Description
Like its Italian brethren, Panerai, timepieces from U-Boat have earned a reputation as true statement watches. Like Panerai, U-Boat traces its lineage to the Italian Navy’s need for a durable timepiece that could survive even the toughest missions. While eventually shelved, Ilvo Fontana’s designs were discovered in the early 2000s by his grandson, Italo. It was that resurrection that brought the U-Boat brand to life.
For its part, the bronze Chimera lineup – limited to just 300 pieces – is a perfect demonstration of U-Boat’s marked design philosophy. With bold features like a massive left-side crownguard and five bolts holding together the 43mm case, otherwise spirited features like an all-bronze construction and a rough-cut unfinished leather strap seem almost tame. Like other U-Boat watches, the Chimera features a stacked dial. Cutouts on the upper layer give dimensionality to an otherwise flat black face. Beneath, a modified ETA 2824 movement brings forth a 38 hour power reserve.
This item is in New Old Stock (NOS) condition. See photos! Includes box and papers.
