Baltic continues its involvement in the world of classic motorsport with the release of the Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 Limited Edition. This launch marks the third consecutive year the brand serves as the official timekeeper for the prestigious Tour Auto rally, an event celebrating vintage automobiles and competitive racing. The Scalegraph itself represents an evolution within Baltic's lineup, introducing a new sports chronograph design focused on increased capability and drawing direct inspiration from the demands and aesthetics of historic racing events. This specific limited edition serves as both a celebration of the ongoing partnership and a testament to the brand's deepening connection with the automotive world.
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Baltic is a relatively young name in watchmaking compared to century-old maisons, it has quickly established a distinct identity. Founded on a passion for vintage watch design, the company often draws inspiration from mid-20th-century aesthetics, reinterpreting classic forms for contemporary audiences. Their approach typically combines accessible pricing with thoughtful design details and reliable mechanical movements, appealing to both new enthusiasts and seasoned collectors looking for characterful timepieces. The brand's venture into motorsport timing and participation further shapes its identity, linking its vintage-inspired designs to the dynamic world of classic car racing.
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The partnership with Tour Auto is more than just a branding exercise for Baltic; it's an active engagement. Beyond providing the official timing for the event, the Baltic Racing team participates directly in the rally. For the 2025 edition, tracing a route from Paris to Nice, the team fields two classic competition cars: a 1963 Lotus Elan 26R and a 1965 MG B. Competing in the VHC (Véhicules Historiques de Compétition) category means they are judged purely on speed, navigating challenging roads and legendary circuits like Dijon-Prenois and Charade. This hands-on involvement provides a demanding real-world testing ground for their watches, ensuring the Scalegraph is built to withstand the rigors associated with motorsport.
The Scalegraph emerges from this context as a purpose-driven chronograph. Baltic presents it as a modern take on classic sports watch design, intended for everyday usability but engineered with enhanced features for demanding situations. The Tour Auto 2025 edition specifically embodies this philosophy, integrating visual cues from racing history with technical upgrades aimed at robustness and practicality. It’s positioned not just as a commemorative piece, but as a functional tool inspired by the environment it celebrates, carrying the visual signature of the Baltic Racing department.
Central to the watch's physical presence is its case, machined from 316L stainless steel, a common choice in quality watchmaking known for its corrosion resistance and durability. The diameter is specified at 39.5mm, a moderate size that aims to suit a wide range of wrists, bridging the gap between smaller vintage pieces and larger modern sports watches. Complementing the diameter are the 47mm lug-to-lug measurement, which dictates how the watch spans across the wrist, and a thickness of 14.1mm. This profile, while substantial due to the chronograph movement and domed crystal, is described by Baltic as sensible, aiming for a balance between presence and wearability.
A significant functional upgrade for the Scalegraph line is its improved water resistance, rated at 100 meters (or 10 atmospheres). This level of resistance makes the watch suitable for swimming and surface water sports, a considerable step up for a chronograph, which traditionally can be more vulnerable to water ingress due to pusher openings. This enhanced capability is achieved through the implementation of screw-down pushers for the chronograph functions, alongside a screw-down crown. These elements seal the case more effectively against moisture and dust, increasing the watch's versatility for daily wear and adventurous use.
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Encircling the dial is a fixed bezel made of aluminum, featuring a tachymeter scale. This scale is a classic feature on chronographs associated with racing, allowing the user to measure average speed over a known distance (typically a kilometer or mile) by starting the chronograph at the beginning of the distance and stopping it at the end. The reading on the bezel corresponding to the chronograph seconds hand indicates the speed. The aluminum material keeps the bezel lightweight, and its printed scale contributes to the watch's sporty, tool-watch aesthetic, directly linking it visually to motorsport timing applications.
Protecting the dial is a double-domed sapphire crystal. Sapphire is highly valued in watchmaking for its exceptional scratch resistance, second only to diamond. The "double dome" shape means the crystal curves on both its exterior and interior surfaces. This design reduces optical distortion when viewing the dial from different angles compared to a single-domed crystal and adds a distinct vintage character to the watch's profile. An internal anti-reflective coating is applied to minimize glare and enhance legibility, ensuring the dial can be read clearly under various lighting conditions.
The dial itself serves as a canvas for the watch's unique identity. It features a primary surface finished in a satin light blue, providing a soft, muted background. Contrasting against this are two subdials rendered in an off-white color with an azurage finish – a pattern of fine concentric circles that catches the light differently, improving readability and adding texture. This specific color palette, incorporating various blue hues alongside the off-white, is an intentional nod to the historical color scheme associated with the Tour de France Automobile, the event from which the modern Tour Auto evolved.
One of the most prominent dial features is the "Big Eye" layout for the chronograph counters. This design, which gained popularity in the 1970s on racing chronographs, involves enlarging one subdial – in this case, the chronograph minute counter typically located at the 3 o'clock position. The rationale behind this historical design choice was purely functional: in the heat of a race, a larger minute counter was easier for drivers or navigators to read at a quick glance, making timing intervals more intuitive. Its inclusion on the Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 directly references this motorsport heritage.
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Further enhancing legibility and adding subtle visual interest are other dial details. A concentric index line runs around the periphery, connecting the applied hour markers or, more specifically, the luminescent dots positioned on the outer railway track. This connected index is noted by Baltic as a new element contributing to the Scalegraph's visual language, adding a layer of refinement. For low-light visibility, the watch utilizes Super-Luminova BGW9, a phosphorescent material applied to the hands and hour markers. BGW9 is known for emitting a blue-green glow after being charged by light, ensuring time-telling is possible in dark conditions.
