The ideal military inspired watch - Baltany 6BB Chronograph

It is hard to balance the right amount of nostalgia and functionality. We can all agree that aged dials are quite goodlooking, the issue that we always encounter is that with time, things start to decay; lume, cases and hands.

On the other hand, when brands exaggerate on this aging process, everything looks a bit fake, too much is just not ideal. This is what I like about Baltany Watches, I was surprised when we reviewed their salmon tilted dial offering in the past, and now, we have the opportunity to spend time  with their new RAF inspired watch; the Baltany 6BB Chronograph.

This is an icon that equires no introduction, and just like the well-known German ‘’fliegers’’, in the past the 6BB was purposed built, a no nonsense watch that was built with a legibility first mentality.  

With this new reissue, Baltany has created two variants, a white aged dial and our black glossy one with gilt accents. Both are quite striking, and I am having a hard time to take it out of my wrist. I have to say that our black sample is one of the most period correct looking watches that I currently have on rotation and it doesn’t disappoint. It can really be taken to the most remote places just like  vintage versions used to some decades back.

Join me to discover what I think it is one of the coolest watches on Baltany’s catalogue.

The specifications

The 6BB has a good size at 39mm and a very short lug to lug under 47mm. This means that is a perfect wearer on my 6.25-inch wrist. The dial quality is outstanding, as previously mentioned the printing is well executed and crisp, especially when you consider the price point which we will discuss later. The sharpness of the government insignia together the branding are the only printing apart from the numerals, we must say that the attention to detail is quite high. The white syringe hands also do a great job in terms of legibility, and the ‘’puffy’’ printed markers at the periphery of the dial make everything look right, quite harmonious.

One of the details that I enjoyed the most is that there is no ticking second hand, the left register is the main counter and the one in the right, is the 24 hours indicator, quite handy when is needed. The lume department has received the touch from the brand as well, is not a simple application but two different colours that can easily be distinguished in the dark, they are also everlasting.

The brushed barrel shaped case feels great on the wrist, it also provides a natural crown guard for the pushers and the oversized screw down crown, thanks to this last detail, the B66 has a water resistance of 50 meters.

Under the AR coated sapphire glass, the Baltany operates a Seiko VK64 MecaQuartz movement, it is accurate and mechanical at heart. It snaps back with precision and keeps a good degree of accuracy.

On the wrist

I still maintain that the B66 is one of the watches that I have kept on my wrist for a longer, it is noy only comfortable and goodlooking, but it can be also used for more frantic activities. The watch is 12.5mm in thickness which gives presence, but it also allows it to wear thin with a nyon or a leather strap like the one supplied.

Coming back to the straps, for the pictures, I took a vintage olive green from my personal collection, I believe the watch looks its best like this and also shows off its versatility, it is a strap monster. As mentioned, the nato strap looks great too, army green or grey are the ones to go for.

I used the B66 mostly at the office, it was a good companion with long sleeves and then in a more natural habitat like the gym, precise to time short intervals and also good to read time at a glance. The military looks blend quite well with almost any outfit you choose, you do not have to be in uniform to feel that you are wearing the right watch.

Concluding thoughts

For this review, I wanted the focus of the B66 to be its merits and built quality without mentioning the price beforehand. The main reason is because is quite affordable at 170 GBP, yes you read that right. In my opinion, with all the craze out there reading the Moonswatch and the attention that has received, we tend to forget that there are better alternatives out there, this is without disregarding that the Swatch offering is quite compelling.

That said, for 170 GBP you would get a truly well executed case/dial watch that looks and feels at least 5 times the price that Baltany is asking for.  The Reliable Seiko movement is a joy to operate and the B66 itself, doesn’t feel as a disposable piece, it does feel as something that will endure any activity that gets on its way.

Having a chronograph that mimics those RAF issued watches is quite exciting, and I even showed them to an actual military friend, he was highly impressed and order one right away. I will be keen to see the white dial version but that said, I do believe that the contrast and looks of our black dial it’s simply a winner.

I cannot wait to get my hands on more military inspired watches from the brand; I believe that these types of offerings are what are keeping this hobby alive. They are luxury as we do not need them, but they won’t break the bank while giving us quite a bit of joy.

For more information please visit https://baltany.co.uk/product/pilot-quartz-chronograph/

Technical specifications

Movement

Seiko VK64 Quartz

Watch Glass

Sapphire Glass with clear AR coating

Lume

Retro Swiss Super-LumiNova Lumin

Case diameter

39mm

Case thickness

12.5mm

Case

Stainless Steel

Water resistance

50m

Crown

Screw Down

Case length

46.3mm

Lug Width

20mm