The Spinnaker Tesei Bronze Edition watch is a bronze diver that is the first offering from Spinnaker that is hand-assembled in Switzerland. The diver is named after Teseo Tesei, who was the Italian naval officer in the Regia Marina who came up with the idea of the manned torpedo. A tribute to the grit and resourcefulness of Tesei and other ingenious minds in naval development, this latest Spinnaker watch is one we are deeply proud of.

The Spinnaker Watch in Bronze

The Spinnaker Tesei Bronze Edition case is solidly done in bronze, a metal that ages and patinas itself in ways unique to the wearer. Obviously, this is not the first bronze dive watch out there. However, we do believe that it is the highest quality and most well-built bronze diver available at this price point as well as even higher prices. 

Bronze Cases & Patina

For those not as familiar with bronze watches as some others who read this site may be, the case will patina over time reflecting the various activities and lifestyle of the wearer. Exposure to various climates, minerals, time spent underwater, and a host of other factors are each brushstrokes that go into creating the larger artwork of the final patina. This patina doesn’t mean the watch case is compromised in any way, as the superficial layer of brown copper oxide protects it from damage.

The case of the Tesei Bronze Edition is 43mm wide and 16mm thick, with an exhibition case back. 

A Serious Dive Watch

Spinnaker watches are serious timepieces, not accessories. All charms and aesthetic of bronze aside, the Tesei Bronze Edition is a serious dive watch. It is water resistant to 300m or almost 1,000 feet, which exceeds the needs of most professional divers, let alone hobbyists or enthusiasts.

The Tesei Bronze Edition features a self-regulating helium release valve on the left side of the case. To keep this from being obstructive, it is recessed and hidden so as to be something that the wearer can forget about, but it is an addition that is the mark of an authentic dive watch. On the right side of the case is the screw-down crown which helps achieve the water resistance. 

The Dial and Bezel

The 120-click unidirectional bezel is done in matte finished ceramic, which comes in black, brown, or blue that matches the dial. Speaking of the dial, we are really happy with the wave pattern embossing that adds such a whimsical touch to the Tesei Bronze. So many dive watch dials can end up looking flat or cookie-cutter, but we think this reaches a perfect balance without getting gimmicky or distracting. 

Of course, legibility is the most important aspect of the dial on a dive watch. This begins with the sapphire crystal, which is scratch proof and has ample anti-reflective coating in order to maintain legibility in any scenario. Not only are the hands and indices on the dial done in Super-LumiNova, but so are the markers and indices on the bezel. 

The Movement

Through the Spinnaker Tesei Bronze Edition’s exhibition case back, you can see the Swiss SW200 Sellita movement. This movement features a hacking function, also known as a second-hand halt mechanism. Simply put, this relatively common feature in modern watches improves accuracy by allowing easy synchronization. The SW200 movement also features a date function, which you can see through the aperture at 3 o’clock.

The movement operates at 28,800 vph (4Hz) and achieves a 38-hour power reserve.

Spinnaker Tesei Bronze Edition Watches Options & Price

There are four versions of the Tesei Bronze Edition available: the SP-5060-03 has a blue dial and matching bezel on a tan strap; the SP-5060-02 has a green dial with black bezel on a dark brown strap; the SP-5060-01 has a brown dial and matching bezel on a brown strap, and the SP-5060-04 has a black dial and matching black bezel on a dark grey strap.

Each of the straps mentioned above is hand-made and hand-stitched in Florence, Italy. They are 22mm wide done in Buffalo hide which is waterproof and custom designed for Spinnaker in Italy.

If you order the Spinnaker Tesei Bronze Edition by November 2nd (this Friday), you can get them for the limited price of $599, down from the original retail price of $850. We are proud of the Tesei Bronze Edition watch and you can see more on our site at spinnaker-watches.com.