Review: U-Boat U-51 Chimera
It doesn't seem all too long ago that U-Boat was just a fledgling brand, offering a uniquely styled yet simple case with a basic quartz movement in it. Like many young upstarts, they had a concept—an Italian wartime submariner's watch—but they didn't have, for want of a better word, confidence. Well now that concept has come of age and U-Boat has the confidence in it to do something special. The proof? The U-51 Chimera.
Naming a watch brand after a war machine from the most infamous global power the world has ever seen is always going to be a touchy subject, but there's more to it than just shock value. Much like Panerai, the original watch (penned by U-Boat founder Italo Fontana's grandfather, Ilvo) was developed for the Italian Navy, but where Panerai's watch engaged in active service, Ilvo's didn't; the Italians had already surrendered before the watch saw any action. This left it to Italo to see his grandfather's idea through to reality.
A U-Boat watch has always been a divider of opinions. Big, diverse and attention grabbing, it laughs in subtlety's face, but things are taking a different turn. Like Panerai before it, U-Boat are moving away from the historically accurate, yet generally impractical dinner plate-sized cases and are dipping into the realms of comfort and sensibility instead. Granted, at 46mm the Chimera is no shrinking violet, but its dimensions are much more appeasing to a wearer of traditional sized timepieces.
But its not just the dimensions that have changed, oh no—it's much more than that. Where prior U-Boat watches had an undeniable simplicity in their construction, the U-51 is complex, intricate and dare I say it, elegant. Polished lips meet brushed edges, curves blend into angles; the detailing is far beyond the usual U-Boat measure, and it's impressive to say the least. There are no sharp, unfinished edges here, and not a simplistic, CNC-milled shape to be seen.
Then there is the introduction of little original touches like the exposed case bolts—all exquisitely polished—the asymmetrical sandwich dial, the pill-shaped chronograph reset pusher—there are even exotic materials available like bronze, and soon, forged carbon fibre. It's the kind of attention to detail that lends trust to a watchmaker, an investment of effort that goes beyond simply casing up a movement and shipping it out. It's the evidence a potential customer needs to feel assured that the watch that's caught their attention has been crafted with confidence.
Watch Spec | U-Boat U-51 46 Chimera
Case: Steel Dimensions: 46mm dia, 17mm thick Crystal: Domed synthetic sapphire Water Resistance: 50m Movement: Modified Valjoux 7750, automatic Frequency: 28,800 vph Power Reserve: 44 hours Strap: Black alligator Functions: Time, chronograph, canteen crown | Shop Now
