Today I take a look at another Brera Orologi Watch. This will be the third replica watch I have reviewed from Brera Orologi and while they are mostly quartz and quartz chronographs, which I know is not the most preferred choice of movement for the replica watch enthusiast, Brera makes up for it when it comes to attention to detail and finishing.
This model is the new Eterna Chrono II and comes in 4 versions, but we will be looking at the gunmetal IP and olive combination. It is also a more modest size for the company Brera Orologi at 43mm, whose past models have been a little on the large size. If you care about details, quality, textured dials and fashion in general, you might want to keep reading.
Here are the full specifications:
- Case: 43mm, Blasted Gunmetal IP coating over 316 Stainless steel
- Case length: 50mm
- Case thickness: 12mm
- Lug Width: 20mm
- Weight: 102 grams
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Movement: Swiss Ronda 5030D
- Strap: Combination Olive Suede with natural rubber backing
- Crown: Screw down, knurled and engraved
- Water Resistance: 10 atm
- Retail Price $895 USD
Please replica watch my video presentation below for an HD look and some of my comments.
One of the first things I noticed when opening the box of the Eterna II was the textured dial, applied hands and the stark contrast with the black outlined hour and minute hand with white lume paint. There is so much to look at and talk about on the dial, and you can see how much design and time went into it. The dial itself is a muted olive green, with the upper porting being a matte finish, and the lower portion aggressively textured. Silver, black and olive green make up the 3 different sub dials, with orange hands for the silver and green sub dials, and a skeletonized white hand for the black sub dial. An orange chronograph hand adds to the splashes of color as well. While there are 4 different colors going on with this dial, it all blends together well and is not gaudy in any way. The sub second register is on the right side between the 2 and the 3, and in the 12-hour chronograph counter, you have a round date opening. I wish the date cutout was just a bit bigger, as it is a little tight and makes seeing the date a glance difficult. The markers are applied steel markers, and as you can see, large 3D rectangles. Unfortunately, no lume paint is applied anywhere to the dial, except the hour, minute and second hands, and the hands of the subdials.
When it comes to the case, you actually have 3 different finishes, but all done in the grey IP coating. The outer bezel is satin or brushed finished, the crown and knurled sections of the chrono pushers are blasted, and the outer part of the pushers are high polished. The crown is a screw down crown, easily manipulated with its knurling and 5mm size, and very sturdy. The bezel, while fixed, does have knurling on its outer edge, matching up with crown and screw down pushers.
Moving around to the screw down case back, you have a very nicely designed, almost gear shaped outer section with the engraved Brera Orologi “B” in the center. Again, 3 different finishes used on the case back. Again, you can see how much work and attention to detail was used here, even on back of the replica watch.
The combination suede leather and rubber strap is ingenious in my opinion. Instead of having a leather backing as most suede straps do, they went with a grey textured natural rubber. It is not only very comfortable against the skin, but this also eliminates sweat or water stains on the back of the strap, which should allow the strap to look new for a long time. Orange rubber seal is used on the edges of the strap, not only to hide raw edges, but also add another pop of color, which matches the orange in the dial, and makes the overall appearance of the Eterna Chrono II very cohesive. Another nice feature, quick change pins, so removing the strap takes about 3 seconds. It would be nice if Brera Orologi made a few other strap options for this replica watch available for purchase, all with quick-change spring pins, as it would make more sense to the consumer for having a replica watch with a quick strap change system.
When it comes to lume that is where this particular Brera is lacking. With lume paint only applied to the hour/minute/second hand tip, and the subdial hands, and it not being overly strong, it was a little hard to capture. I love the dial as is, and would not want to have the steel applied markers removed, but maybe they could have been a little shorter in length, allowing for hour lume dots to be placed on the outer portion of the dial.
So how does it wears on my 7 ½ wrist? The Eterna Chrono II is extremely comfortable. The lugs are moderately curved and the strap feels great on, which makes wearing this replica watch very enjoyable. I would say the strap should fit about an 8-inch wrist, anything bigger and you would need an aftermarket strap.
While some might say the price is high for a Swiss Ronda Quartz movement, and while normally I would agree, when you take a look at the dial, case work and finishing, sapphire crystal, custom leather/rubber strap and more, you can see that a movement alone does not make a replica watch. If this were a more basic replica watch without all of the detail work, I would say back to the drawing board. As is, I think it is a great looking replica watch and I love the combination of gunmetal IP, olive green dial and strap and the subtle hints of orange. Now, the replica watch guy in me still would love a 3 hand automatic version of this replica watch, but I do love the way they integrated the dial and chrono registers. Overall it is another well-made and fashionable piece from Brera Orologi. Attached with my own photos are 3 stock photos of the other color combinations.
Thank you to Brera Orologi for providing for review. Please leave your comments below in the comment section.
