Wristwatch Journal
Founded in 1924 in Lengnau, Switzerland, Delma has remained a family-run, independent brand with a focus on sports watches. Its latest collection, the Continental, celebrates the 1960s with a series of Bicompax Chronograph watches that are a reissue of sorts of the brand’s chronographs from that era. Bold steel cases and bracelets coupled with large twin sub-dials create a classic, timeless aesthetic. A variety of dial colour combinations and a two-tone yellow gold PVD option should satisfy just about anyone’s taste.
The 42mm 316L stainless steel case combines polished and brushed elements, typical of the 1960s, with a narrow bezel that helps emphasize the dial. A somewhat flat, oversized signed crown is flanked by two pushers at 2 and 4 o’clock to engage the chronograph functions. The seven-link steel bracelet continues the polished and brushed aesthetic and comes with a butterfly clasp with pushers. The dial is protected by a domed sapphire crystal and the case back is solid, and the watch is water-resistant to 100 meters.
There are five dial colours with a panda and reversed panda option, and colours come in silver, black, blue, brown and green. All dials have a sunray-brushed finish and the two sub-dials feature a guilloche pattern. A 30-minute counter sits at 3 o’clock with the small seconds at 9 o’clock, and a date window is tastefully placed at 6 o’clock. The central chronograph seconds hand is a contrasting red, while the hour/minute hands and applied indices all have Super-LumiNova. An internal, angled tachymeter spans the outermost perimeter.
Two different movements are available for the Delma Continental Bicompax Chronograph, one being a Ronda Z50 chronograph quartz to keep prices under EUR 1,000. The mechanical option is a Sellita SW 510 automatic with 27 jewels, 28,800vph (4Hz) and a 48-hour power reserve. This movement is a clone of the Valjoux 7750 and has a proven track record of reliability and it will perfectly do the job in this accessible context. Functions include central hours, minutes and chronograph seconds, sub-dial seconds at 9 o’clock, 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock and date at 6 o’clock.
The automatic Delma Continental Bicompax Chronograph models are priced at CHF 2,600 or EUR 2,800 for the standard models and CHF 2,700 or EUR 2,900 for the two-tone yellow gold PVD option. For more information, visit Delma’s website.
Technical specifications – Delma Continental Bicompax Chronograph
Case:
42mm diameter – 316L stainless steel, polished and brushed, or two-tone yellow gold PVD – domed sapphire crystal – solid case back – 100m water-resistant
Dial:
sunray-brushed finish in five colours: silver, black, blue, brown and green – bicompax chronograph – red chronograph seconds hand – applied indices and hour/minute hands with Super-LumiNova – tachymeter scale on the inner flange
Movement:
Sellita SW 510 – automatic chronograph – 27 jewels – 28,800vph (4Hz) – 48-hour power reserve – hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph with 30-minute counter, date
Bracelet:
seven-link stainless steel bracelet with butterfly clasp and pushers
Price:
Steel – CHF 2,600 or EUR 2,800
Yellow gold PVD – CHF 2,700 or EUR 2,900
