RALF TECH THE BEAST Manufacture First Edition Black 48mm
There are black watches. And then there are watches for which black seems almost inevitable.
THE BEAST Manufacture Black First Edition takes RALF TECH's most extreme professional diving instrument and strips away virtually every unnecessary reflection.
Its enormous 47.7mm case is manufactured from 316L surgical steel, sandblasted to a matte finish and coated in black PVD. The matching matte-black dial, black hands and ceramic bezel create an almost monochromatic appearance, broken only by the warm glow of Old Radium Super-LumiNova®.
It looks uncompromising because it is.
A 6mm curved sapphire crystal, protected screw-down crown and RALF TECH's exclusive encapsulated caseback contribute to an extraordinary 3,000 metres / 9,900 feet of water resistance. The unidirectional 120-click Ceramfine® bezel follows ISO 6425 diving-watch principles and remains deliberately substantial for underwater operation.
Inside is something equally interesting.
The RTM001 Manufacture automatic movement, developed in Morteau by Pequignet, is designed, developed and manufactured in France. Bidirectional winding, a 28,800 vibrations-per-hour frequency and an efficient escapement allow up to 77 hours of power reserve.
A black canvas strap with leather backing gives the First Edition a more technical character, while a black silicone strap is supplied for serious use in the water.
Only 77 pieces will be produced worldwide.
Why buy it?
Because there is something wonderfully uncompromising about a watch designed around an objective most watches will never even approach.
Three thousand metres.
No owner needs it.
That is precisely why it is fascinating.
The black PVD treatment makes THE BEAST feel even more purposeful, while the French Manufacture movement gives the engineering inside the case the same significance as the engineering surrounding it.
A professional diving instrument taken far beyond reasonable necessity — which is exactly where THE BEAST becomes interesting.
