Balmer Commander

Orgy Part Deaux - the Balmer Commander 6431 Limited Edition >

Posted By: Ricky Lee McBroom
Date: Saturday, 22 March 2008, at 4:11 a.m.

I don't mind admittin' that I was sort of sweatin' it on this one. I paid top dollar for it, on the strength of it being "Only worn twice. Like New.". Riiiight. Beachfront property in Colorado, right?

Well, I'm happy to report that there are still honest sellers out there! This watch is indeed mint. I'd give it 97% on the TZ scale.

Still has the clear protective disc on the caseback, and the signed Balmer strap shows only the merest, barely-discernible crease from the buckle. You've really got to scope it out close, or you'd think is was new.

First impression; Pictures don't do it justice! This is watch is very nicely finished indeed, and in a rather laid-back, subtle way.

Second impression; it doesn't seem that big. At 46mm, with nearly 42mm of movement alone, I expected it to seem truly massive. But it actually wears smaller than you'd think - due mainly to the very short lugs, I think. The ,for comparison, seems quite a lot bigger'n the Balmer on the wrist.

Third impression; this thing is LOUD! Holy moly! Most conventional mechanicals have to be pressed firmly againt your ear 'fore you can hear 'em, right? Not this one! It ticks nearly as loud as my old Westclox bedside alarm, I swear!

Other observations; the case is very nicely wrought. Whomever polished it was a true craftsman!

The lume rocks - dunno how long-lasting it is, but freshly charged it is spectacular. "Glows like a torch" barely does it justice..

There's definitely an AR coating on the sapphire crystal. Looks great.. ..but makes it a bee-yotch to photograph.

The packaging - box, papers, strap, etc. are all very nicely done! This was an ambitous watch, no doubt. I mean, Balmer held a press conference when they released it, right? Then there's that $8,995 MSRP.

Don't get me wrong. That inflated-beyond-belief MSRP is crap, o' course. But like I said earlier, that's common among watch outfits. No, forget that and look at what they created - an 18-1/2 ligne true (pre-ETA) engine that just drips attitude, in a rather tasteful and modern package. for Balmer!

-Ricky

p.s. - can we get a Balmer ?

Messages In This Thread

Orgy Part Deaux - the Balmer Commander 6431 Limited Edition > (views: 155)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Saturday, 22 March 2008, at 4:11 a.m.

Very nice. Great case and dial. . . (views: 13)
Kelly M. Rayburn -- Saturday, 22 March 2008, at 5:22 p.m.
don't know about that strap combo, but great watch.

Kelly! I'm certainly enjoying it! Care to suggest.. >> (views: 9)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Saturday, 22 March 2008, at 6:06 p.m.

..a strap (or bracelet, I'm flirting with the idea of a Watchadoo.. ) for this one? You have the most uncanny eye for a good combo - I'd sure appreciate any thoughts you might have.
-Ricky

My first thought for a bracelet was mesh. . . (views: 10)
Kelly M. Rayburn -- Saturday, 22 March 2008, at 7:31 p.m.
there are some good mesh bracelets on ebay right now that are pretty reasonably priced (around $20.00). I bought one and it is pretty good and thick. As for straps, a nice thick non-padded pilot's strap would look good on it. Hadley Roma has a very nice thick tan strap that would look quite nice. But that watch would look great on many types of straps, such as a perforated strap.

Here is a link. It is the Hadley Roma "thick leather strap" about three straps down.

Hadley Roma straps

Mesh? Really? [searches madly] Alas, the only ones I see are way too thin & wispy. >>
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Sunday, 23 March 2008, at 2:48 a.m.

And, remember, I require an XL. I did turn up a stunning thick mesh bracelet in Europe.. for US $205!

} .a nice thick non-padded pilot's
} strap would look good on it.

Hmmmm. Do you mean this kind..

..that will fit fixed lugs? If so.. I dunno. I can see how those work on some watches - maybe even my incoming Time World. But not so sure it'd work on this watch!

} Hadley Roma has a very nice
} thick tan strap.."thick leather
} strap" about three straps down.

I quite like that one! And very reasonably priced, too.

But.. well, shoot, Kelly! I was ready to splurge on this one!

I mean, it is a pretty upscale watch, by my humble standards, so I'm quite prepared to drop a bundle on a strap. OK, OK! ..say $100 max? Had my eye on a Genuine 'gator for $80. Or Ostrich, maybe...

Oh, and FWIW, the Balmer actually works pretty darned good on the NATO, IMHO! But you know me, always tinkering..

-Ricky

Beautiful!! Nice score! (views: 6)
UKRower -- Saturday, 22 March 2008, at 5:14 p.m.

Outstanding! Great example of another Unitas, and the hands/markers are sweet! (views: 7)
Watchstuff -- Saturday, 22 March 2008, at 4:16 p.m.

What's the secret behind your web formated posts? (views: 15)
old skool -- Saturday, 22 March 2008, at 6:16 a.m.

Secret? No secret.. unless you count Notepad® and brute-force HTML coding.. (views: 19)
Ricky Lee McBroom -- Saturday, 22 March 2008, at 6:26 a.m.

ahh. Yeah, I have undergone HTML training before, but my brain was on strike the whole time. (views: 14)
old skool -- Saturday, 22 March 2008, at 6:50 a.m.

superrrr (views: 14)
Anjan Shenoy -- Saturday, 22 March 2008, at 5:53 a.m.

Congrats Ricky! (views: 18)
Wen -- Saturday, 22 March 2008, at 4:56 a.m.

Looks great. Congrats (views: 17)
PaulGeo -- Saturday, 22 March 2008, at 4:44 a.m.

Congrats on a great catch (views: 18)
Ed Brandwein -- Saturday, 22 March 2008, at 4:42 a.m.

Nice, are known to be louding tickers, even the copies ticks loudly too. (views: 23)
SJACKAL -- Saturday, 22 March 2008, at 4:18 a.m.

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