Hands-On With The Brellum Duobox Triple Calendar Moonphase Chronometer
Today’s Brellum Duobox Triple Calendar Moonphase Chronometer brings heaps of functionality in a classy, relatively affordable package. We’ve covered the brand extensively here on Fratello and have come to enjoy the thoughtful touches and high-value quotient. Yes, today’s piece is a dressier affair, but it’s nicely executed.
Brellum continues to roll out the hits with chronometer-certified, limited-edition watches that offer value for money. The Duobox Triple Calendar Moonphase Chronometer is no different and should please those looking for a more formal, highly complicated chronograph. It’s on the larger side, but that’s becoming somewhat of a rarity today. Let’s take a closer look.
The Brellum Duobox Triple Calendar Moonphase Chronometer
Brellum’s newest release comes in a 41.5mm stainless steel case with a 15.9mm thickness, including the box-style sapphire crystals on the front and back. We’ve seen this case used for other Brellum watches, which translates to a 51.8mm lug-to-lug. For certain, this watch isn’t for folks like me with small wrists, but it wears well on its black alligator strap on account of nicely curved lugs. Pump pushers lend a slightly sporty vibe to an otherwise more formal look. The large, signed crown is also proportional to the rest of the design. In this release, the only available dial color is silver, but the dial does contain multiple levels with satin sunray finishing. The indices are applied, the main hands contain Super-LumiNova, and the dark blue and silver moonphase disc pairs well with the dial. Frankly, a moonphase complication is one of my least favorite-looking ones, but it’s nicely done here.
Brellum typically uses Valjoux 7750-based movements as the basis for many of its watches. Today’s Triple Calendar Moonphase is no different with its reliance on the 7751. Here, though, it goes by the name BR-751 due to its cosmetic updates. Brellum adds niceties such as perlage, Geneva stripes, blued screws, and a 4N-gold-plated rotor. Notice the rotor with its reference to the moonphase complication via the display back. It’s a lovely detail that adds a nice level of differentiation to this third-party movement.
Complications galore
The new Triple Calendar Moonphase brings a dizzying array of complications. In addition to basic timekeeping, the central pinion houses a 60-second chronograph hand. There’s also a pointer date that refers to the outer edge of the dial. The 6 o’clock sub-register contains a 12-hour chronograph counter and the moonphase disc. The sub-dial at 9 o’clock has stacked hands. The topmost hand shows running seconds, while the lower hand is a day/night indicator. Finally, the 12 o’clock sub-dial shows the day and month and has the chronograph’s 30-minute counter.
Thoughts on the Brellum Duobox Triple Calendar Moonphase Chronometer
I’ve seen the Valjoux 7751 in plenty of other watches, but the execution on this Brellum is clean and legible once the functionality is understood. As I mentioned, this isn’t a watch for the slim-wristed set, but I think that’s okay. Despite the common narrative, not everyone is seeking smaller watches. And then there’s the pricing. Brellum has set a price of CHF 3,690 for this watch, which will be made as a numbered edition of 46 pieces. The limited characteristic isn’t such a factor, but there’s a nice value play here in today’s hyper-inflationary new-watch market. Brellum also offers the chance to connect with its ownership directly with any questions, comments, and concerns. That’s a nice touch, and it should continue to win new fans.
For more information on the Duobox Triple Calendar Moonphase Chronometer, visit the official Brellum website.
