The past decade has seen all manner of exotic materials and even complications make their way from high-end exclusivity, to being mainstays in the accessible space. Titanium, silicon, ceramic, exposed balance wheels… it’s all well within reach of many enthusiasts. No longer can brands frame these features alone as justification for sky high price tags, though there’s a bigger story there for another day. One of the more promising young brands operating today is Echo/Neutra, and they’ve taken a big step with two new watches in their Averau collection that boast ceramic and titanium cases.
This is a brand that’s at their best when they lean fully into their own design language, and while that’s not something they always seem comfortable doing, it serves as a promising foundation. The Averau and Rivanera collections are the backbone of what is an exciting approach to clean, industrial designs that incorporate small, fun details. Echo/Nautra’s interesting approach to complications is what put them on the map in the first place, and now they are stretching their legs in these collections specifically, opening the door to a new chapter for the brand.
The Averau welcomes two new references this week, though each is based on an existing model. What’s new here is the use of a matte black ceramic case set on a titanium frame. The first is a three-hander model powered by a Sellita SW200-1 with no date, and the second is a chronograph powered by a Sellita SW510B-1. Both measure 42mm in diameter, while the former clocks in at 10.5mm in thickness, while the later tips in at 14.6mm in thickness. Neither are small, but both should be lightweight thanks to the materials at use, and both employ a clean black on black aesthetic with high contrast white dial markings.
The dial design of both watches is clinical in nature, with thin typefaces, and a clear focal point that begins and ends with the hour and minute hands. The hour hand gets the brand’s trademark arrowhead tip, and red accents are used sparingly. There’s nothing groundbreaking happening, but the result is more than the sum of its parts. The big feature here is the case material, but the design of these watches is what will ultimately matter to the future growth of the collection and brand as a whole, so it’s important.
So what’s up with this case, and what is a titanium frame? It’s better to think of it as a chassis that has a ceramic body placed atop. Looking at the underside of the case, you’ll find a titanium caseback, and even get a glimpse of a thin titanium lug, all tucked into the ceramic casing. What I love is the matte finish achieved on the ceramic, giving a similar vibe to something like Ceratanium. Sure, this isn’t quite as trick as that material, but these watches start under $1,000 for the three-hander, and under $2,000 for the chronograph. These watches represent an impressive value for the methods at work, and they’ve backed it up with a novel design. Echo/Neutra
