CT Scuderia Coda Corta | Hands on Watch Review

CT Scuderia Coda Corta

I am sure this has happened to many of you; you see a watch online, you look at some photos, and you say, I like that watch. You like it so much, you order it, only to get it in hand and not like it so much. Well, in a similar way, that has happened to me. I was asked by CT Scuderia if I would like to do a review and given a choice of models. I looked a few, and picked this one, the CT Scudiera Coda Corta. The case design intrigued me, and I have always been a fan of the bull-head design. When it arrived and I un-boxed it, I did not have that same feeling I did when I saw it in pictures. To be honest, I did not really pay too much attention to the dial when I looked at the photos, I concentrated on the case design. Why do I tell you all this? Simply; so you have some background info on where I am coming from with this hands on review. I am not in love it with it, for a few reasons, though I do think it has its place on the market or niche, and from what I have seen on posts on social media, many others do like it, some in fact love it.

CT Scuderia Coda Corta Specifications:

• 44mm case
• 52mm lug to lug
• 13.5mm thick
• 24mm lug
• Swiss Ronda Chronograph
• Sapphire Crystal
• 10 ATM
• Dark Brown Vintage Suede Strap

Price: Roughly, $1200

http://www.ctscuderia.com/en/cs10176/

Let me start with the case. It is quite interesting, being that it is comprised of multiple pieces that are screwed together. You can see that the main part of the case is all high polished and the lugs and attachment are brushed. This creates a unique look and one that is quite different than a brushed mid-case and a polished bevel or so. Even though I wanted the 40mm model to review but I requested the wrong model number and got the 44, it is not what I consider a giant watch. It is thick for sure, but it does not make a large footprint on my wrist. I am sure I would be happier with the 40mm in terms of just wear I am at with watch sizes these days, but I did not have an issue with wearing this one at all. Take a good look at this watch though, whether you like it or not, you have to say a lot went in to designing and machining this case. Precision is key when putting multiple pieces together such as this and I have not found any gaps or seams that would make it look cheap or undone.

As I said, as far as construction and finishing on the case, it is excellent. No issues there. Where I did find an issue was the dial. It of course has the racing speedometer type of dial, and I actually quite like that, but the sundials are completely ruined and almost unreadable by the inner second track. Personally I see no reason it was needed and the fact that they overlap the sub-dials makes me question the designer. I rarely if ever use a chronograph on a watch, but I do like the aesthetic depending on the watch, but if I ever wanted to use this one, I would SOL.

The bull-head style is nice as I said and even though it is a screw down crown, I found no issue with being able to adjust the time while it was on the wrist. This is a definite benefit of a design like this. The CT Scuderia Coda Corta has an attractive case back that is PVD plated and enameled that includes the colors of the Italian flag. Designed in Italy, Made in Switzerland is there tag line.

As I said, I do find this model to be very comfortable on the wrist, and that is attributed not only to the case design but also the very comfortable suede and leather strap. I’m not usually fond of suede straps but I have to say this compliments the design well and includes quick release pins and a Pre-V’ish type of buckle.

That brings me to a few other areas that I dislike. One, would obviously be the lume. I will let the picture below tell the story. The other would be that I can not find this watch for sale! Seriously, I can not find this exact model with this strap for sale anywhere. Yes, there are a good many versions of this CT Scuderia Coda Corta available out there, but with different straps or different case finishes/plating’s, different colors and more. If you really like this version and can not find it online like I could not, contact CT Scuderia directly. That is the only advice I could give.

Reviews of watches such as this aggravate me. I do not like to be negative but in cases like this, I am left with no other alternative. I am not really being negative though, I am being real. Some of the issues I have are not opinion, I mean who would think that lume above is suffice? Let’s touch on the price. It is somewhere around $1200 for the similar models I found online (same watch, different color variations). This is for a Ronda Quartz with a chronograph that I deem not very usable.

How do I wrap this one up? Well, I think CT Scuderia has an eye for design when it comes to the case and strap etc but the dial could use some work. If you can get over the weird chronograph dial issue and just love the look and construction, you have to ask if all of that is worth it considering the movement. I am always willing to overlook the movement if everything else is top notch. I recently reviewed another very expensive quartz watch in the same price range, and I gave it a similar lashing as well. Not because I am a snob, as I am not.  I firmly believe this CT Scuderia Coda Corta and other models from them are targeted more at the fashion watch crowd as opposed to the watch enthusiast. On the surface and at a glance, it is a damn cool watch. But when you get closer, it makes you scratch your head a little. As I said in the befining of the review, there are people that seem to love it though. Don’t believe me, check out our instagram posts and look at any time I posted pics of this watch. So, as sometimes happens, while this watch is not for me, it is for others. And that is good, as if we all liked the same things, life would be boring.

 

 

 

 

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Gruppo Gamma Ecomar Chrononaut | Hands On Watch Review

Gruppo Gamma Ecomar Chrononaut

I have said it many times the past two year, but vintage is definitely in style. We keep going back to the past when it comes to clothes, watches and even some cars. We are at an all time high with technology, but when it comes to products we wear, we seek the styles of yesteryear. The Gruppo Gamma Ecomar Chrononuat takes its design cues from the super compressor watches of the late 50’s and 60’s and blends it into Gamma style like only Gruppo Gamma can. I know, that sounds biased, and it very much is. I am a fan of Gruppo Gamma, have been since the beginning. They continue to evolve and the quality of the watches is excellent for the price point, which in this case is $650 USD. The Ecomar is a limited edition of 93 (00 to 92) in collaboration with Gruppo Gamma Europe. It can only be ordered from them, not any other dealer or direct from Gruppo Gamma. If you are in Europe you can go right to the website to order, if you are in the US or elsewhere, email the GG Europe owner directly.

