About 4 years in the past, I used to be in search of the dive watch with the very best blue dial on the market. The utmost finances was someplace round €1,500. Regardless that the Méraud Bonaire bought for “solely” €635 then, it nonetheless made the ultimate two, along with the Zodiac Sea Wolf Topper Version. Finally, I selected the Zodiac as a result of it had a unusual checkered bezel. At present, Méraud launched an up to date model of its Bonaire that might most positively win towards the Zodiac.
The unique Méraud Bonaire from 2018
The unique’s aspect profile
The unique Méraud Bonaire, which was launched on Kickstarter, appeared very good, particularly for that worth, because it additionally had a Swiss STP motion. However to me, the proportions on that watch had been a bit off. The bezel was a tad slim, and the dial had a bit an excessive amount of open house. Additionally, whereas the case had a good 12.5mm thickness, it nonetheless appeared fairly chunky. Nonetheless, I’m very joyful to inform you that Stijn, the founding father of Méraud, addressed all these factors on the brand new Bonaire MkII. Let’s have a look.
The brand new Méraud Bonaire MkII
The Méraud Bonaire MkII
The title of the Méraud Bonaire is impressed by an island within the southern Caribbean, proper off the coast of Venezuela. Judging by the images I noticed after I googled the place, this is without doubt one of the finest spots to dive and benefit from the underwater wildlife. It’s precisely the type of place the place this watch, with its closely vintage-inspired diver’s design, would really feel most at house. It’s nearly such as you’re a reincarnation of the Blancpain Bathyscaphe MC4. However that’s one thing Stijn could be very sincere about. And hey, if Blancpain isn’t making the dive watches we’re ready for, why shouldn’t different manufacturers strive to take action?
The Bonaire MkII’s circularly brushed stainless-steel case is 39mm in diameter and measures 48.6mm from lug to lug. At 12.2mm thick, it’s a bit of slimmer than its predecessor, and the design of the mid-case has been adjusted to additionally make it really feel this manner on the wrist. The lugs nonetheless have a chic polished chamfer and sensible holes to make strap adjustments a breeze. Barely overhanging the case, the 40mm bezel has a pointy coin edge and an acrylic insert with lumed markers and numerals beneath. The highest-hat crystal above the dial and the exhibition window on the case again are each fabricated from sapphire and have a colorless antireflective coating on the underside.
A Maxi dial
As I stated, I felt just like the proportions on the earlier Bonaire had been barely off. This was most noticeable on the dial. The hour markers simply appeared too small or positioned too far towards the sting of the dial. The bezel was additionally thinner, so ultimately, there was a number of clean house in the midst of the dial. All of it felt a bit bare. That is one thing that Stijn addressed on the Bonaire MkII. The utilized markers, together with the numerals at 12 o’clock, at the moment are a lot greater and fatter. It appears to be like like a Maxi dial, and with the broader bezel, the whole lot is rather more balanced.
The Bonaire MkII is available in three totally different colours. The Gloss Black and Moss Inexperienced variations each characteristic a shiny dial, whereas the Marine Blue model has a sunburst dial. Each the inexperienced and the blue ones have white printing, white Tremendous-LumiNova, and silver {hardware}. Then again, the black one options gilt-colored printing and {hardware} with Outdated Radium Tremendous-LumiNova. Lastly, the double-pointed baton palms additionally look extra substantial than these from the unique Bonaire, and there’s a lollipop seconds hand now. After seeing the three variations aspect by aspect and on my wrist, I feel the inexperienced one is my favourite.
La Joux-Perret G101
I discussed {that a} Swiss STP motion powered the unique Bonaire. The Bonaire MkII additionally contains a Swiss motion, however this time, it’s made by La Joux-Perret. And if I imagine my expensive colleague Thomas, who’s constructing his very personal watch proper as we converse, the standard of LJP actions is barely above that of Sellita, fairly a revered motion maker. So along with the refined design on the outside, the Bonaire additionally bought a major improve on the within.
You may function the automated caliber G101 by means of the signed screw-down crown at 3 o’clock. If you happen to absolutely wind the watch, it’ll have a snug energy reserve of 68 hours. The motion additionally options 24 jewels, runs at 28,800vph, and hacks, permitting you to exactly set the time. Oh, and did I already point out that the watch can also be water-resistant to 200 meters? The Bonaire MkII definitely isn’t all in regards to the appears to be like as a result of, as you may see, it’s additionally a really succesful watch. And I didn’t even point out one among my favourite options — the riveted bracelet.
You may select to get the MkII on a chrome steel Oyster-style bracelet or a Tropic-style rubber strap. And identical to on the unique, that bracelet options precise rivets (did you hear that, Tudor?). As well as, it now additionally comes with an on-the-fly micro-adjustment mechanism.
Closing phrases
And that brings us to the value of the brand new Méraud Bonaire MkII. With all these design updates, the motion improve, and a brand new toolless micro-adjustable clasp, this watch definitely gained’t promote for €635, proper? Certainly, it doesn’t. However, I nonetheless suppose {that a} worth of €925 (excluding taxes) on the Tropic-style rubber strap or €1,025 (additionally excluding taxes) on the bracelet continues to be very acceptable. And since the value distinction between the 2 is comparatively small, I might advocate getting the watch on that magnificent bracelet. You may all the time purchase your self a rubber strap if you happen to don’t have one mendacity round already.
I can confidently say that the Méraud Bonaire MkII is a correctly grown-up model of the 2018 authentic. The general design feels extra balanced, it has a wonderful automated caliber inside, and the bracelet is even higher than earlier than. What else would you need from a watch that prices you someplace round €1,200 whole? Effectively, as a pleasant bonus, and as you may see from the images above, it additionally wears very properly on the wrist.
The Méraud Bonaire MkII is accessible as of in the present day from the official Méraud web site. Please additionally click on that hyperlink if you happen to’d prefer to know extra about it.
What do you consider the Méraud Bonaire MkII? Let me know within the feedback beneath.
