Lorca is making a subtle but welcome addition to their Model No. 2 Chronograph collection with the Model No. 2b, creating an important distinction with an alternate approach to the design. Lorca watches have a carefully crafted character, so small changes go a long way in shifting their experience. This ‘b’ variant represents an alternate interpretation of a familiar design, according to the brand, an alternate reality of sorts. This is the first b-series model to be released, and sets the stage for future explorations of existing models. They will be limited in nature, and in the case of the Model No. 2b Chronograph, that means just 20 examples.
The original Model No. 2 Chronograph from Lorca was an exercise in old-world style packaged in what you might consider elegant restraint. The design has some panache, but doesn’t exactly hit you over the head with it. Like the original GMT, much of that came down to the intricate bezel balanced against a stark dial that made use of subtle finishing touches to accentuate the theme. It felt a bit like walking into a classy speakeasy and settling in for an ice cold Gibson served in a Nick and Nora.
The original design had a clear identity, and it stood in contrast to what we typically expect to find in a chronograph. With the 2b, Lorca takes a step back and approaches the complication from a more traditional angle, taking careful consideration to preserve the still young brand DNA in the process. The biggest departure comes in the bezel, which gets a more straightforward 12 hour unit with concentric brushing. The numerals themselves set the tone here, and they do a remarkable job without needing to rely on the radiant fluting of the original.
Moving to the dial, the sunray finish has been replaced with a matte black base with contrasting white sub-dials. The mid-century modern-ish handset (which are now brushed) and 12 o’clock hour marker remain, and keep a touch of that sharpness intact from the original. These are small changes, but the net effect is a palpable difference to the vision set forth in both the Model No. 1 and No. 2. The 37mm case (38mm with the bezel) remains unchanged, with a mix of brushed and polished surfaces defining the lug.
Inside sits a manually winding Sellita SW510 M that’s been regulated to within +/-5 seconds per day of accuracy. It keeps the core case thickness at 11.6mm, though the domed sapphire crystal pushes the total thickness to a hair over 14mm. I do think that a fully brushed execution of the case would have been an interesting companion to this dial and bezel, and further differentiated it from the original.
The Lorca Model No. 2b Chronograph is available to order now, and is priced at $2,750 on an excellent steel bracelet that’s somewhere between a brick road and beads of rice situation. 20 units will be produced, with shipping expected to begin by the end of November. Lorca
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