Sponsored Post written for aBlogtoWatch by advertiser.
Since it’s inception in 2015, Straton Watch Co. has made somewhat of a name for itself in the microbrand scene with a range of 1970’s-inspired chronographs. Straton’s goal has always been to create its own identity by means of consistent styling across its different ranges. Bold color schemes, quirky case design, and overall retro aesthetics define our latest designs, the Legera Standard and Legera Bullhead, building on the previous successes of the brand. My name is Kyle, owner/designer of Straton Watch Co., and I wish to share my latest creation with you.
The Bullhead case design has always intrigued me, from Breitling’s 2117 and Pupitre 7101 to Seiko’s 6138-0040 — some of the most iconic watches designed in this style. Taking design cues from these watches, I set out to create a Straton-styled Bullhead watch. With its chamfered case edge, angular pushers, and turbine crown, it’s a bold, a risky conversational piece. The striking Bullhead case design is a love/hate proposition for many, so I decided to create a second case design for a more traditional look: the Legera Standard, with its crown at the 3 o’clock position.
What you end up with is two distinctly different watches, strikingly similar in their 1970’s styling. The dials are multi-layered, giving a great sense of depth with a modern touch of blue BGW9 Super-LumiNova, a domed sapphire crystal with a 12-hour moveable bezel for a pseudo-GMT function, giving that added bit of functionality. It also has 100m of water resistance, thanks to its screw-down crown and double-gasket pushers.
Both the Legera Standard and Legera Bullhead will come in a choice of two movements (Quartz or Automatic) and five color schemes with 20 different possible variants. One movement choice is the VK meca-quartz, a movement that gives the user the best of both worlds when it comes to affordability and function. The VK series is comprised of hybrid movements, developed by Seiko, that combine the accuracy of a quartz watch (+/- 20 seconds average per month) and a mechanical-chronograph feel with a 5-beat-per-second sweep chronograph hand, and a flyback chronograph reset. This movement gives a great user experience that will even appeal to owners of mechanical chronographs. The Straton Legera Standard and Legera Bullhead meca-quartz pre-order price will start at 329 CHF (Approx. $330); it’s 369 CHF (Approx. $370) for the option that includes a bracelet and leather strap — for a savings of around 35% off the final retail price. 
The second movement options for both watches are the Swiss-made Valjoux 7753 for the Legera Standard and the Valjoux 7750 for the Legera Bullhead. Both movements need no introduction, as they are widely used and respected in the “affordable” mechanical chronograph category. It’s difficult for any Microbrand to keep costs down, while offering something of quality/value when compared to larger established brands who can use economies of scale to keep prices down. For the specifications, materials used, and overall service, the mechanical version of the Legera Standard and Legera Bullhead comes in at a respectable 859 CHF (Approx. $860), with a standard leather strap and 899 CHF (Approx. $840) for the option including a bracelet and leather strap — again, at a savings of around 35% off the final retail price.
Specifications:
- Case Material: 316L stainless steel (black case version is DLC-coated)
- Case width (left to right) Bullhead – 42mm, lug-to lug (top to bottom) Bullhead – 48mm
- Case width (left to right) Standard – 44mm, Lug To Lug (top to bottom) Standard – 50mm
- Case Thickness Bullhead meca-quartz – 13mm
- Case Thickness Bullhead Automatic – 16mm
- Case Thickness Standard meca-quartz and Automatic – 16mm
- Movement Legera Bullhead – Swiss Made Valjoux 7750 Automatic or Seiko VK67 meca-quartz hybrid
- Movement Legera Standard – Swiss Made Valjoux 7753 Automatic or Seiko VK63 meca-quartz hybrid
- Crystal – Domed Sapphire Crystal
- Bezel – Domed Sapphire Crystal 120 click 12 hour bezel
- Hands – Luminescent Hour Hands, BGW9 Superluminova
- Crown – Screw-down
- Strap – 22mm width , length standard
- Water Resistance – 10ATM/100m
- Warranty – 24 Months
For those interested in the Straton Watch Co. Legera Standard and Legera Bullhead, a Kickstarter campaign is live until March 19th, 2019. You can view the Kickstarter page here. You are also welcome to view other Straton watches on our website at stratonwc.com
