagull ST-19. It was originally intended for uses in the military, specifically for the Chinese Airforce, placed in the Venus 175. it was developed in the 1940s by Fabrique d’Ebauches Venus S.A, in the country of Switzerland and was used in some of the more well known high end brands including Minerva and Breitling. The new movement that replaced this brand was developed in the 1960s, renamed the 180.

The Long Beach Racing Chronograph is the Seagull ST-19 of Chinese manufacture with roots in Switzerland as the evolution of the original 175, later named the 180, then retooled. It features blued screws and Geneva stripes, and is a fine power source for the watch, although not quite up to the German or Swiss-made standards, it is more affordable. It is a hand wound, column-wheel, 21 jewel chronograph movement. When fully wound, the power reserve is 45 hours.

Crystal

The watchmakers decided to forego the use of a sapphire crystal, because it would increase the price. instead, they chose to fit the Long Beach Racing Chronograph with an acrylic crystal that is domed for a vintage appeal. The materials are easily polished should scratching occur.

Strap

The Long Beach comes equipped with an 18mm wide black leather racing strap, which diminishes to 16mm at the buckle in a perforated style.

Final thoughts

Aramar has finally introduced an original design that is not dependent on cloning one of the more popular high end watches. It’s currently available through Kickstarter at 249 EUR while the campaign is on and Post campaign, at 399EUR.

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