Review Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec Maldives

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Inspired by the sustained efforts in Maldives, the beautiful marine scenery and the 2019’s Only Watch Scubatec, Carl F. Bucherer launched this year a new sports piece: Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec Maldives. We have a look today at this gorgeous blue diver watch.

As mentioned in my review of the Black Manta Scubatec, Carl F. Bucherer is in an active quest to save and protect marine life. “The Maldives watch, was created to raise awareness of the Manta Trust and its remarkable commitment to preserving endangered manta rays and the ecosystems and habitat they need to survive.” – official press release. The brand’s efforts must be celebrated and made known to the larger public.

Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec Maldives

The Patravi ScubaTec Maldives is the fourth piece made in collaboration with the Manta Trust Foundation. This watch represents an example of responsible design and manufacturing. For the watch was used fair sourced steel, natural rubber and fabric from 100% recycled bottles. Even if equitable sourced materials were used, the diver watch still has a good price and, most important, it is a good looking piece. Being eco-centric does not mean you cannot create exceptional beautiful objects.

The Patravi ScubaTec case

The Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec Maldives diver watch comes in a familiar 44.6 mm steel case. The matt finish obtained with a fine brushing is broken by straight lines and polished chamfer. The helium valve is placed at the 8 o’clock position protected by the steel protuberance. Almost unexpectedly, this valve and its guard fit well into the entire tool watch theme.

The right side welcomes the robust crown decorated with the Carl. F Bucherer embossed logo (on matt background). The crown with an excellent grip even for diving gloves is further decorated with a light blue ring, matching the omnipresent marine colour. The crown is protected by guards fixed on each side with polished heads screws.

The watch is covered with a unidirectional bezel (a must for diving watches) filled with light blue and white ceramic. These colours remind of the gorgeous beaches and warm waters on the Malideve’s shores. At 12 o’clock, the spherical luminous dot will help position the bezel at the upright position even in low light.

The back of the watch is covered by a solid caseback depicting (as we now already know) mantas. Two in relief mantas swim peacefully at relatively low depth emphasised by an embossed pattern.

The watch is fitted with a natural rubber blue strap, doubled by a synthetic fabric obtained from recycled bottles recovered from the Mediterranean Sea. The strap is ended by a folding steel clasp with a fine adjustable system. One can opt-out for the 5-links metal bracelet. To my taste, the rubber strap is much more interesting for this watch.

Blue waves under the sun

Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec Maldives comes with a blue wavy sunburst dial. This dial is inspired by the Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec Only Watch 2019. Will the piece presented today does not display mantas “hologram”, it still hase that fabulous shade of blue and that mesmerising sunburst effect. I think that the beautiful effect is created with laser technology (I have to ask…), being too fine for stamping.

The dial of the ScubaTec Maldives is governed by the large elements dedicated to time reading. The generously sized indexes are filled with blue shinning SuperLuminova. These applied elements make a good pair with the wide hands. The arrow hands are quite large. Both hands have a similar skeletonised design but the hour hand features luminescent filling for just half of it. The arrow tip central seconds’ hand also features a bit of SuperLuminova.

The ligibility is very good in any light condition. As visible in the picture above, the SuperLuminova spectacle is quite nice (even if the lighting condition were not so proper to make it better pop).

A rectangular aperture at 3 o’clock displays the date in a black on white format. The dial is further adorned with a white printed minutes/seconds register, the CFB name and logo on top of the dial, the name of the watch plus chronometric & diving specifications at the lower side of the dial.

Robust & reliable

Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec Maldives makes no exception in the family and comes powered by the automatic calibre CFB 1950.1. The movement is based on one of the classic ETA 2824 or Sellita SW200 with a 4 Hz escapement and 38 hours autonomy on a full wound. The movement is not only decorated and personalised by Carl F. Bucherer but also receives a chronometric certification. While a manufacture movement might be more attractive for some, the choice of sourced calibre contributes to a lower price tag.

Let them play…

Why should the innocent creatures of the ocean suffer because of our ignorance, lack of education and responsibility, care? The majority of people does not understand how extremely fragile the balance of the oceans is and that it is already irremediably broken. The oceans help regulate the weather, help the planet breathe, dictate our future. The major cataclysms registered this year (floods, ice storms, droughts and the list continues) are a direct consequence of the oceans’ modified currents. The weather patterns change unpredictable and we cannot use centuries-old data to predict them since the data models are not suitable anymore. Marine life is directly affected not only by climatic change but also by the bad creatures that humans are. All our auctions affect the oceans on a smaller or bigger scale.

And instead of waiting for the other to do what is need it, you can do something. So be responsible for your garbage, recycle and upcycle, use less energy, less water and so on. Every action counts. Even buying this watch helps a bit. Some money will go to Manta Trust Foundation and will be used to make good. So let the mantas play and have the life that they should have. Don’t go there to stress them with your presence and to destroy their habitat, adopt one…

Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec Maldives is a cute watch with a good did behind. Even if we ignore the manta part, the diver still remains a good looking tool watch. At its dimensions, the watch is not for the small wrist, although the short lugs help wear smaller. I am quite used to a 41 mm diameter diver watch but I didn’t find the size of the Patravi ScubaTec Maldives as being tiresome or forced.

Well done Carl F. Bucherer for the nice watch and, most important, for the great initiative with Manta Trust.