The watch I was entrusted with for a few days is the "Laccato Nero" version. The objective of Andrea Furlan and Hamad A. Marri is to propose 5 versions of their initial watch in the context of the Kickstarter campaign. And among these 5 versions, 2 will only be available during this operation (the "Farro" and "Havana Salmon" versions). I am convinced that the campaign will be a success. The brand communicates well, has considerably increased its visibility in recent weeks, taking advantage of the exposure provided by a few key accounts and Hamad A. Marri's own network. This growing notoriety is not usurped because the watch is attractive, especially considering the price that will be offered during the campaign (268 euros if one watch is ordered). It must be said that the duo complements each other very well: on the one hand, a Swiss industrial designer who has the double experience of creating rare and exceptional pieces and developing mass products, and on the other hand, a collector from the Middle East who knows perfectly well the aspirations of the clientele.


Let's be clear: from an aesthetic point of view, the Furlan Marri chronograph does not explore new avenues. In the end, it is very faithful to the classic chronographs of the 40/50s. When I discovered the "Laccato Nero" version, I immediately thought of the old references of Patek or Vacheron Constantin, all proportionate of course. However, for a watch that will be sold for a few hundred euros, the result is irreproachable.

First of all, I very much appreciated that the diameter of the case is 38mm, which is an elegant size and faithful to the spirit I was looking for. The steel case is well executed and above all it is much more subtle than one could imagine. The diameter at the caseside is larger than the bezel so there is a small step at the edge of the sapphire glass. This step as well as the shape of the glass give a lot of volume to the watch even if the thickness remains reasonable (11.2mm). The alternation between polished and brushed parts also contributes to the perceived quality. Note the beautiful full decagonal back, respectful of the retro atmosphere.


The hands are also at the same level of workmanship. They are faithful to this immersion in the atmosphere of the classic chronographs of the beautiful houses. Leaf type, they are thin, very elegant and have the ideal size to allow an easy reading of the time and sub-dials information. Note that two versions offer chronograph hands that contrast with the other hands (the "Tasti Tondi" version with blued chronograph hands and the "Mr. Grey" version with darker hands) while for the other versions, all hands have the same color.


On the other hand, it is very pleasant to use: the push-pieces engage without difficulty and the behavior of the chronograph second hand is reminiscent of a 100% mechanical movement. And since the watch has no permanent second hand, it is a real eye-catcher. Of course, Furlan Marri's ambition is not to be satisfied with this situation and once the brand is established, it will use mechanical movements.


All these elements lead me to believe that the Kickstarter campaign will be a success. In fact, the only real question is how long it will take to reach the goal... and I have no problem imagining that it will be a very short period of time. In any case, I sincerely hope for this success because I want the brand to go further and subsequently offer watches with purely mechanical movements.

Pros:

+ convincing neo-retro aesthetics

+ the quality of the finishes taking into account the price segment

+ care to details

+ the varied choice of different dials

Cons:

- the caliber is not 100% mechanical