Hands-On With The Steel, Black, Green, And Utterly Charming Laventure Transatlantique II GMT
Laventure introduced its Transatlantique II GMT this past June. Since then, the brown versions in steel and steel and gold already sold out. Those models were limited to 99 and 50 pieces, respectively. The black and green version in steel is only limited by the brand’s production capacity. It’s probably the first time that one of Laventure’s watches is still available so long after its introduction. So it’s high time to take it for a spin and see what it’s like in real life and on the wrist.
The above shows that Laventure managed to keep the hype around its releases very high since its initial Kickstarter campaign in 2017. If you want to buy yourself one of Clément Gaud’s watches, you’d better be quick. That’s also because the quantities of these limited editions are usually quite low. I’m glad to finally have one of the brand’s watches in the office for a proper review. Let’s see what all the fuss is about and find out why Laventure has so many fans.
My hands-on experience starts with the beautiful watch box and all its accessories. It takes inspiration from the encyclopedias and travel books of yesteryear. The green cover with the gold artwork matches the Transatlantique II’s colors quite nicely. The watch’s dial and bezel are the first things you see through a little peephole when you open up the cover. Underneath another cover, lie the additional rubber straps, a sizing tool, a booklet, a pouch, some stickers, a spring-bar tool, and the COSC certificate. Let’s just say it’s a very complete set, especially if you opt for additional straps.
A well-executed vintage-inspired watch and design
But let’s not get too distracted and go directly to the Laventure Transatlantique II GMT itself. Honestly, the reactions in the office were mixed. I took the watch out of the box, and it quickly went from wrist to wrist. This happens with most watches that come in, and it’s a nice way to measure the “temperature” around the room.
We were all impressed with the level of finishing and execution of both the case and the bracelet. The transitions from brushed to polished facets are sharp, and the tolerances between the links are perfect too. The action on the 24 clicks of the bidirectional bezel is also very satisfying. It almost seems as if it’s muted as it hardly makes any sound when you turn it. Sometimes a bezel’s action can cheapen your perception of a certain watch. In this case, it does precisely the opposite.
The printing on the bezel will be sharper on the production model
Then, we get to the Transatlantique II’s looks. This is where the opinions started to differ. While we all agreed that this is a well-executed design, it’s also a very vintage-inspired one. Some of us are a little tired of this concept, and others still appreciate a nice example when they see it. You can indeed find various characteristics of iconic watches from the past in the Transatlantique II. However, just as with my Serica 5303-3, brought together, they make for an overall consistent and attractive design. But that’s enough about the team’s first impressions. Let’s move on to my experience with the watch.
Best on the bracelet
The watch arrived on its matching dark green rubber strap with light green and light brown ones in the box too. These custom straps feel well made, and they complement the Tranatlantique II’s case perfectly. They’re thick but, thankfully, still very supple. My favorite is the one in sage green, which matches the daytime portion of the 24-hour bezel. However, as with many integrated-bracelet watches, I think this watch works best on its bracelet. Just like the straps, the first center link attaches to the case with a non-quick-release spring bar. This is less of an issue thanks to the drilled lug holes that suit this tool watch very well.
The bracelet links are even thinner than the 4mm midcase. At 2.5mm thick, they articulate nicely around the wrist. The bracelet’s taper from roughly 24mm to 16mm is dramatic, but it suits the overall aesthetic. Like many butterfly clasps, the one here offers no micro-adjustment positions. It also has an overlapping Laventure logo. This means you must close one side before the other. I think this is annoying, but the logo looks nice, and the push buttons work as expected.
A streamlined UFO on the wrist
Regarding the watch itself, I was surprised at how thin it is — or looks — in real life. Including the so-called “Superdome” acrylic crystal, the watch is 12mm thick, but it only measures 8.9mm thick without it. That’s incredibly thin for a GMT tool watch like the Transatlantique II. I also really like how it looks from the side. The thin midcase has a streamlined appearance, and the wings at 3 and 6 o’clock make it look like an aircraft. Then, the bezel flairs out a bit, and the domed crystal on top turns the whole thing into a nicely styled UFO.
