Hands-On With The Stylish New Baltic Hermétique Tourer Bronze

Have we left the Bronze Age behind us and entered the Stone Age? It seems 2024 has been the year of stone dials. That doesn’t mean bronze watches have disappeared, but what once seemed like a rushing stream of new bronze timepieces has died down quite a bit. Still, we have seen some great additions to the bronze-watch universe, and the last one for Baltic was 2023’s Aquascaphe Bronze Marron. It made perfect sense as the Aquascaphe is the brand’s dive watch, and bronze has a long history in diving equipment. But how about a bronze field watch? It’s time to find out with Baltic Hermétique Tourer Bronze.

I must confess that I have a love/hate relationship with bronze as a watchmaking material. I am not always the biggest fan of the specific patina that forms after wearing a bronze watch. Some watches wear it well, and some don’t. Then again, returning a bronze watch to pristine condition is easy. That’s when a bronze watch is the most impressive in my opinion. Some examples that I love are the Fratello × Oris Big Crown Bronze Pointer Date Limited Edition, the Oris Hölstein Edition 2020, the quickly forgotten Montblanc 1858 Monopusher Chronograph, and the Hamilton Field Khaki Bronze. If you remember these, you will also know that they were all from 2020 and 2021. That’s when bronze watches were still super hot.

The story of the Baltic Hermétique Tourer Bronze

For those of you who aren’t aware or have forgotten, Baltic introduced the Hermétique Tourer in October of last year. As Thomas explained in his hands-on article, the French brand took stylistic inspiration from the 1940s IWC Hermet. While Baltic does not explicitly mention its inspiration, the reference in the name is clear. However, as Thomas also mentioned, the watch is far from a homage. The Hermétique Tourer is Baltic’s line of classic adventurer’s watches, or field watches if you will, and fans have received it very well.

After the four initial versions debuted in late 2023, the two Glacier Limited Editions came out in March of this year. They featured textured dials inspired by ice-cold glaciers. I liked them because the black and white dials added nice depth and detail compared to the matte dials of the regular versions.

For the newest introductions, bronze cases have replaced the stainless steel cases. On top of that, the three bronze models feature smoked dials that start light in the center and slowly get darker toward the edges. We had a chance to try out the brown Hermétique Tourer Bronze. The other two are a beautiful green version and a rich blue model.

The details of the Baltic Hermétique Tourer Bronze

Let’s go over some specs to remind ourselves of the Hermétique Tourer. The three new versions each feature a 37mm bronze case with a 10.8mm thickness, including the crystal. The case also has a 46mm length and a 20mm lug spacing. Water-resistance-wise, the case is safe to 150 meters, and it features the signature integrated crown on the right side. This maintains the flowing lines of the round shape, creating an elegant presence.

The gradient or smoky dial is hidden beneath the double-domed sapphire crystal, which features an internal antireflective coating. What I love about the dial is that it is super legible, which might fool you into writing it off as simple. If you zoom in, though, you will see several details reveal themselves. The gradually darkening dial shows a nicely saturated color in the middle and fades to black on the perimeter. Placed on the railroad minute track are 3D luminous markers with extra numerals at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock.

On the green and brown models, these indexes are made of Super-LumiNova C3 X1 and glow green in the dark. The blue model features Super-LumiNova BGW9 markers that light up blue in the dark. Two polished bronze blades separate the dial’s center and the railroad track. This adds a nice bit of visual zing to the dial.

Completing the looks are the bronze syringe-style hands that fit the overall style perfectly. The result is a dial with a beautifully balanced presence that looks elegantly attractive and has plenty of detail to enjoy up close.

The automatic Miyota caliber 9039

Inside the case, nothing has changed. Baltic equips the watch with the automatic Miyota caliber 9039. This movement operates at 28,800vph, has 24 jewels, and offers 42 hours of power reserve. The movement is part of Miyota’s Premium Automatic series and offers a standard daily accuracy of -10/+30 seconds. As most of you will know, Baltic’s choice of affordable but reliable movements has enabled the brand to keep the prices very friendly.

The three new Hermétique Tourer Bronze models are no exception. They are offered at €600 before taxes, translating to a price of less than €750 in most European countries. By comparison, the stainless steel models are currently available for €550 before taxes, so the premium for the bronze versions is very reasonable. Baltic has once again created a charming timepiece for an incredibly friendly price.

Wearing the Baltic Hermétique Tourer Bronze

But how does that charm translate to the wrist? The three Hermétique Tourer Bronze models come on a Tropic-style FKM strap that matches the color of the dial. The straps are equipped with a bronze pin buckle that suits the overall style nicely. I have to say that the watch wears very well. I am always a bit apprehensive with 36–37mm watches on straps because they can look a tad too small for my 18.5mm wrist. But thanks to the substantial lug-to-lug and stylish presence, the Hermétique Tourer fits well and looks very nice.

The strap is pleasantly flexible but more than capable of perfectly balancing the watch on the wrist. Several things stood out after a couple of days of wearing the Hermétique Tourer Bronze. The first is that it hits the mark in terms of visual balance and charm. One thing I am not too fond of is the integrated crown.

I love it when the crown is a defining element in the design of a watch, especially when it’s oversized. As you will understand, the narrow push/pull crown of the Hermétique Tourer Bronze is the opposite of that. Having said that, it is easy to pull out and a joy to operate. There is no play between the crown and the hands, so setting the time precisely is easy.

Final thoughts on the Baltic Hermétique Tourer Bronze

Overall, Baltic has done a great job with this Hermétique Tourer Bronze. It makes perfect sense to add a bronze model to the lineup. However, something I couldn’t stop wondering is at what point someone would want to chase a true vintage watch instead. The answer, of course, is personal.

Because the vintage charm that Baltic offers is paired with modern construction and a reliable modern-day movement, it saves you the potential stress and expenses of wearing and servicing a vintage watch. If those are things you wish to avoid, then this new Hermétique Tourer Bronze might be a perfect affordable timepiece for you.

At the price Baltic is offering the new bronze models, there is nothing to complain about. I still prefer the stainless steel versions because of the option to pair them with the beads-of-rice bracelet Baltic offers. I love the look of the watch on that bracelet specifically. Then again, I do not doubt that the bronze versions will easily win over people who are looking for a lovely combination of affordability, vintage charm, and modern-day reliability. In that sense, Baltic’s growing collection is hard to beat.

What do you think of this new Baltic Hermétique Tourer Bronze? Let me know in the comments below.