Powering the Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 is the Sellita SW510-M caliber. This is a manually wound mechanical chronograph movement produced by the Swiss manufacturer Sellita, a well-regarded company known for producing reliable movements often used as alternatives to ETA calibers. The "M" designation signifies manual winding, meaning the watch does not have an automatic winding rotor and must be wound by hand via the crown. This choice often appeals to enthusiasts who appreciate the direct interaction with the movement and the slimmer profile it can allow compared to automatic chronographs.
The SW510-M movement offers solid performance specifications. It provides a substantial power reserve of 63 hours, meaning that when fully wound, it will continue running for over two and a half days before needing to be wound again. This extended power reserve is convenient for users who might rotate watches or prefer not to wind their manual timepiece every single day. The movement also includes a stop-second (or hacking) function, which allows the seconds hand to be stopped when the crown is pulled out to the time-setting position, enabling precise synchronization with a reference time. Sellita movements like the SW510-M are generally recognized for their robustness and serviceability.
Visually, the watch presents a cohesive blend of sporty and vintage-inspired elements. The light blue dial offers a refreshing departure from common black or white chronograph faces, while the off-white "Big Eye" subdial provides a strong point of contrast and functional emphasis. The touches of color within the minute subdial, likely referencing racing liveries or the French flag given the Tour Auto connection, add small bursts of energy. The polished steel hands and applied markers appear sharp against the satin dial. The tachymeter bezel frames the dial effectively, reinforcing the motorsport theme. The interplay between the brushed finish of the main case surfaces and potentially polished accents (like chamfers or bezel edge, though not explicitly stated) would contribute to a sense of quality finishing. The domed sapphire crystal adds depth and plays with light reflections across the dial.
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Baltic provides strap versatility with the Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025. The primary option mentioned is a stainless steel "Beads of Rice" bracelet. This style of bracelet, characterized by small, polished center links resembling grains of rice flanked by larger brushed links, is known for its comfort and distinctly vintage look, complementing the watch's overall aesthetic. Additionally, each watch comes with a navy-blue Alcantara strap. Alcantara, a synthetic suede-like material often used in automotive upholstery, provides a sporty, tactile alternative that directly ties into the car theme. The standard 20mm lug width allows owners to easily experiment with other aftermarket straps if desired.
The creation of this watch falls under the umbrella of the Baltic Racing Department. This internal division seemingly represents the brand's focused efforts on motorsport-related projects and collaborations. It underscores that Baltic's connection to racing is a core part of their passion, extending beyond simple marketing into product development and active participation. Being both the official timekeeper and a competitor in an event as demanding as the Tour Auto lends authenticity to their racing-inspired timepieces, suggesting they are designed with a genuine understanding of the environment.
Exclusivity is a key aspect of this release. The Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 is strictly limited to 400 individually numbered pieces. Each watch features its unique number (from 001 to 400) engraved on the solid stainless steel caseback, alongside Tour Auto branding. This limited production run ensures that ownership is confined to a small group worldwide, enhancing its appeal to collectors and those seeking a less common timepiece. Baltic emphasizes that no additional units will be produced beyond this initial batch.
In essence, the Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 brings together several appealing elements. It leverages the brand's established strength in vintage-inspired design but pushes forward with the enhanced capabilities of the Scalegraph line, particularly the 100m water resistance via screw-down pushers. The design is rich with motorsport cues, from the functional "Big Eye" layout and tachymeter bezel to the specific color choices referencing the Tour Auto's heritage. Powered by a reliable Swiss manual-wind chronograph movement and offered as a limited edition, it presents a compelling package.
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This watch is likely to find favor among several groups. Motorsport enthusiasts, particularly those fond of classic car rallies like the Tour Auto, will appreciate the direct connection and thematic design elements. Fans of vintage chronographs will recognize the historical design cues, such as the "Big Eye" dial and overall case proportions. Furthermore, individuals seeking a distinctive mechanical chronograph that balances sporty functionality with a unique aesthetic for daily wear might find the Scalegraph fits the bill, especially given its improved water resistance and versatile size.
Regarding availability, the Baltic Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 Limited Edition is priced at €1,750.00. Given that it is a limited run of only 400 numbered pieces celebrating a specific event and partnership, prospective buyers interested in acquiring one would likely need to act with reasonable speed through Baltic's official sales channels. The package includes the watch head, the Beads of Rice steel bracelet, and the additional navy-blue Alcantara strap, offering two distinct wearing experiences right out of the box.
Case: Stainless steel 316L, 39.5mm diameter, 47mm lug-to-lug, 14.1mm thickness, 20mm lug width. Aluminum tachymeter bezel. Double dome sapphire crystal with internal anti-reflective coating. Engraved screw-down crown and pushers. 100m (10ATM) water resistance. Caseback numbered 001 to 400.
Movement: Sellita SW510-M, manual winding mechanical chronograph. 63-hour power reserve. Stop second function. Known for sturdiness.
Dial: Light blue satin finish main dial. Off-white azurage subdials featuring "Big Eye" minute counter layout. Concentric index line connected to lume dots. Super-Luminova® BGW9 application.
Strap: Comes with both a steel Beads of Rice bracelet and a navy-blue Alcantara® strap.
Price: €1,750.00
Notes: Limited and numbered edition of 400 pieces commemorating the 3rd year as Tour Auto official timekeepers. Motorsport-inspired design with enhanced 100m water resistance due to screw-down pushers. Represents an evolution of Baltic's sports chronograph.