The beautiful brand's logo as a three dimensional applied piece

Let the summer begin: Brellum Pandial Marina 2 Chronometer

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Brellum Pandial Marina 2 Chronometer is the latest watch from the Swiss independent Brellum Watches. They made some serious waves a few years back. The nicest part is that they continue to make waves, season after season, with interesting timepieces. Most important, COSC certified, decently priced. Personally, I do enjoy these watches. The latest piece, the Marina 2 Chronometer is a worthy follower of the first Pandial Marina – itself a great watch. Do the new piece follow the known Brellum lines? Can the new piece walk in the shoes of its predecessors? Yes, it can. Let me tell you why.

The lastest Marina 2 Chronograph
The lastest Marina 2 Chronograph

Brellum Pandial Marina 2 Chronometer

I do enjoy the watches of this small micro / independent brand. And, of course, I have preferences. The Pandial collection is one of the most attractive collections of panda dials out there. If you take into account the price, you will find that Brellum’s watches have a lot to offer.

A classic chronograph

The first Marina chrono was launched in 2017. I was amazed by it. The strong colours, blue and orange accents, fits perfectly the theme imposed by the watch’s name.

Pandial Marina 2 Chronometer case side
A beautiful steel case adorned with brushed and polished edges

The case is an elegant example of a design well done. Inspired by the classic chrono cases, the Brellum 43 mm steel case manage to rise to a level of individuality.

The elongated lugs are decorated with a polished edge that starts subtle on the case body and ends dramatically at the lug’s edge. With the lugs curved towards the wrist, the case wears smaller as expected. The watch looks and feels more like a 41mm diameter.

Brellum-Pandial-Marina-2-Chronometer-soldat-oblique-crown
The watch features classic mushroom pushers and the handsome Brellum’s signature crown

The three-parts-construction is well balanced. The dimensions are proportioned and all the elements, including the crown and pushers, seem natural, organically connected. The body’s height, between the case back and the raised bezel, integrates nicely the pushers. Moreover, the length of the lugs helps the chrono pushers’ position to look good.

Brellum-Pandial-Marina-2-Chronometer-side-crown
The beautiful crown and the two box crystal are part of the Brellum signature.

The Brellum crown is decorated with the brand’s snow star. Its design permits a good and precise positioning into the second and third position (date and time setup). For me, it is important for a watch to have a crown with a good grip. I appreciate when a watch can be easily set, regardless of it is the date or the time set. The Brellum watches are part of these easy to use watches.

The chronograph pushers have splendid feedback. Somehow, when I have tested it, the chrono worked easier as I remember from other ETA/Valjoux 7750 based watches.

Brellum-Pandial-Marina-2-Chronometer-dial
The dial of the Marina 2 is one of the “happiest” dials ever met.

A joyful dial

The charm of the Pandial marina 2 starts with the bezel. The blue shaded Aluminium tachymeter is decorated with a white printed register. The raised bezel is colour coordinated with the sub-dials and the strap.

The layout is classic: central chrono seconds, a 30-min counter at 12 o’clock and a 12 hours counter at 6 o’clock. The small seconds is present at 9 o’clock. The subdials have a blue rail-track with printed indexes. The chrono dials have a radial pattern that highlights the chronographic function.

Brellum-Pandial-Marina-2-Chronometer-dial-detail-2
Another view of the Marina 2 dial

The chronograph’s seconds have extra decorations with orange elements: Roman numerals for every 15 seconds and indexes for every 5 seconds. Together with the “Chronometer Certified” inscription, these orange accents create a joyful atmosphere.

As used to from the older models, the dial is fitted with applied indexes. A contrasting black line and a Superluminova dot help each index to assure excellent legibility. Regardless day, low light or night.

Brellum-Pandial-Marina-2-Chronometer-dial-detail
The hours and minutes’ hands have a luminescent ink to increase the legibility in low light.

A particular detail that I enjoy at this dial is the outer telemeter scale that accompanies the bezel’s tachymetric function. The dial of the Marina 2 is quite busy but without being tiresome or brutal. I appreciate the extra functions, even I will never use it, still, I like it a lot on a sports watch.

The beautiful brand's logo as a three dimensional applied piece
The beautiful brand’s logo as a three dimensional applied piece

The empty space on the right is filled by the brand’s name and applied logo.

The date is quite subtle. Placed at 6 o’clock, the date indication, black on white, is revealed under an aperture from the 12 hours chrono counter.

The back side of the Marina 2 reveals under a box type sapphire the calibre BRELLUM BR-750-1
The back side of the Marina 2 reveals under a box type sapphire the calibre BRELLUM BR-750-1

A personalised movement

The Brellum Pandial Marina 2 is powered by the calibre BRELLUM BR-750-1 Chronometer automatic (base Valjoux 7750). The base movement has demonstrated its capabilities over time. Now it is one of the most known calibres on the planet. The movements used in Brellum watches are personalised for the brand and pass the COSC certification.

BRELLUM BR-750-1
The calibre BRELLUM BR-750-1

The movement is machine decorated. The rotor weight features the Brellum signature. The finishes used are perlage, Cote de Geneve, brushing and blue screws. The movement is a pleasant appearance under the box sapphire.

The movement offers 46 hours of power reserve and beats at 28’800 vph (4Hz).

Front view with strap
The Pandial Marina 2 comes with a beautiful textile strap in blue with orange stitching to match the dial

Final notes and impressions

The watch comes with a gorgeous hand made fabric Alinghi strap on steel deploying buckle. It is also available the steel Milanese bracelet with butterfly deploying buckle. My favourite will remain the textile strap. Feels great and looks even greater.

On the wrist
Even a more serious attire cannot suppress this piece’s joie de vivre.

The latest Pandial is a lovely watch. It is a watch that brings happiness. It is so cute and lovable. It is a summer piece to raise your spirit even in the cold winter days. The Marina line is my favourite from the Brellum Watches. While the first Marina offered a more homogenous look, the second piece is a bit more delicate (in appearance). Certain is, that Brellum watches also did an excellent job with the Marina 2.

Brellum Pandial Marina 2 Chronometer Specifications and Price

Movement
Calibre: BRELLUM BR-750-1 Chronometer automatic (base Valjoux 7750)
Certification: Chronometer Officially Certified by the COSC
Decoration: Perlage, Geneva stripes, blue screws, oscillating weight BRELLUM
Technology: 25 jewels, 28’800 A / H, power reserve 46 hours;
Functions: Hours, Minutes, Seconds, Date, Chronograph, telemeter and tachymeter scale

Case
Material: Stainless Steel 316L, DIN 1.4435; Alu Tachymeter
Dimension: Diameter 43.00mm, total thickness: 16.20mm
Crystal: Box type sapphire with anti-reflective treatment
Dial: Domed curved, with appliques and luminescent material
Hands: Hours and minutes with luminescent material
Water resistance: 50m, 5ATM
Caseback: Numbered caseback with Box type sapphire crystal, anti-reflective treatment
Weight: On leather strap (120 g) and Stainless Steel 316L bracelet (170g)

Available on hand made fabric Alinghi strap on steel deploying buckle or stainless steel Milanese bracelet with butterfly deploying buckle.

Public price on fabric strap: CHF 2’305.-, excluding taxes
Public price on Milanese steel bracelet: CHF 2’360.-, excluding taxes

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