New: Baltic MR01 Watches of Switzerland Edition

Baltic presents two special editions for Watches of Switzerland, Singapore. The new MR01 variants are available in champagne and ice blue, and are limited editions of 300 in each dial colour.

Press Release information with commentary in italics.

New: Baltic MR01 Watches of Switzerland Edition

The new Baltic MR01 Watches of Switzerland Edition will retail at SGD 1,000 inclusive of GST. Limited to 300 pieces each, both editions are serialised individually and available from 8 June 2023 at Watches of Switzerland boutiques in Singapore, New Zealand, and Malaysia.  

Commentary

Baltic is an interesting French micro-brand which was founded in 2016 by Etienne Malec. And the MR01 collection was introduced in 2022 with a rather petite 36mm case design and haselite crystal. The watch has an vintage vibe, with mild resemblance to the watches of the 1920s-30s, particularly the original Patek Philippe Calatrava Ref. 96.

In the edition featured here, carries a dial with a textured, grained finish and a guilloché sub-dial for the small seconds. The numerals are Breguet styled Arabic for the hour markers, and appear to be appliqué, though the documentation does not state this. A railway track marks the minutes around the periphery. The two colour options in the WoS Editions offer a totally different aesthetic to each other.

The case is in steel and rather petite at just 36mm and 9.9mm high. This should be a good size for smaller wrists of both sexes. The movement is Chinese sourced, and from a factory which we admit that we know little of. Finishing is highly industrial. However, it is worth noting that a micro-rotor movement is rather rare, especially at this price point.

The retail pricing of just SGD 1k makes the MR01 WoS Edition a reasonable value proposition, given that the regular non limited edition retails for EUR 545, or about SGD 820. But more so, in that pre-owned and black market regular production MR01s have appeared on chrono24 for a tad more than SGD 1k. The regular production models are available at other Baltic retailers, including Red Army Watches in Singapore and Malaysia.

Release details

Classic elegance meets contemporary innovation. For this first collaboration with Watches of Switzerland, BALTIC presents the elegant and discreet MR01 in two sophisticated shades to complement the model’s clean lines.

For this collaboration, BALTIC presents the MR01 in two exclusive colours. First, the Ice Blue edition comes coupled with blued Breguet numerals and hands, giving a contemporary feel when matched with the navy blue strap in Italian calf leather.

The Champagne version is countered with sharp silver-toned numerals and hands, paired with a brown Italian calf leather strap, in an example of classic sophistication.

An Elegant 36mm Case

The lines of the MR01 are pure, sober, and elegant. Measuring in at 36mm, the stainless steel case features polished finishes on the bezel and lugs, with the length of its 44mm side horizontally brushed, bringing a balanced contrast to the watch overall.

An Ultra-Thin Profile

The MR01 has a profile only 9.9mm including the domed glass. This ultra-thin profile is made possible using a micro-rotor automatic movement, allowing for more efficient use of space within the case. Visible through the transparent case back, the oscillating weight is placed on the same level as the rest of the components, allowing the heart of the watch to be revealed entirely and offering a breath-taking view of the gears in action.

Baltic MR01 Watches of Switzerland Edition Specifications

Dial: Grainy finish, guilloche seconds sub-dial, circular brushed railroad Stainless Steel 316L

Case Stainless Steel 316L

Movement Hangzhou CAL5000a Micro-rotor, automatic winding, 42h power reserve

Crystal High domed hesalite

Dimensions 36mm, lug to lug 44mm, thickness 9.9mm (incl glass), lug width 20mm

Water Resistance 30m

Strap Italian calf leather