Malaysian watch outfit, Revelot, reveals R7 Avantgarde
If you guys know me well enough, you know that I love supporting local brands. I just get that warm, gooey feeling on the inside whenever I see Malaysians make it big on the international stage. In fact, I always take that as a timely reminder to us all that when we put aside all the nonsense, Malaysians truly are a force to be reckoned with. And on that note, here’s a look at the latest model from local watch brand, Revelot.
Dubbed the R7 Avantgarde, it follows a “retro-futuristic” design that’s said to be “inspired by jet fighters.”
“So, we’re looking at a pilot’s watch, then?”
No, not exactly. As its name suggests, it’s a rather unique take on a watch that draws cues from the aeronautical industry. Think of it more as what a watch might look like if a plane could design one…
Odd image but you get the idea.
For starters, three variants will be produced. The first is the Signature Edition, followed by a Rose Gold Edition and lastly, a Gunmetal Edition.
“Okay, looks interesting. What are the specs?”
With all three, you get a 45 mm case fashioned out of 316L stainless steel that’s 18 mm thick, a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective (AR) coating and a choice of three straps with quick release springbars. A choice of leather, silicon and NATO straps are offered and lug width is quoted at 22 mm. Beneath that sapphire crystal, the dial gets a pretty interesting layout in which a “multi-layer design with partial exposure” allows us a glimpse of the Miyota movement.
Additionally, we’ll be able to catch the dual rotating plates on the dial for the seconds and 24-hour counters.
As you turn the watch around, the screw-down, exhibition caseback allows for a view of the aforementioned Miyota movement. The 21-jeweled calibre 82S7 beats at a rate of 3 Hz (21,600 vph) and features hand-winding capabilities. Last but not least, power reserve is quoted at a healthy 36-48 hours. Water resistance is rated at 50 metres and each Revelot R7 Avantgarde comes with a two-year manufacturer warranty.
I know what you’re probably thinking at this point. “Okay, sounds like a pretty decent piece. How much?” The answer to that is RM899 from an earlier quote of RM799. According to Revelot, the main reason behind said price tag is the discontinuation of several Miyota movements, including the 82D7 calibre in which an early production batch of R7 Avantgardes are equipped with. Fret not for you’re not getting an inferior calibre – the minor difference between both movements lie in the finish of the polish.
“I’m all for supporting Malaysian brands! Where do I sign up for one?”
Well, for starters, it’s not exactly on sale just yet. The Revelot R7 Avantgarde will be launching soon on Kickstarter. The campaign is set to go live in November “weeks before Christmas” which is… soon enough.
The link to sign up as an early bird is right here. The main perk to being an early bird is that you’ll be able to grab one of the first 30 Revelot R7 Avantgarde watches for USD169 (RM698) instead of the full near-RM1k price tag.
So, with the introduction of another model in Revelot’s portfolio, I reckon that Malaysian watch enthusiasts have one more reason to feel optimistic about the local industry. While we’re not exactly known for horology, the fact that there are now locally-based brands that cater to both the high and affordable end of the market is sufficient enough to make me feel that things can only get better from here on out.