The Transatlantique II GMT on Jorg’s 18.5cm wrist
The streamlined design is probably also the reason why it sits so well on my 17cm wrist. All right, the new 38.9mm case diameter and 46.2mm length might also help a fair bit. Overall, it feels very balanced and solid on my wrist. One thing that caught my attention was the large 8mm crown. Its diameter equals the thickness of the midcase and the bezel together. It protrudes a bit on the underside of the case, so it constantly touches the wrist.
I asked Clément about it, and he had his reasons for such a big crown. First, he said he simply likes the look of it. Second, it’s easier to handle the crown with your fingers, and finally, the crown’s internals ensure the watch’s 200m water resistance. Those internals take up a lot of space, and a smaller diameter wouldn’t look good on such a thick crown. As he assured me, it didn’t bother me much on the wrist, only when the watch moved up and down my wrist while I was moving around a lot. I thought you should know about that, but otherwise, this is a very comfortable watch.
A real charmer
The thing that probably stands out the most on the Transatlantique II and many other Laventure references is the bold dial and bezel design. The color combination of forest and sage green is original, and in my eyes, it’s very attractive. The rounded font on the bezel brings to mind older Rolex GMT-Master references, and so do the large hour markers of the sandwich-style dial. They all have a creamy faux-patina-like hue to them and a more than decent amount of lume. This baby sure shines brightly in darker situations.
A surprising design choice is the matte black shade of the dial. On the previous Transatlantique, you could choose between a contrasting cream dial or a matching dark green one. I must say that I like the matte black dial because it makes the bezel stand out a little more than it already did without having to go for the very bright cream dial. The domed Plexi on top looks clearer than the one on my Omega Speedmaster Professional, and it also sounds and feels studier. Yes, it might show some wear over time, but I think that suits the watch, and it’s not that hard to buff out scratches or simply replace the crystal anyway.
All in all, it’s a highly vintage-inspired design. But if that’s your thing, then the Laventure Transatlantique II is one of the better and most charming options out there, I think.
Because you’re worth it
So, now you know that the Laventure Transatlantique II GMT is a well-made watch and that its design doesn’t disappoint in real life. However, apart from all that, I feel there’s an elephant in the room here — the price. If I were to buy this watch (CHF 4,200), I’d get it with the additional sage-green rubber strap (CHF 140), another pin buckle (CHF 90), and, of course, the bracelet (CHF 450). Including shipping (CHF 160), all these things come to CHF 5,080 before VAT. In my case, with 21% VAT, that would result in a price of a little less than CHF 6,150. That’s serious money.
All right, the Laventure Transatlantique II GMT has a highly modified Sellita SW330-2 caller GMT movement. But there are other watches on the market with a non-modified SW330 movement that sell for four times less. That’s a massive difference. However, I know it’s useless to look at watches and argue whether they offer any value for money. If a watch makes you happy and you can afford it, buy it.
After my time with the Laventure Transatlantique II GMT, I can imagine that this watch could make you very happy indeed. I also finally understand why there are so many Laventure fans out there who are willing to pay this price for such an original, well-made, rare, and great-looking watch.
Not for me, though
But now I also know that it’s not for me. The vintage vibes are a bit too “on the nose” for my taste. In addition, at this price point, I’d expect a flyer GMT movement, a color-matched date disc, and some kind of micro-adjustment option for the bracelet. Maybe those are potential updates, and I’ll certainly be following what Clément is up to next with Laventure.
I’d love to see his take on a similar kind of watch without the heavy vintage vibes. I love the Laventure Marine II with a solid gold dial as it has a more modern look to it. But seeing how successful the brand is with its current strategy, I also get why it would continue riding this wave for a little while longer.
As mentioned, if you’re interested in getting your hands on the Transatlantique II GMT in stainless steel, black, and green, Laventure still has some available.
Let me know your thoughts on the Laventure Transatlantique II GMT in the comments below.
