Tested For You: Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec Manta Trust

(translated from the original French text)

When Josh asked me for a review of the new limited edition Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec Manta Trust, I was thrilled on numerous levels. 

As a watch geek, it’s always exciting to get to play with a new timepiece. Secondly, because I am a dedicated nature lover and a strong advocate of contributing any way I can to preserve our environment. This is precisely what Carl F. Bucherer does with this limited-edition timepiece dedicated to the Manta Trust charity, as part of the sales proceeds of these 188 watches goes to help finance an entirely new kind of research expedition. The Swiss watch manufacturer from Lucern is one of those brands that discreetly makes its way up the ladder of refined horology offering sensible, reliable and beautiful timepieces.

A meaningful cause

As Sascha Moeri, CEO of Carl F. Bucherer, put it : “We are proud to be a partner of the Manta Trust. With the new Patravi ScubaTec Manta Trust edition, we are paying tribute to the admirable work of Guy Stevens and his team.” The UK registered charity is committed to protecting and ensuring the survival of these gentle, yet mysterious and charismatic marine giants in more than 20 different countries. The tremendous data collection and observation of the foundation contribute to the conservation of manta rays. Guy Stevens, CEO of Manta Trust, could not be more adamant about this collaboration: “Thanks to the support Carl F. Bucherer has been providing for our research project for many years, we have the opportunity to make significant progress towards our goal – ensuring a sustainable future for manta rays by protecting and preserving healthy and diverse marine ecosystems.” 

Each Manta ray is unique, so is each watch

Not only do you contribute to an essential cause, but each watch has an engraving on the back of the case depicting the unique pattern on the stomach of a specific individual manta ray captured on camera underwater by Guy Stevens and his team. The identification number is engraved underneath it. This number acts as an access code to a website where the new owner can bestow a name upon this real manta ray. A very personal touch which emphasizes the individual engagement of the owner to the cause and the uniqueness of his watch.

A perfect tool watch

Enough digression. You figured the cause is noble. What about the watch? It is a beautifully crafted timepiece ticking all the marks of the perfect diving tool…and then some! With its 44.6mm diameter and 13.45mm thick stainless steel case, it is present but fits nicely on my small wrist thanks to its gently curved lugs. The black rubber bracelet makes it lighter than you would expect and the finely adjustable diving folding clasp in steel ensures a perfect comfort. Practicality is guaranteed by the uni-directional fluted ceramic bezel which you can be easily turned even with diving gloves on. The screwed-down crown with stainless steel, black-coated protections, the helium escape valve located at 8 o’clock and the screwed case remind you that this watch is manufactured to withstand 500m deep water pressure. Readability is crystal clear as the sapphire glass front: elevated hour indexes, thick and bold hours and minutes hands coated with highly luminescent Super Luminova provide extreme sharpness in the abyss. At the heart of this classic sports watch, the Calibre CFB 1950.1 beats at 4Hz. Based on the sturdy and reliable ETA 2824-2, the automatic movement delivers 38 hours of power reserve and tops it with a COSC certification for enhanced precision.

High-end finishing

But that’s not all! The Carl F. Bucherer Patravi ScubaTec Manta Trust delivers detailed finishing that enable it to be a daily wear outside of the sea. The dark grey dial is elegantly ribbed and adorned with two delicate black manta rays majestically ‘flying’ in the water. The applied indexes are beveled and polished giving it a very high-end feel. The case flanks are brushed with a satin finish, so are the lugs whose bevels are mirror polished for an extra qualitative note. The engraved depiction of the unique manta ray on each case back is also polished and finely executed so its traits are clearly identifiable. Not your everyday tool watch, I told you! 

A high-end dive watch, a limited edition, each timepiece unique, add a sense of purpose by contributing to the essential cause of preserving manta rays and their habitat. All that for CHF 5,900! What’s not to dive for?