ReviewTwo Masterpieces That Revive The Golden Era Of Watchmaking: The Carl F. Bucherer Heritage BiCompax Annual

Carl F. Bucherer Heritage

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An Overview

The year 2019 will perhaps always be remembered for the flurry of vintage watches it gave to the world, with several brands looking to the past for inspiration. The retro aesthetic of the Carl F. Bucherer Heritage BiCompax Annual has to be one of the finest examples of this nostalgic design language that has taken the world by storm. First released in 1956, the Heritage BiCompax Annual has been resurrected this year. While the package is as winsome as it was when the watch first came out, the mechanics inside have been tweaked to suit modern times. Carl F. Bucherer has added an annual calendar function coveted by watch enthusiasts the world over—and that has brought the Heritage BiCompax Annual seamlessly into the future.

The 1950s were a time brimming with hope, opportunity and post-war euphoria. The Heritage BiCompax manages to capture all the good from that era and brings it to the future

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The retro aesthetic of the Carl F. Bucherer Heritage BiCompax Annual has to be one of the finest examples of the nostalgic design language that has taken the world by storm

₹8,04,384

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Carl F. Bucherer Heritage

₹8,04,384

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Impressions

There’s a reason why the old-school aesthetic is so desired among watch enthusiasts. The 1950s were a time brimming with hope, opportunity and post-war euphoria. The Heritage BiCompax Annual manages to encapsulate all the good from that era and brings it to the future. If you want a watch that sports modern functions and a peerless movement, but still manages to keep that retro spirit alive, the Heritage BiCompax Annual is worth investing in.

The rose gold variant of the Heritage BiCompax, with its champagne-hued dial, exhibits notable style and has a high quotient of elegance

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The symmetry of a bi-compax setting for a chronograph works brilliantly for the overall aesthetic of the timepiece, especially on the panda variant

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One look at the design of the dial and it is evident that a lot of its vintage lineage has been retained

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01

The Present Heritage BiCompax

The Case

While its predecessor was a dainty 34mm, this model is sized at a perfect 41mm—made to sit comfortably on the wrist, with a thickness of only 14.05mm. The rectangular pushers that activate the chronograph—polished to perfection and slightly rounded near the lugs—add to the vintage appeal. Just like the watches from the 1950s, the case is finished with a double-domed glass, in this case, made from sapphire crystal and treated with an antireflective coating.

The attention to detail that the Heritage BiCompax boasts of speaks volumes about the watchmakers at Carl F. Bucherer and their passion towards the craft

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What makes the Heritage BiCompax a well-rounded product is the fact that it employs useful complications, a vintage design, and a solid build, without an over-the-top price tag

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The panda variant looks more contemporary and sporty as compared with its elegant and classical rose gold sibling

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01

This watch is available in two equally delightful variants, one with a steel-and-rose-gold construction, and the other with a simple steel case—which looks a tad sportier and also comes paired with a rubber strap. The bezel, pushers and crown of the gold variant have been crafted from 18-karat rose gold—in keeping with the rich Baroque traditions that defined Lucerne, Switzerland, where the brand was born.

The watch, despite its relatively small size, packs in a chronograph with a bi-compax layout, large date and an annual calendar

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The retro design of the Heritage BiCompax makes it effortlessly stylish and manages to capture the aesthetic of the 1950s

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The Dial

A straightforward but eloquent design language takes precedence in the Heritage BiCompax Annual. While Carl F. Bucherer has always been one for vintage aesthetics, the Swiss watchmaker takes it to another level in this watch’s dial. The BiCompax Annual is available in either an exquisite champagne dial or with a panda dial. The overall layout is practically identical to the earlier model with its snailed bicompax counters at three and nine o’clock. The retro Arabic numerals on the dial are especially inspired by the antiquated watches of yesteryear. In keeping with traditions, the dial also features a legible tachymeter scale, which can be used to compute speed, based on travel time, or even measure distance, based on speed.

For admirers of vintage-inspired timepieces, the Heritage BiCompax fits the bill without burdening the pocket

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This watch has a bold presence on the wrist, thanks to its eye-catching design

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What catches your eye almost immediately are the simple, sharp but extremely effective syringe hands, which have been filled with just the right amount of luminous material for it to be useful in the dark.  The obvious advantage of going with syringe hands here is the way it precisely points to the exact time, and adds to the vintage aesthetic of the timepiece. Not to mention, the use of syringe hands in timepieces now is incredibly rare, making this a notably unique addition to your collection. Apart from the Super-LumiNova that is injected into the syringe hands, it also appears in the form of minute dots around the hour numerals.

Lodged very discreetly between the four and five o'clock markers is the month indicator

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Right below noon sits the big date indicator, a part of the annual calendar complication, which stands out with its legibility and retro-inspired font

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Coming to the titular feature of the Heritage BiCompax Annual, the annual calendar has found its way in the form of two apertures on the dial. Right below noon sits the big date indicator and lodged very discreetly between the four and five o’clock markers is the month indicator. Since it features the coveted annual calendar complication, it will need only one adjustment a year. If you look closer, you will notice that both of these apertures have bevelled frames that are outlined in black and boasts an interior with a thin golden or silver line, depending on the model. The attention to detail that the watchmakers have put into every watch is truly astounding.

If you turn the watch over, the sapphire crystal caseback reveals the calibre CFB 1972, which has an open-worked rotor fashioned after the brand’s logo

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Elements of this variant have been crafted from 18-karat rose gold—in keeping with the rich Baroque traditions that defined Lucerne, Switzerland, the birthplace of the brand

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The Movement

Beating inside is the in-house automatic CFB 1972 calibre with 47 jewels, which boasts a power reserve of 42 hours. The watch may look simple, but it packs quite a punch, with a chronograph and an annual calendar complication. The Annual Calendar needs only one adjustment per year, after February—which makes this watch incredibly utilitarian. Very few brands in the world make a combined chronograph annual calendar, and at this price point, this holds even truer. Carl F. Bucherer succeeds here in conquering a market that few even venture into. To top it all off, the brand is famous for creating watches with exceptional value for the price they command, so you will definitely get the most bang for the buck.

A Final Word

This watch is limited to 888 pieces—a number that is a tribute to the year 1888, when Carl F. Bucherer was founded. In a world that’s either bogged down by tradition, or trying too hard to defy it, the Heritage BiCompax Annual skilfully and effortlessly keeps the luxurious and classic retro spirit alive.