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VINTRO Watches is a watch label from the Swabian Aalen, Germany, which manufactures and sells high-quality wristwatches in vintage nostalgic designs. The VINTRO brand stands for a vintage and retro port manteau. The vision of the start-up is to create timepieces and accessories for collectors who are inspired by the great past of watchmaking, fit exactly into our time and yet are timeless. In the end, this claim also brings the customer’s own claim to the point: “HISTORY REMASTERED”.
All collections tells the story of a special time, are absolute eye-catchers and still meet the requirements of everyday use. Well thought-out down to the smallest detail, of high quality and yet affordable. Quality not quantity. Unique instead of usual. For collectors of collectors.
The History
How Everything Started
Well, let us start form the scratch. My name is Uli and I’m a watch enthusiast as long as I can remember. It all began in my childhood, when I got my first mechanical timepiece from my father at the age of 12. A skin diver 115 with a chrome case and a hand wound movement, produced by Bifora, a former watch manufacturer from my hometown. This single object was the starting point of my passion for vintage watches.
From then on, I set out to find the watches that would appeal to me, thrill me, challenge me. Collecting vintage watches is not only about the mere object, it’s also the stories behind. Those watches were worn and cared for decades, and ultimately they have their own lives. After 20 years of studying and acquiring more than 1,000 watches, I wanted to realize my childhood dream, to create my own watch collection.
It was time to tackle things and with my sister Susanne (Designer) and her friend Udo (watch enthusiast) we began our journey with VINTRO to make our dreams to reality and we’ve loved every minute of it so far.
The First Collection
Vintro Le Mans 1952 Chronograph
With our first watch collection we want to pay tribute to this legendary car race and we still believe that Swabian skills could change everything.
More than 60 years ago, Hermann Lang and Fritz Riess won the legendary 24-hour of Le Mans race at the wheel of a Mercedes 300SL (W-194 series). The Swabian engineering influenced motor racing for a long time.
We wanted to design a classic timepiece for the hobby drivers in all of us and honor the 1940s to the 1950s. We pay tribute to the chronographs of that era because of their beautiful dials that provide a wealth of information and are both elegant and sporty. Furthermore, we wanted to create a watch which is absolutely suitable for the daily use.
Currently we can offer three different variations of the Le Mans 1952 chronograph; the stainless steel case will have a white/silver dial, the rosé-gold with a black dial and the yellow gold case with a crème colored one.
Vintro Le Mans 1952 Chronograph Automatic Version
Vintro Le Mans 1952 Chronograph Quartz Version
Vintro Le Mans 1952 Chronograph Details
Vintro Le Mans 1952 Chronograph Movements
We have decided to offer two different high-quality movement options. Both movements will accompany your Le Mans 1952 through thick and thin – quietly, reliably and accurately.
Sea-Gull ST1940
For the automatic version we have chosen a special movement with a great and long history. The Sea-Gull ST1940 is based and inspired from an old Swiss movement, the Venus 175. Originally the Venus 175 was developed and manufactured by Fabrique d’Ebauches Venus S.A. in Moutier between 1940 and the beginning of the 60’s and was used in a number of high-end chronographs, such as Breitling’s Navitimer and Chronomat.
In the 1960’s, Venus decided to develop a new movement, which would replace the 175. In order to raise the capital to do this, the company sold all the rights and tooling required to manufacture the 175 movement to the Chinese Airforce, so it would create movements for its military watches. Later on this movement was released commercially as the Sea-Gull ST19 series.
The used caliber ST1940 is a modified automatic version, a precise, reliable and modern movement with a column-wheel chronograph. In part, due to the history and background, the ST1940 still shares the robustness and accuracy of the Venus 175, which is why we’ve chosen it for our watch.
Seiko VK64A
The Le Mans 1952 quartz version is powered by the Seiko VK64A meca-quartz movement. This was chosen after careful consideration of what we wanted to achieve with the watch in terms of size, functionality, reliability and ease of ownership.
The VK64A is a hybrid movement which combines the accuracy and stability of a quartz watch with the feel and handling of a mechanical chronograph (5 beats per second sweep chronograph hand and fly-back reset). What this means is the chronograph second hand is mechanical and moves with a sweeping function and not like a typical quartz watch which has the “ticking” function. Given that the VK64A has no permanent second hand, there is no outward indication that it is in fact a quartz watch. In order to give the watch more vintage character we have dispensed with the date window.