 

 

Gruppo Gamma Ecomar Chrononaut Specifications:

• 42mm case
• 12.5mm thick excluding 1.5mm crystal
• 22mm lugs
• 50mm lug to lug
• Sapphire Crystal
• STP 1-11 Swiss Technology Movement
• 22mmTropic Rubber Strap

Price: $650 USD

http://gruppogammaeurope.com/es/product/chrononaut/

sales@gruppogammaeurope.com

 

 

So, lets clear up a few things on what makes the Gruppo Gamma Ecomar Chrononaut different than the other versions available or soon to be available. The first Chrononaut was a limited edition of 100 for a Facebook group, sold out and never to be produced again. A standard production version is in the works as well, one that should be available shortly, as a matter of fact, probably any day now. That one does not have an elapsed timing inner bezel, it will be a dual time watch. The Ecomar does have an elapsed timing bezel that is controlled by the 2 o’clock crown, and of course comes in this blue dial color that is only available for this version. What is Ecomar you ask? You can read all about the organization HERE.

This model is “A tribute to Theresa Zabell for her gold medal in Barcelona – 92 and celebrating the 25th anniversary of her triumph. Collaborating with € 20 for each piece sold to the Ecomar association.” That information is taken direct from the website. So a little bit of the sales of this watch will go to the Ecomar foundation and there will never be another Chrononaut model produced like this in the future.

 

 

If you are wondering what a Super Compressor case is, one thing I can tell you is it is not any dual crown dive watch. This is something many think of when they hear Super Compressor and while it seems that the dual crown versions were either the most popular or just fondly remembered, it has to do more with the case back. Super Compressor cases arrived in the late 50’s and were manufactured by EPSA or  Ervin Piquerez S.A. They only made the cases and sold them to many different brands, some brands that are no longer around and some that have become Iconic. What made them unique is that the case actually became more water tight the deeper you went down in the water, because the case back would press against the O-ring. Okay, a little history lesson for anyone that did not know. Funny enough, after all of that, I get to tell you the Gruppo Gamma Ecomar Chrononaut is NOT an actual Super Compressor case, but only styled after the famous dual crown cases of the past. The owner of Gruppo Gamma states that watch manufacturing technology has come a long way since then and is more advanced. Taking a look online, I would say the Chrononaut, at least to me, most closely resembles a Wittnauer Super Compressor.

 

 

How is the Ecomar though you ask? It is fantastic, on par if not better than many microbrand watches it the same price range. Now, I get it, that is a lofty statement. Notice I said on par, if not better. The quality is there. Check the video review above. The case finishing, the dial, sapphire crystal, crown action etc. I sometimes almost hate doing a review on a watch that I can not find a negative because to some it might come across as bogus. And I can not control that, but I can tell you to look at any other of my reviews on this site and you will know I will always point out any issue that I find. Now keep in mind here, we are talking a $650 watch. It is not the end all be all, but it is one hell of a watch in its category.

 

 

A lot of attention to detail went into the Gruppo Gamma Ecomar Chrononuat. The cross hatch on the crowns, screw bars for easy strap changes, fine brushing to the enter case and the edges are all smooth, nothing sharp to rub against your wrist. The size is also a first for Gruppo Gamma. While this is the second model to come in at 42mm, it is the first to only be 12.5mm thick, not measuring the crystal. If you measure to the top of the domed sapphire, it is 14mm thick but it will not “wear” like a watch of that size at all. While this is a diving watch, it is something that can easily be worn under a shirt cuff, if you choose do so.

 

 

Don’t like rubber straps? Well, here comes my sales pitch. I do in fact like rubber straps. Good ones. I used to hate them many years ago before I knew of the different materials used to make them. When I found Isofrane I was elated. I was like what voodoo is this? It was not this uncomfortable PU rubber and it did not catch lint and dirt like silicone. Then I tried Hirsh Straps, straps manufactured for different watch brands etc. So, yes, I enjoy a good natural rubber strap. Is the Tropic style rubber that comes with the Gruppo Gamma Ecomar Chrononaut the best rubber strap on the planet? I’m not sure, but I can say it is probably in my top 5, if not top 3. It is super comfortable, flexible, ventilated so your skin can breath and has a nice buckle to top it all off.

 

 

Grasping at straws, if I was to give one minus here, it would probably be the color of blue chosen for the dial. It is not a radiant blue, but more of a muted blue that can at times look almost grey. That very well could be the color they were going for, and if so, all well and good. I personally would have liked it to be a little more of a deep blue, but again, I am being nit picky. I love the watch, I love that Gruppo Gamma is now using the STP 1-11 movement in a few of their watches and the design is one I have loved for years. If limited editions appeal to you or want to support the Ecomar foundation, or you if want a Chrononaut with an elapsed timing bezel, these are all good reasons to check this one out, if so inclined.

Oh, I almost forgot. Yes, lume junkies, the Chrononaut glows very nicely as well.

 

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