A long-standing commitment between Swiss watch manufacturer Carl F. Bucherer and the Manta Trust has already brought three special edition models, and the fourth has just landed. What started as a collaboration in 2013 continues into 2021 with a new version of the brand’s Patravi ScubaTec dive watch. This new creation between the two entities was presented during this year’s Watches & Wonders digital fair, and we’ve had a chance to go hands-on with it. Here’s the Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec Maldives Edition.
We’ve previously seen the Patravi ScubaTec, Carl. F. Bucherer’s big and bold dive watch as a platform for collaborative watches with the UK-based charity The Manta Trust. This fourth model is once again dedicated to protecting marine life from extinction, specifically the mysterious and gracious Manta Ray. A portion of each sale supports this good cause to fund a floating research station in the Maldives.
The watch measures 44.6mm across and is 13.45mm thick. The stainless steel case is mainly brushed with polished accents all around. A sturdy cool-looking screw-down crown is protected by two crown guards. On the opposite side of the case, you will find a Helium Relief Valve at the 8 o’clock position. The rotatable diving bezel features a blue and white ceramic insert with a 15-minute scale in the white section and large ten-minute digits in the blue area. On the backside of the watch, you can see a decoration featuring two Manta Rays.
The large case exposes an extremely legible blue dial with a distinct wave-like pattern. The distinctive applied indexes give the Patravi ScubaTec Maldives a stand-out look. The oversized hour and minutes hand are easily distinguished from one another. All markers and hands are filled with Super-LumiNova for added night-time visibility. The chunky lugs of the case angle downwards to better accommodate the strap.
Powering the Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec Maldives is the CFB 1950.1, an automatic movement based on the tried-and-tested ETA 2824-2. This movement indicates the time through the centrally mounted hands and is accompanied by a date indication, visible at 3 o’clock. The movement is regulated and certified by COSC. It also features hacking seconds to allow for precision time setting. Running at a frequency of 4Hz, it stores 38 hours of power reserve. Water-resistance for this hefty diver is 500 metres.
The watch is worn on a blue rubber strap with a PET textile surface with a folding clasp, including a diving extension. As an alternative, there’s also a steel bracelet with fine adjustment in the folding clasp available. The price for the Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec Maldives is EUR 5,200.
For more information, please visit Carl-F-Bucherer.com or MantaTrust.org.