A Hands-On Introduction To The Singer Caballero
Singer Reimagined is one of those brands that has carved out a niche of its own in the world of watches. The brand immediately created an impact with conceptually new takes on classic watches and retro designs inspired by the automotive world. In the last few years, especially, we have seen great releases that have explored new territory. With last year’s Divetrack, Singer brilliantly redefined what a dive watch can be. Additionally, this year’s Heritage Collection Chronographs have a different, vintage-inspired look that elegantly stands out from the other models in the catalog. With the new Caballero, the brand releases a series that shares the same design DNA. Add a new and impressive caliber, and we have plenty to discuss.
I have had a somewhat ambivalent relationship with Singer Reimagined. While I deeply appreciate its watches in both concept and design, for the longest time, it was not at the top of my mind when discussing brands I love. My favorite Singer watch has long been the amazing Track 1 – Geneva Edition. The technical and conceptual reimagination of what a chronograph can be and the design execution are nothing short of stunning. I still think it is one of the best watches the brand has created.
The story of the new Singer Caballero
Recently, Singer has released some amazing new watches. The best examples are 2024’s Divetrack and this year’s Heritage Chronograph Collection.
The Singer Divetrack
The latter is closely related to the new Caballero. One glance at today’s release shows a clear link to Heritage Chronograph in its dial design. But with a wider scope, you will see that it perfectly fits the brand’s distinct overall style.
The Singer Heritage Chronograph
As usual, the design only tells a small part of the story. Another fun detail is that the Fratello offices are in the Caballero Fabriek, a former factory of the cigarette brand that gave the building its name. So when the new Singer Caballero landed on my desk, it felt like something of a homecoming for the watch.
“Caballero” translates to “gentleman” in Spanish, and Singer chose that name because it relates to the watch’s concept of elegance, precision, and radical restraint. All the traits we like to associate with a gentleman are present in this new Caballero collection. Lastly, the biggest news is the proprietary Calibre-4 Solotempo, which offers a stunning six-day power reserve thanks to the four-barrel construction. As you will understand, this is not just any new release.
The details of the Singer Caballero collection
The new Caballero is available in three variants with a black, blue, or green dial. All three watches feature a stainless steel case with a 39mm diameter, a 10.5mm profile, and a 45mm lug-to-lug. The brand’s distinctive C-shaped case is water resistant to 50 meters.
Singer Track 1 Prototype
The case is beautifully finished and inspired by watches from the ’60s and ’70s. If you look closely, you’ll see it resembles the case design of the prototype of the Track 1 Chronograph, which was successfully auctioned in 2020.
The case is combined with a lacquered dial punctuated by four inset rubies. We had the Empire Green version in for review, which has a nice mossy shade. Besides the inset rubies, you will only find the brand’s applied logo at 12 o’clock and a golden flange encircling the green dial. We also saw the latter element on the Heritage Chronographs and the 1969 collection. Hovering over the dial is Singer’s signature handset. The arrow-shaped hour and minute hands are filled with orange lume to match the orange seconds hand. As most of you will know, green and orange are a classic color combination that works really well.
As a result of the colorway, the minimalist design, and the dominant hands, reading the time is never an issue. But the same is true of the blue- and black-dial versions, which have the same handset. After seeing the images of all three models, I must admit that it’s hard to choose my favorite of the three. I like all of them equally.
A pared-back dial and completely new caliber
As a fan of Singer’s design style, I had no issues getting used to this rather minimalist dial. In fact, the lack of embellishment made me appreciate the beautifully hand-lacquered dial all the more. You can see and almost feel the multiple layers of green lacquer, which adds a certain depth to the overall picture.
But the design didn’t instantly win over all of my Fratello teammates. In particular, the four visible rubies were a point of contention. I understand that these can be divisive as a design element, but they’re more than just decoration. They visually connect you to the heart of the watch, the new proprietary Calibre-4 Solotempo.
This new movement was created from the ground up and is Singer’s first fully proprietary caliber. The rubies on the front tell you part of the story, but turning the watch around will tell you the rest. You’ll find a stunning manual-winding movement with a unique four-barrel configuration. As a result, the watch has a power reserve of six days (144 hours). The two sets of twin barrels deliver power in parallel, ensuring consistent and stable torque for the full six-day running time. The Solotempo (“time only”) designation hints at the modular architecture that will allow for future additions of complications.
The Singer Calibre-4 Solotempo in detail
The new Calibre-4 Solotempo requires 109 turns to be wound fully. It operates at 28,800vph, contains 33 jewels, and has an accuracy of -4/+6 seconds per day. Thanks to the unique architecture and beautiful finishing, the movement is a joy to behold. It features a galvanic anthracite microblasted plate and galvanic rhodium-plated microblasted architectural bridges.
Additionally, it has rhodium-plated diamond-cut chamfers, rhodium-plated wheels hooped on two sides, and rhodium-plated barrels with a colimaçonné (snailed) finish. The four barrels feature engravings related to the caliber’s specifications.
Winding this stunning movement is an absolute joy. It has a distinct, solid feeling with a reassuring bit of resistance. This doesn’t make the caliber difficult to wind at all, but it oozes quality and refinement, a great feature of this time-only watch.
Wearing the new Singer Caballero Empire Green
What stands out immediately if you put the watch on your wrist is how nicely proportioned it is. The case is modest in size with a beautiful, slim profile, allowing it to land gently on the wrist. I was pleasantly surprised by the great wearability, which makes it a very comfortable daily watch. Having said that, you will have to be a fan of the design to make this your daily wearer. As already mentioned, the dial design is rather divisive, with the four rubies as the ever-present storytellers of this watch.
But I quickly grew fond of this new Singer Caballero. Thanks to the soft fabric strap with leather details and a branded stainless steel buckle, it is not only comfortable but also lightweight. I also thoroughly enjoyed the Empire Green colorway. That said, the blue version also looks fantastic, and it would be hard to go wrong with the black one.
All three Caballero models will be available for CHF 17,500 before taxes, putting them in line with this year’s Heritage Chronograph series. If you love Singer’s distinct designs, the new Caballero is a great and comfortable daily wearer with an impressive caliber that opens up endless possibilities for the future. I’m more excited than ever to see what Singer Reimagined can come up with next.
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