French brand Baltic have been collaborating with classic car race organiser Peter Auto for over three years now. In that time they’ve developed from their first ever tricompax chronograph to branching out with their own distinct chronograph design with a unique style in the form of the brand new Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto Limited Edition. It’s their highest spec chronograph to date.
What I mean by highest spec is that they’ve improved the water resistance from 50m on the previous models to 100m for the Scalegraph Tour Auto Limited Edition. This has been achieved via a slightly redesigned case and new screw-down chronograph pushers. The case now measures 39.5mm in diameter by a thickness of 14.1mm, which gives it a very tall profile on the wrist. However, it feels proportional due to the way the tachymeter bezel flairs outwards and the smooth curve of the domed crystal.
In addition to the redesigned case, the Scalegraph features a completely new dial. It’s still tricompax but now it’s arranged in a 70s style Big Eye formation, with the 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock larger than the rest. On top of that, the baton hour markers have been rotated 90 degrees from their usual radial orientation to form a concentric circle, which is a formation I’ve rarely seen. The only other watch with sideways markers that comes to mind is the March LA.B AM2. It certainly makes for a distinctive display that’s memorable.
In terms of colour, its flavours of the Tricolour, a nod to the fact that Baltic is French and also the fact that the Tour Auto race is taking place from Paris to Nice this year. In fact, Baltic also have a team taking part in the race with the drivers sporting these watches. For any classic car buffs who may be reading, they’ll be racing in a 1963 Lotus Elan 26R and a 1965 MG B.
Under the hood of the Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto Limited Edition is the same movement that most of their chronographs have used. The Sellita SW510-M manual winding with 63-hour power reserve. The logic behind using a manual winding movement is to reduce the number of components. As there’s no rotor system, the movement is more resistant to shocks as there are fewer points of weakness that could break.
The watch is limited to 500 pieces at a price of €1,750 excl. VAT (approx. £1,460). Whether you want to commemorate the Tour Auto, which takes place from April 6th – April 12th 2025, or simply want a chronograph with a unique display, this is a watch worth considering.
Price and Specs:
More details at Baltic.
