The Graham Fortress is a chronograph equipped with a monopusher set within the crown. By placing the monopusher/crown on the left flank of the case, the watch breaks with convention. However, there is much sense in taking this unusual approach to chronograph design.
What’s in a name? The Fortress upholds Graham‘s fondness for aviation-themed product names. Perhaps its moniker doffs its hat to the Flying Fortress of the 1930s? Alternatively, the word ‘ may evoke thoughts of military strongholds or castles and, by default, elicit images of strong, castellated buildings and impregnable structures. All of these associations are consistent with the tough nature of this new Graham model.
To really understand the watch brand from La Chaux de Fonds, a person has to think like Graham, ie don’t subscribe to convention or accept mediocrity be bold and brave. If a sign says ‘keep off the grass’, put on a pair of big boots and do a jig on the turf. If other brands choose to place push-pieces on the righthand side of the case, then break the rules and go for a leftfield approach.
Indeed, as you look at the new Fortress from Graham you will note a monopusher located on the left flank of the case. This lone pusher, positioned in the top of the crown, starts, stops and resets the chronograph. It’s a one-stop shop for all of your stopwatch needs. By combining it with the crown it endows the case with a clean, uncluttered profile.
But a leftfield design can also be eminently logical. A pusher on the left side of the case proves more intuitive to use. When using a chronograph, the wearer observes the start of an event, actuates the stopwatch function and thereafter, at the end of the event, halts the timer. The potential problem is the human factor, namely the time gap between seeing an event and pressing the push-piece. The shorter the gap between observation and pressing the pusher, the more validity the recorded elapsed time really has. The thumb is the fastest acting digit, hence with this design, a right-handed person will instinctively place their plumpest digit on the push-piece and press it with lightning bolt alacrity.
Another key benefit of positioning the combined crown and monopusher on the left is superior wearer comfort. Often when a watch is worn and the wearer flexes their wrist, the protrusions on the right flank of the case gouge the wrist, chafe the skin or inhibit free movement. The Fortress’s leftfield approach causes no such problems.
The blue sunray dial and the black grained dial feature bold, luminescent hours and minutes which collaborate with ample, applied Arabic numerals, imparting meaning. The dial has two circular brushed counters, a small seconds display at 3 o’clock and a 30-minute chronograph register at 6 o’clock. A date display is located adjacent the monopusher/crown. Housed in a 47mm stainless steel case, the generous proportions of the watch confer impressive wrist presence while the exhibition caseback affords sight of the Fortress’s Swiss automatic movement.
This rebellious firm doesn’t subscribe to slick marketing, it chooses to focus on making excellent watches, rich in character. Indeed, the Graham Fortress Ltd is a serious watch from a company that still knows how to have #fun.
Graham Fortress Ltd Technical Specifications and Price
- New collection, new design. Vintage look chronograph with monopusher/crown
- Automatic chronograph – monopusher movement, large date
- Monopusher start / stop / reset by the crown on the left side of the case – to be activated with the thumb
- Black grained dial
- Hand-sewn black calf leather strap with beige stitches
- Limited edition: 100 pieces
Functions
- Chronograph (seconds, 30 minutes counter)
- Large date at 9 o’clock
- Hours, minutes, seconds
Movement
- Calibre G1750, automatic chronograph – monopusher movement
- 28’800 A/h (4Hz)
- Incabloc shock absorber
- 25 jewels
- Power reserve: 48 hours
- Movement certification Chronofiable® (improved shock absoprtion)
Case
- 47 mm steel
- Monopusher start / stop / reset and crown on the left side of the case
- Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the underside
- See-through sapphire crystal case back with limited edition serial number
- Bezel: Steel satin-brushed
- Water resistance: 330 feet / 100 m / 10 bar
Dial
- Black grained dial with beige Super-LumiNova numerals (font inspired by vintage aircrafts). Hand-applied numerals
- Circular sunbrushed counters
- Rhodium hours hands with beige Super-LumiNova coating
- Rhodium chrono, minutes and seconds counters hands
Strap
- Hand-sewn black calf leather with beige stitches
- Steel pin buckle
Price
- €6.450,00
