When it comes to independent brands doing special editions, they tend to be forum-specific. But what about something being offered up just to a specific Facebook group? That’s a new one on me, and what we have going on with the Hemel Air League Chrongraph.
As with forum watches, this watch is one designed by input from members of the League of Watch Microbrands group over on Facebook. In short, you’ve got a vintage-look chronograph, complete with a manually-wound movement that has it’s roots back in the 1960s. In this case, it’s the ST1901 from Seagull, which is gone over by Hemel before installing it into the case.
For a mechanical chronograph, the 42mm case diameter of the Hemel Air League Chrongraph is fairly modest (though no word on thickness). Though the watch is vintage in style, you’ve definitely got modern materials – stainless steel for the case, sapphire for the crystal, and a lumed ceramic insert for the 120-click bezel.
Aside from the look of the dial, what is so great about the Hemel Air League Chrongraph is it’s price. Once you’re a member of the group, you can put your reservation down. Prior to June 30th, it’s just $299 (practically unheard of for a mechanical chronograph); after that, the price goes up to $499. And, of course, once there’s a loaner we can wrangle, we’ll go hands on with the watch. hemelwatches.com
Tech Specs from Hemel
- Case
- 42mm stainless steel
- Finish: polished
- Case back: exhibition, screw-down, engraved
- Lug width: 22mm
- Lug to lug: 49mm
- Crown: signed, push/pull, winding
- Front crystal: double domed, sapphire
- Water resistance: 100m
- Bezel: ceramic, rotating, 120 click, lumed
- Movement
- Mechanical, hand-winding
- Seagull ST1901
- Hacking seconds hand
- 21,600 bph
- 23 jewels
- Power reserve: 45 hours
- Strap: vintage brown leather with signed, polished buckle
- Dial: domed, matte black with Superluminova C3