Vintro Le Mans 1952 Chronograph Case
Firstly, the requirements were to design a case that gives the watch a typical vintage characteristic of the 50’s, feels robust and solid but not overly cumbersome and conveys a feeling of quality on the wrist. Secondly, the case should tucks neatly under a shirt and suits beautifully on the wrist, for both men and women.
Case-Back
We have designed two different case-backs; the automatic version will have a sapphire crystal and the quartz version will have a closed case-back. Both are engraved with the limited edition number xxx / 500. Furthermore, the closed case-back of the quartz version will have an engraving of one of the most important racing cars of the 50s.
Vintro Le Mans 1952 Chronograph Crystal
To meet the requirements for a watch which is absolutely suitable for the daily use, we have decided to use a high-quality domed sapphire crystal with the best scratch resistance. By the bulging the crystal gets also a bid vintage character and for a good visibility the inside of the crystal is anti-reflective-coated twice.
Vintro Le Mans 1952 Chronograph Dial & Hands
The clean matte finished dial is inspired by the typical chronograph dials of the 50s and shows all the information that every driver needs. The indexes are hand applied and are giving volume to the dial and embody also the typical earlier times as the polished dauphine hands.
Vintro Le Mans 1952 Chronograph Straps
The Le Mans 1952 is a vintage-inspired chronograph with many faces. It can be worn as an elegant watch, but at the same time it can accompany you with confidence on your nautical adventures. Since the characteristic of a wristwatch depends not only on the watch itself, we have decided to provide you with a large selection of straps that the watch fits perfectly with you and your ideas. After the campaign is completed you can choose between the different strap options.
We have selected two different types of leather straps; a classic one, made of high-quality leather of the tannery Horween in Chicago, and one for the vintage guys, made of finest Italian leather.
All our straps are comfortable and luxurious, made from genuine premium leather and the highest-quality nylon, guaranteeing a perfect fit. All straps will have the quick release spring-bars to allow for quick and easy strap changes.
Limited Edition
We believe that timepieces should be exclusive and shouldn’t be mass produced. We want to create unique timepieces. Quality not quantity. Unique instead of usual. Therefore all VINTRO WATCHES will be LIMITED EDITIONS of 500 pieces. You will be sure you own a watch that is rare and unique, something you can truly own. In addition we will create a special backer’s certificate for all backers.
Packaging
To be honest, most of the boxes ends up in the basement, on stage or in the trash after a short time. Therefore, we have spent a lot of time and thoughts to create a useful watch box which stows everything away, looks appealing and at the same time requires little space. At the end we have developed a packaging in book format, so the box can be stored on the bookshelf afterwards and supplemented by further VINTRO WATCH boxes without taking up a lot of space and by the way it also looks great.
Warranty
All VINTRO WATCHES will be under international warranty for 2 years.
The Origin
Vintage Inspired Watches
VINTRO stands for vintage and retro, short VINTRO. Through years of experience in the field of used luxury watches and the founder’s penchant for the classic designs of the 40s to 80s.
The origin of our watches begins and ends in the Swabian Aalen. Not only the design is created in the south of Germany, with the Swabian thoroughness we can ensure that every watch meets our high-quality standards, with passion and dedication up to the smallest detail with high quality, for affordable prices. Quality not quantity. Unique instead of usual.
Contrary to today’s throwaway society that was particularly important to us. We do not want pure fashion watches, but watches that tell stories. Stories of the past. Stories of today and tomorrow. Stories still to be written. A VINTRO WATCH will accompany you for many decades and write a new story with you. Be part of it, be VINTRO.
Our Responsibility
For A Brighter Future
Make the present and the future positive with insights from the past. We are committed to this claim not only in the development of our watches. It is absolutely important to us to take responsibility from the beginning of our journey. We see ourselves as part of the society and would like to give something back. Therefore, every watch will contribute to a meaningful cause and we will donate 5 Euros to social institutions for every sold VINTRO WATCH.
Shipping
Visit Kickstarter NOW!
Kickstarter-Projekt: http://e9.fnd.to/vintro
Homepage: https://www.vintro-watches.de
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vintrowatches/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vintrowatches/VINTRO
