The sports watch has gone through a lot over the years, from its militaristic roots to the racing and diving watches of the 60s to the sports luxe revolution of the 70s, for which Gerald Genta became a horological icon. In fact, with Genta’s designs making a massive comeback, it’s not surprising to see so many brands new and old taking inspiration from the iconoclast, including Creux.
Don’t be fooled though, Creux goes beyond the realms of Royal Oak wannabes and Nautilus knock-offs out there; while founder and creative director Dane Rumble is admittedly inspired by Genta’s legacy, the Australian brand is definitively striking out on their own.
Creux Ghost V3 CA-09, £2,257 GBP
‘Creux’ for the non-Francophiles out there translates to hollow in English and, in watchmaking terms, that means skeletonization. Indeed, Rumble’s as fascinated by skeletonization as much as anything else and the brand’s first watch, the Ghost CA-01 epitomises that.
A chunky, 45mm of bold lines and industrial chic, the Ghost was what put Creux on the map with its severely skeletonised movement (a Swisstech S24-SK8 if you were wondering) and impressive use of advanced materials across the collection. They’re still running limited editions of the Ghost, but once they’re gone, they’re gone, so if you see one you fall in love with, you’d best move quickly.
If the contemporary flair of skeletonisation’s not quite your thing, there’s Creux’s latest timepiece, the Diamondback. It’s a design that’s a touch more nuanced and closer to the Genta way of thinking. It retains the incredible case shape but compliments the flat planes and visible screws with impactful, machined dials.
Combined with Creux’s signature crown guard and especially in the grey and gold CA-08, the result is a watch whose inspirations are obvious to anyone with a passing knowledge of watch design, but distinctly individual from the crowd of like-minded timepieces out there.
What sets it apart most though is value. Despite a solid automatic movement with a 36-hour power reserve and despite the sheer dimensions offering a substantial weight of watch, the two-tone Diamondback CA-08 will set you back just £1,337 – and that’s the priciest of the lot.
Creux Αutomatiq Diamondback CA-08, £1,562 GBP
Creux Αutomatiq Diamondback CA-08, £1,568 GBPSo if you’re looking for true sports luxe style without shelling out for the likes of AP, Hublot or the painfully pricey Lange Odysseus, Creux will not disappoint you. As far as we’re concerned they’ve done nothing but impress.
More details at Creux Automatiq.
