Today, the Melbourne Watch Company launched a Kickstarter campaign for the Carlton. Like its predecessors, the new model exploded out of the starting block, shattering its funding goal in a matter of hours. The Carlton is a departure for Melbourne in that it is the company’s first quartz, but fans of the brand need not fret. It is yet another standout design from this micro brand and contains one of the most interesting movements in the affordable watch market.
The Carlton draws inspiration from vintage chronographs and indeed, you won’t need much imagination to see the glorious Glashütte Original Sixties Square Chronograph in its design. The case, dial, and piston plungers all echo the German beauty. The Carlton is 42mm wide on a 22mm strap, a popular, modern size that should command significant wrist presence due to its square shape. It is undoubtedly a sport watch, a fact supported by its sapphire crystal and 50 meter water resistance rating, but at only 11mm thick, it should fit comfortably under a buttoned shirt cuff.
Two versions are offered: steel with a black dial and rose gold finish with a silver dial. Both have coordinating applied markers, diamond cut hands filled with C3 SuperLuminova, and the signature Melbourne “M” on the second hand. Around back, you will find an engraved image of the historic Melbourne Royal Exhibition Center, a landmark in the watches’ namesake suburb. The connection between a sporting chronograph and an exhibition hall is not immediately apparent to this American, but it is an attractive decoration. (I’m still hoping for an “Albert Park” race timer.)
The dial is clean and subtle, with a 60-minute timer and 24-hour register at 9 and 3, respectively. The layout hints at the Seiko VK64 Mecha-Quartz inside. This hybrid movement weds a battery driven quartz with a mechanical chronograph module for a smooth 1/5th-second sweep and a crisp snap back on reset.
List price will be $455 AUD for the steel model and $475 AUD for the rose gold. These are fair prices, but early backers can snap up theirs for as low as $295 AUD (about $231 USD) for the steel and $315 AUD or $246 USD for rose gold.
The Time Bum has been impressed with every Melbourne that has come my way, and each has been better than the last. To my eye, the Carlton looks like a clear winner. Get more information at the Melbourne Watch Company site and Carlton Kickstarter page.
