Bausele Pilot Automatic

News from Down Under, with a major step forward for Australian brand Bausele, which is launching its first collection of automatic watches.

While the brand proudly wears Australia’s colours, it is just as keen to claim its Swiss expertise, since one of the founders cut his teeth in watchmaking on Swiss soil.

Wearing your love for Australia on your wrist—this is one of Bausele’s promises (Beyond AUStralian ELEments). Bausele watches do, in fact, house a fragment of Australian earth inside their crown.

Beyond this highly original feature, the first models—quartz—reflect the Australian way of life: boating, surfing and… nights out, with a dressier model for the city.

This year, Bausele is launching its first collection of automatic watches. Inspired by pilot’s watches, the first surprise comes from the dial, whose numerals are offset: 12 at 2 o’clock, 3 at 5 o’clock and 9 at 11 o’clock.

It’s 10:10 in the photo below.

At one time, being able to check the time without letting go of the stick—or the steering wheel, depending on the vehicle—was an undeniable advantage for avoiding this kind of mishap.

The Bausele Pilot Automatic therefore uses this original way of reading the time, tailored to the Australian lifestyle—Australians who love, and spend time in, their cars.

The photo below shows the watch on my wrist. I can read the time without moving my wrist: 10:14.

Let’s continue exploring the dial. The openworked central section is crossed by an X-shaped brace recalling the steel structure of Sydney’s Harbour Bridge.

Another nod to Sydney runs across the dial: the seconds hand. It faithfully echoes the shape of the Sydney Tower.

Last but not least, the crown! It made Bausele watches a success and is, of course, present on the Pilot Automatic. Depending on the model, the crown contains black spinel, sand, blue opal or the famous red earth.

Let’s not forget to mention the discreet date window at 3 o’clock.

The model shown here picks up the colours of Australian beach lifeguards: red and yellow. And where there are lifeguards, there are lifeguardettes…

The 44 mm case features a very fine finish with harmonious angles. Made of matte black ceramic, it is water-resistant to 100 metres.

The transparent caseback offers a view (nice transition, isn’t it?) of the automatic movement.

Two different movements are used: Soprod’s A-10 or Miyota’s 9015. Swiss know-how or Japanese. The latter is known for its robustness, and Soprod has nothing to envy from an ETA, with a more refined finish than the Miyota.

The leather strap features a black steel folding clasp.

Prices: €643 for models with a Miyota movement, or €1,080 for Soprod models.

If you too would like to take a little piece of Australia with you everywhere you go, head to the website: fr.bausele.com