New Staudt Praeludium Chronograph model – British Racing Green
First introduced in 2018, the Staudt Praeludium Chronograph is the top of the line at Staudt Twenthe. A Dutch watchmaker founded this brand, and we’ve covered him and his watches several times in the past.
For those who don’t know about Staudt watches, make sure to check this article which has some more background info on them. For now, we’ll have a look at a new version of the Staudt Chronograph British Racing Green.
British Racing Green
Green dials are hot. Rolex, Seiko, Omega, Oris and many others have been adopting this dial colour since some time now. Where most of these brands use a tone of green that is very noticeable, Staudt does things a bit differently. Where the Staudt Chronograph Praeludium isn’t new, they’ve added a new execution to their collection. Apart from a few flashy watches with mother of pearl dials, most models come in modest colour combinations. And the new British Racing Green fits perfectly within that style. The chronograph was already available with ivory, black and blue dials, which is the original colour of the Staudt collection. The first Praeludium watch was presented in this deep blue colour.
Now there is this new green dial with a 22mm vintage looking Shell Cordovan strap which perhaps is the most rugged combo. And it comes with an additional detail that makes it stand out, which are the steel hands that are finished with gold plating. Fact is that the green and brown both together make a great combination and this strap is exclusive to this dial colour. On the other models, you can choose the combination of the dial and strap or bracelet.
As with most dials found in the Staudt watches, they come with a duotone finish. To achieve this, each dial is painted by hand over multiple layers after which a lithography print applies the print on the outer ring. Looking at it from different angles changes the colour, from light to dark. After the dial has received its colouring, the text and minute track on the dial are also printed using the lithography technique. This is unique as mostly pad printing techniques are used.
Specifications
The Staudt Praeludium Chronograph uses a transparent case back to show you its movement, the ETA/Valjoux 7753. This widely used movement is very reliable and customised by Staudt for their watches. It comes with a rotor which carries the Staudt Twenthe logo and is decorated with a Geneva stripe finish. The main plate has received a perlage finishing. Each movement is regulated in 5 positions for accuracy and has with a power-reserve of 48 hours. In a time where manufacturers are pushing the power reserve of a watch, having two days is still more than enough in my book.
Going back to the other side, which you will enjoy most of the time. On the front, you will find a domed sapphire which comes with a double anti-reflective coating (also on the sapphire case-back) giving a great view on the dial. Apart from the main case dimensions, 41mm wide and 13.6mm in height, another measurement that people are curious about nowadays is the lug-to-lug size, which is 51.4 mm.
Short video impression with music by Yvo Staudt himself.
Availability
What’s interesting to see is that Yvo Staudt has grown his brand with an impressive pace. Especially considering he introduced his first Praeludium to the world in October 2014. Now, five years later, there is a balanced variety of models in the collection, including a 37mm model which is aimed at women but can also be worn by men, of course. Moreover, in its five years of existence, Staudt has grown a network of retailers in the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland and Norway.
This Staudt Praeludium Chronograph British Racing Green version comes at the same price tag as the other chronographs and retails for 2.989 Euro. Although the Shell Cordovan strap is exclusive to this model, you can always order additional straps or the Milanese bracelet from them.
Verdict
Overall the new model of the Staudt Praeludium Chronograph British Racing Green makes a tremendous and well-chosen addition to their existing line-up. Green is a dial colour that we start to see more often, but Staudt did it slightly differently compared to most other brands. I think it’s a beautiful colour to wear on the wrist. Although having to admit that most of my watches have a black dial, I also have one with a green dial in my collection. Ever since I acquired it, this watch got regular time on my wrist. For those who may have some doubt about a relatively new brand, given their rate of growth for sure says something about the popularity of the brand. Combine that with a growing number of retailers who offer Staudt in their collection. We will keep an eye out for future releases and update you when there are models launched.
For more info, visit the official Staudt Twenthe website.
