Introducing: The Robot Albatros — The Brand’s First Aeronautical Watch
The watch brand Robot has been around for seven years now and has convincingly made its mark in the watch world. The brand takes inspiration from the rich cultural and technological heritage of the Czech Republic, aiming to revive its traditions and legacy. Meanwhile, eight collections have entered the stage, and today, we’ll introduce Robot’s latest one, the Albatros.
But let’s first refresh our memory on the brand’s starting point. Robot is one of many microbrands that have popped up in the last five to 10 years. As watches are not refrigerators or laptops chosen by consulting spreadsheets, it’s good to learn the background of the companies producing these microbrand watches. What are their mottos, what drives them, and what are their goals? This knowledge will help you choose a watch on a more emotional basis rather than just by comparing specifications. Robot’s drive and inspiration come from Czech automotive and aeronautic engineering and solid craftsmanship. The folks behind the company are proud of what the Czechoslovak Republic once was known for and are eager to show the world that the traditional skills and “golden hands” still exist.
Robot Albatros
The Robot Albatros is a tribute to the Czech Aero L-39 jet trainer, an aircraft that has played a significant role in aviation history. Designed by engineer Jan Vlček in the 1960s, the L-39 first took flight in 1968. It saw a 27-year production run, and in that time, Aero produced nearly 3,000 units, 700 of which are still in civil and military operation today. Now, with its refined aviation-influenced Czech design and high-end Swiss horological technology, the Robot Albatros will surely be a worthy addition to the brand’s lineup.
Design
One of the remarkable features of the Robot Albatros is its aviation-inspired aesthetic. The watch’s dial takes direct inspiration from the cockpit instruments of the L-39 jet. It features bold Arabic numerals that mirror the numbers on the aircraft’s gauges. The color scheme further shows its aviation heritage. A visually appealing gray dial with yellow accents recalls the L-39’s instrument panel. These details make the watch a solid homage to its inspiration. The Albatros’s dial features a sub-seconds register at 6 o’clock and a power reserve indicator at 12. Finally, it sports a finely detailed engraving of the L-39’s outline at 9 o’clock.
A substantial case
The Albatros’s 44mm case is constructed from premium 904L stainless steel and offers a reasonable 11.5mm thickness. It also sports a smooth black ceramic bezel and water resistance to 100 meters. The Robot-signed crown at 3 o’clock, inspired by the shape of an aircraft engine, is protected by polished elements resembling pilot ejection seats. While the sapphire crystal in the case back is flat, the one on top of the case is ever so slightly curved. Both crystals, however, have received an antireflective coating on their undersides.
Swiss movement
The sapphire window in the case back reveals a Swiss-made manual-winding movement. The Albatros is powered by a Robot-proprietary version of the La Joux-Perret F100 caliber, a highly regarded movement known for its reliability and precision. It boasts an impressive 192-hour (eight-day) power reserve, which sets it apart from many other mechanical watches. Like LJP’s F100, Robot’s FS10 version operates at 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz), ensuring smooth and accurate timekeeping. It features a hacking function, which allows for precise synchronization of the seconds hand, a crucial feature for aviation professionals and watch enthusiasts. This caliber also offers a high standard of finishing, with curved radial brushing and polished edges visible, showing the craftsmanship that goes into every detail. The Albatros shares its movement with Robot’s Aerodynamic collection. For the Albatros, though, the bridges have a slightly darker anthracite PVD coating.
Strap and fixation
Special attention should be paid to the strap and how it’s fixed to the case. This case has no spring bars to fit the strap; instead, it has integrated fixed bars. The strap is a three-tone textile with a leather lining. It resembles a NATO-type strap but has a two-piece construction instead of one long single pass. The ends can be opened up and bolted together to fit the strap to the fixed lug bars. This is one way to attach a strap to the case. Another would be a regular NATO strap that passes through the lugs and behind the case. The Robot strap that comes with the watch has a beautiful and solid pin buckle decorated with a polished logo. Both the strap and buckle perfectly match the sporty aesthetic of this pilot’s watch.
Conclusion and pricing
Most of Robot’s watches so far have been linked to motorsports. With the Albatros, Robot now enters the heavily competitive arena of aeronautical watches — no easy task. But with a watch honoring the world’s most successful subsonic jet trainer, the brand is off to a good start. Sure, the Albatros might not be for everyone, not just because of its size. But neither is flying — nor Robot, for that matter. The Czech watch manufacturer, which heavily relies on handcraft skills, can only produce so many watches. Having said that, the Robot Albatros is now available at the Robot boutique in Prague, at a handful of Robot dealers, and in Robot’s online shop for a price of €6,050 (including 21% VAT).
Please let us know what you think about Robot’s expansion into aviation-inspired watches and the Albatross, its first entry in the genre.
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