The Gauge Master brings together an eclectic mix of timekeeping elements to create a watch that looks like nothing else you will put on your wrist.
It takes you back to a time when the great steam engines ruled the way we got from here to there.
As the official watch of the VVT Train Museum — Vapeur Val-de-Travers — of St-Sulpice Switzerland, each Gauge Master is unique with the outer dial ring made of metal stripped out of their 1800s locomotives.
A signature element of the Gauge Master is the askew dial.
This configuration, seen in other train watches (we didn’t invent this wheel) is designed for engineers who use levers and pulleys rather than a steering wheel.
This allows them to quickly glance at the time without having to move their wrist and risk inadvertently moving a lever in the process.
The exterior screws on the case are reminiscent of the mounting screws of gauges in the locomotive’s engine compartment.
The logo of the VVT train museum is proudly etched on the exhibition caseback of the watch which displays the Miyota 82S5 sub second automatic movement, which powers the Gauge Master.
The crystal is sapphire and the watch is rated to 10 ATM water resistance, which is unusual for a train related watch.
We wanted the quality of construction that comes along with that level of water resistance.
The dial is inspired by a manometer gauge from the largest of their locomotive engines, the Octopod, a massive German train, in keeping with the Pramzius connection to the Baltic.
The 150 ton beauty took 15 years for the tireless volunteers of the VVT museum to restore and is now enjoyed regularly on excursions by visitors to the museum.
While inspired by the manometer gauge, the elements of the watch go far beyond a simple repeat of the gauge’s appearance.
The sub-second hand is directly inspired by the valve control wheels also found in the engine compartments.
Two of the executions come with fully luminous dials that will split the dark even on the foggiest of adventures.
We use only Swiss Superluminova brand lume in 15 individual silk screen layers to truly split the dark.
