Palms-On Debut: Serica Ref. 1174 Parade Costume Watch

Since its launch in 2019, the French microbrand Serica has garnered a robust standing inside fanatic circles by producing well-crafted software program watches with a distinctly minimalist aesthetic. Subsequently, as soon as I first heard that Serica was making a fancy dress watch, I immediately puzzled how the mannequin’s stark and utilitarian design language is more likely to be tailor-made to a additional refined and trendy timepiece. However, for its latest launch of 2024, Serica has stepped far exterior of its aesthetic comfort zone, and whereas the model new Serica Parade ref. 1174 nonetheless adheres to the mannequin’s core philosophy of constructing sturdy watches which is likely to be applicable for day by day placed on, it’s normally a wonderfully distinct offering that is not like something the mannequin has put forward.

On the time of launch, the model new Serica ref. 1174 Parade is accessible with the selection of each a Satin Black or Sunray Bronze dial, with the latter mannequin being the model featured proper right here. The “1174” reference amount serves as a nod to the ratio that informs its distinctive rectangular design, and fairly than adhering to a 1:1 ratio similar to the mannequin’s typical spherical watches, the proportions of the Serica Parade are outlined by a ratio of 1.174. As for the “Parade” establish of the model, Serica appears to be to the usual which suggests of the phrase, and whereas many modern-day parades now take the kind of vibrant avenue occasions, the distinctive thought of a parade is to gather with others and formally present a celebratory second to the world. Consequently, fairly than being a parade-themed watch designed for a day of partying throughout the streets, Sereica’s inaugural costume watch is all regarding the act of celebration and the best way we present ourselves at our most fascinating moments.

Crafted from stainless-steel with contrasting brushed and polished surfaces, the case of the Serica Parade ref. 1174 appears in a “stadium” fashioned profile, which can best be described as an elongated ellipse with straight vertical sides. Extra together with to the complexity of its design, the right-hand side of the case barely flares out to variety small guards for the unsigned push/pull-style crown at 3 o’clock, and that’s mirrored by a small protrusion on the 9 o’clock side, which helps preserve a symmetrical profile. Defending the Serica 1174 Parade’s dial is a flat sapphire crystal, which appears within the equivalent stadium-shaped profile as its case, and the stepped edges alongside the sides of its bezel highlight the contrasting brushed and polished ending on its parts. Within the meantime, the reverse side of the Parade receives a powerful caseback that is secured on the corners by 4 small screws, and other than having just some obligatory markings, the caseback is principally unadorned with ample room for a personalised engraving.

Fairly than merely securing the caseback, the 4 caseback screws on the Serica Parade extend completely by the use of its middle case and fasten to the underside of its bezel to create sandwich-style improvement for added sturdiness and water resistance. No matter not that features a screw-down crown, the sandwich-style construction of the Parade ref. 1174 permits for a very good seal spherical its gaskets, and the model affords a powerful 100-meter depth rating, which must be larger than ample to cope with regardless of aquatic actions you may encounter (notably considering that this could be a costume watch). Whereas the overall look of the Parade 1174 is distinctly elegant, the model nonetheless benefits from Serica’s inherent want for durability, and particulars resembling its crown guards and ample water resistance make the Parade a extraordinarily refined costume watch that will merely stand as a lot as day by day placed on.

As soon as I first observed the Serica Parade’s crown, I had slight points that it may very well be powerful to perform; nonetheless, the stepped design of its case blended with the sloped profile of its guards permits for a stunning amount of grip. Whereas I was merely able to wind the watch manually using its crown, I could doubtlessly see this being barely tough for someone with considerably big fingers. That talked about, as a result of the Parade incorporates a self-winding movement with a time-only present, working the crown will largely be restricted to the occasions when it is a should to set the time. Although particulars resembling its thick bezel and crown guards play an integral perform throughout the Parade’s look, moreover they current vulnerable components such as a result of the crystal and crown with an sincere amount of security from impacts, and I might just about describe the Parade as a additional sporty and industrial expression of 1 factor similar to the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse.

Regarding its dimensions, the Serica Parade reference 1174 measures 41mm throughout the lug-to-lug route by 35mm in diameter (along with its crown guards and the fragile bulge on the 9 o’clock side of its case), and no matter that features an automatic movement, your entire high of the watch is obtainable in at merely 8.6mm thick. Furthermore, whereas the Parade’s lugs are positioned beneath its bezel and completely built-in into its case profile, they’re set a traditional 18mm apart, although the curvature of the case requires the utilization of curved springbars, which barely restricts the fluctuate of appropriate third-party strap selections. Weight will infrequently ever be an issue for a chic time-only costume watch, and the Serica Parade 1174 isn’t any exception at roughly 50 grams (along with its strap), which is ample to actually really feel like a substantial and well-crafted product whereas nonetheless being lightweight and comfortable on the wrist.

