ReviewFlyback in time with the Baume & Mercier Capeland Flyback Chronograph

If you are an ardent watch collector then you will agree with the following statement. Every watch lover’s collection is incomplete without a classic Chronograph. Period!

When it came to finalising a Chronograph for this blog, Baume & Mercier won our hearts with their flagship, the Capeland Flyback (MOA10068 and MOA10006). This member of the Richemont group was famous for making some really astonishing chronographs from the 1940s to the 1960s. And now they are back with a bang in the world of Chronographs with these two glorious timepieces. Read on to find out what makes these watches the best chronographs to own!

If looks could kill

If there’s one trend that’s evergreen, it’s the vintage look. What sets any watch apart as a first impression is the look of the watch and the Capeland Flyback has nailed it with the vintage look inspired by their remarkable chronographs from the 1950s. One look at the watch and you literally ‘flyback’ in time (pun intended) and you really can’t help glance at it for the second, third or the umpteenth time. 

Appropriately sized at 44mm, both the models have very distinct looks. Though their features are the same but their looks are distinct. Let’s discuss them reference wise.

Reference MOA10006 – The inspiration behind the Capeland Flyback was a 1948 mono-pusher chronograph and the dial of this reference has done justice to its muse. The blue steel Breguet hands stand out. The date window sits somewhere between 4 and 5 0’clock. The watch has a lot going on with an outer telemeter scale and three inner tachymeter scales with the bi-compax chronograph subdials. The white dial with blue hands, black Arabic numerals and blue inner tachymeter markers provide absolute legibility to the wearer without causing any confusion, given the all-rounder functions that the watch is carrying out. The black alligator strap completes the aesthetic vintage look of the watch.

Reference MOA10068 – The chocolate boy of the lot, this model is adorned with a brown alligator strap. The combination of brown with a black dial adds a modern charm to the vintage look. The brown steel hands, white Arabic numerals, brown tachymeter marker and white date display make the watch look distinct from a whole lot of chronographs and other watches.

The common denominator

Because the lugs of the watch are short, they make the 44mm dial wearable without making it look big. Like all chronograph, the watch is thick, sized at 16.5mm. This is mainly because of the thickness of the high domed crystal which provides scratch resistance and balances the vintage element of the timepiece.The crown and chronograph pushers apart from being super-functional are designed beautifully, fitting in with the rest of the watch. The crown is etched with the ‘phi’ symbol of Baume et Mercier and because it is inspired from vintage chronographs it is a tad bit oversized. The perfect combination of functionality and old school charm, the Capeland Flyback is a watch to be treasured.

 Driving force of the Capeland- The flyback movement

Moving on to the technicalities, the watch comes with a distinct flyback chronograph movement by the legendary La Joux-Perret. And the flyback is just the tip of the iceberg. Equipped with a Telemeter, a Tachymeter and date feature the watch is spectacular in every sense. Baume & Mercier’s movements always stand out and the Capeland Flyback Chronograph makes no exception. Crafted with precision, the movement is finished with snailed decor. The sapphire caseback gives a view of the self-winding La Joux-Perret calibre 8147-2 movement beautifully decorated, one can even see the ‘phi’ symbol again on the oscillating rotor.

The movement is also decorated with Côtes de Genève and has a power reserve of 42 hours and 27 rubies. With a water resistance of 50 meters the only downside is that the chronograph is designed to measure 30 minutes, but the addition of the flyback complication to the chronograph makes it very easy to operate.

In case you’re wondering what a flyback function is (honestly the most useful complication in a chronograph), here’s a brief explanation:

In a standard chronograph, to restart the stop-watch, one needs to first press the start button to pause the chronograph hand, press the reset button to bring back the hand back to zero and then press the start button one more time to begin counting time again. By contrast, in a flyback chronograph, one can begin counting again simply by pressing the reset button once, thus making it very easy to restart the chronograph from zero, which is especially useful in counting lap timings.

The Telemeter and the Tachymeter

The Telemeter and the Tachymeter are very practical additions to the endless list of the Capeland Flyback’s features. The blue/ brown spirals (blue for 10006 and brown for 10068) represent the Tachymeter. This feature helps you calculate velocity. When you are travelling, just start the chronograph when you pass a mile marker and stop it when you reach the next marker. The speed will be indicated by the long blue/ brown hand of the chronograph. Your speed ranges between 60 km/ hr to 1,000 km/hr if the hand is at the largest circle amongst the three and has completed less than a full revolution. If the hand is in its second revolution, you will calculate your speed which will be shown in the second circle denoting your speed is somewhere between 30 km/hr and 60 km/hr and if it is in its third revolution then you are travelling very safely at a speed between 20 km/hr and 30 km/ hr. Watch it, believe it!

The Telemeter, on the other hand, helps the user to approximately measure the distance to an event which is both audible and visible using the speed of sound, like lightening and thunder.

A classical rendition

If I had to define this watch in one sentence it would be ‘a dressy functional watch with an old school charm’. Baume & Mercier’s dark horse, the Capeland Flyback has everything a watch aficionado would want from his watch.  A flyback chronograph, La Joux-Perret calibre 8147-2 movement, a telemeter and a tachymeter; the numerous features have made this timepiece a milestone in the world of horology.

What are your favourite watches from Baume & Mercier? Let us know in the comments section below!

(Images: Baume & Mercier, dreamchrono)