We had been in touch with Etienne Malec for several months to organize a test of the Baltic Aquascaphe with Avel and Men straps. Then came lockdown, the reopening and the summer sailing season, so it was finally in September that I got the chance to discover this watch. I had of course followed the launch of this diver, which had been catching my eye for a long time; as a vintage lover, I couldn't remain indifferent to the charm of that bezel and the patina of the indexes.
Then came the big question: which model to try? Being a fan of vanilla patinas and the look of '60s/'70s dive watches, I was naturally very keen to try the black cream. Agnès, my sister, partner and head of design at Avel and Men, recommended I try the black silver. It has a resolutely contemporary spirit, and the silver shade lets you attempt many original combos: all our straps, including our orange storm sailcloth, would suit it. The blue gilt was also very tempting and would have been a hit with our navy Tampa strap. But hey, I believe that to properly test a watch you have to fall in love with the model: it will only be showcased all the better! So let's go for the black cream test…
Once the package had safely arrived in Brittany, I hurried to remove the tropic strap (very nice, by the way) fitted on the watch and replace it with a black Tampa strap. I started by fitting a 19mm, convinced that was the chosen lug width. Wrong: it's 20, which is perfectly consistent with the watch's proportions. This shows the talent of Etienne Malec, who had fun taking certain vintage codes to create a truly modern watch with a unique identity.
The first impression is amazing, and I can't wait to see the dial under the Breton sunset… As a lover of patinas, I'm spoiled: what a pleasure to take photos alongside vintage pieces such as the Rolex Submariner 5513 or the Lip Nautic Automatic!
Off to a regatta in Carnac with the Baltic and the Tampa black strap on my wrist. The combination looks stunning, and our blue-white-red accent makes you want to shout "Vive la République! Vive la France!" I took advantage of the sunrise on Sunday morning and the delayed start of the races (the Avel, the wind, was being capricious) to take some shots in the harbor. I was dazzled as I turned the dial to play with the light and let it reveal its different facets.
The Baltic with an Avel and Men black cordura strap? Test passed! And a pairing that works in winter as well as summer…
With the tests carried out during the Breton Indian summer, it was tempting to pair this diver with a sand-colored Tampa strap. Until now, the Tampa sand had been a hit on both vintage and contemporary watches. It was during a Fireball regatta in Pléneuf-Val-André that I decided to take the photos. The Baltic was no exception, and imagine my surprise when I discovered on social media that the Avel and Men community had made this combo the big winner of the "match" against the Tampa black. Perhaps we were influenced by the Breton heat and the Indian summer of the Côtes-d'Armor? Yes, but it must be said that the shade of our sand cordura strap matches the watch's hands perfectly; that this light color contrasts with the black dial and bezel; and that the canvas gives a truly casual touch to a combination you can wear at the seaside as well as under a shirt at the office. And besides, isn't this strap the best way to feel like you're on vacation even when you're stuck in traffic in the morning?
After two cordura canvas straps, I wanted to try a sailcloth strap. I ruled out the La Rochelle Kevlar sailcloth strap because the color of the weave doesn't match the dial. The bold orange of the storm sailcloth might not have worked with the patina of the hands and indexes.
So I turned to the Hyères carbon sailcloth strap. As a reminder, carbon sailcloth is used mainly on racing boats. Competitors particularly appreciate how well the fabric holds up over time. A fabric that doesn't deform guarantees that the sail keeps the shape intended by the sail designer, in order to exploit its full potential. In the port of Lorient, for instance, it's not unusual to see Mini 6.50s using this fabric for their headsails.
Since sailcloth is stiff and sharp, we edge it with leather, black in the case of the Hyères strap. This combination of black leather and gray fabric looks fantastic on the Baltic. First, because the overall look stays understated while still gaining that carbon gray color. Second, because both the watch and the strap share a great deal of technical sophistication and a common DNA: the sea. Divers and sailors are demanding because they operate in a harsh environment. A diver must be able to rely on his instruments, including his watch; a racing sailor must use the best materials to have a high-performance, reliable sail that will hold up throughout the race. What makes Avel and Men original, then, is its ability to bring technical sophistication to straps through the use of innovative materials.
And to finish, a word from Agnès: "Honestly, how well-behaved, sensible and nostalgic the boys are! You can see why women are the real visionaries of this world! The watch is magnificent, and even though I really liked the pairings suggested, I'm still waiting for more original tests with a black silver. This configuration makes me want to create a red Tampa or another bolder color to offer even more innovative combos: I'm working on it!"
The author of this article does not censor, and duly takes note!