Irrespective of whether or not or not you go for the Satin Black or Sunray Bronze model, every variations of the Serica Parade reference 1174 perform the equivalent elementary design and format for his or her dials, which embody a sunray-finished flooring adorned with an S-curved guilloché pattern. Small spherical hour markers are utilized throughout the periphery of the present, and the Parade’s dial is totally devoid of any logos or textual content material, with the one exception being the tiny “Swiss Made” signature positioned at 6 o’clock. Equally, every colorways of the Serica Parade 1174 receive the equivalent style of arms, which appear in a “sword-leaf” kind with domed surfaces and a mirror-polished finish. Furthermore, as a result of the Parade is supposed to be a fancy dress watch, it moreover omits any form of luminous supplies, although the polished surfaces of the arms present a stunning amount of distinction in opposition to the sunray-finished flooring of the dial.

Whereas a manually-wound caliber would have been an obvious choice, Serica has decided to current its costume watch an automatic movement to supply it with the equivalent autonomy and individual experience as a result of the mannequin’s completely different fashions. Powering the Parade is a time-only mannequin of the Swiss Soprod Caliber M100, which may even be found inside completely different Serica watches, such as a result of the Serica 6190 M.S.L. Chronometer. Working at a frequency of 28,800vph (4 Hz) with an affect reserve of 42 hours, the Soprod M100 is commonly seen as another choice to the acquainted ETA 2892, as the two actions share exterior dimensions nonetheless are principally completely completely different from a design perspective. Furthermore, on account of the Parade lacks a working seconds hand, it could effectively’t technically be thought-about a chronometer; nonetheless, as a result of it shares a movement with Serica’s completely different fashions (which are all chronometer-certified), you’ll reasonably anticipate associated timekeeping effectivity.

Fitted to the Serica ref. 1174 Parade’s case is a black two-piece strap produced from grained calf leather-based that tapers from 18mm on the lugs proper all the way down to 14mm on the underside of the wrist. Whereas the strap doesn’t embrace any form of quick-release system, I’m personally joyful to have customary curved springbars on this particular event, as a result of the Parade’s case sits extraordinarily flat in opposition to the wrist, and the small protruding tabs of a quick-release system would have seemingly detracted from its comfort. Ending the Serica Parade’s strap is a chic stainless-steel pin-buckle that echoes the stadium-shaped profile of the case, and its elongated curved design naturally extends to variety the first keeper. The leather-based used for the strap is extraordinarily mushy and supple with zero break-in time required, and the buckle is gorgeous from an aesthetic standpoint; nonetheless, the within fringe of the buckle is significantly sharp, and I could merely see it inflicting premature placed on to the mushy leather-based strap.

My largest qualm with many costume watches is that their designs can usually be a bit generic, and whereas there are pretty just some costume gadgets which is likely to be exceptionally lovely creations, plenty of them don’t basically stand out from the group besides you really cope with them and have a look at their craftsmanship beneath a loupe. Alternatively, when costume watches stray too faraway from a conventional and restrained aesthetic, they run the hazard of no longer being able to meet the perform of a fancy dress piece, and they also get relegated to the realm of horological novelties which is likely to be objectively beautiful nonetheless unable to mix into day by day life. The Serica ref. 1174 Parade strikes a pleasing steadiness of being principally completely completely different and visually fascinating, whereas nonetheless feeling understated and acquainted ample to play an ensemble half in your outfit, fairly than completely dominating it.

No matter producing Swiss-made watches with a fairly extreme diploma of consideration to ingredient and ending, Serica firmly adheres to a relatively inexpensive part of the market, and with an official retail worth of €1,490 EUR (or roughly $1,570 USDon the time of writing), the Serica ref. 1174 Parade is positioned correct in the middle of the mannequin’s current catalog. Whereas the Parade is outspokenly refined and trendy in its normal look, nothing about it feels remotely delicate or overly treasured, and particulars resembling its massive bezel and crown guards perform a fragile reminder that Serica’s DNA is rooted in software program watches and even the Parade benefits from the mannequin’s function-forward mentality. Fairly than being one factor that flagrantly calls consideration to itself, the Serica Parade in its place makes a robust impression as quickly as noticed, and that is exactly what you want from an regularly costume watch. For additional data on the Serica ref. 1174 Parade, please go to the mannequin’s site.