Five Watches From Affordable To High-End Relying On The Humble Peseux 7001

Simplicity is nothing to be ashamed of, especially when it’s done right. And with the Peseux 7001, a movement that’s pretty much remained unchanged since it was launched over half a century ago, things have been done very right. This calibre is watchmaking reduced to the essence, yet it’s capable of great things! Despite its compact construction and simple time-only indications, it admirably serves plenty of brands. And given the fact we’ve delved deep into the ETA/Peseux 7001s history only a couple of days ago, why not have a closer look at watches that rely on this specific movement one way or another? So with that in mind, and running from affordable to (very) pricey, here is this week’s Buying Guide selection!

Baltic Prismic

We’re starting things off sensible and stylish, with the Baltic Prismic. This delightful little watch takes its design cues from geometric shapes and the refraction of light. Details such as the pyramid-like hour markers, grooved centre section and a multitude of textures and finishes give it tons of charm. It’s available in purple, green, salmon or grey-blue, all fitted to either a leather strap for EUR 990 or a mesh bracelet for EUR 1,050. Inside the elegantly proportioned 36mm by 9.2mm case, the ETA Peseux 7001 delivers 42 hours of running time, pretty much the standard capacity for this movement.

For more information, please visit Baltic-Watches.com.

Quick Facts – 36mm x 9.2mm – stainless steel & grade 5 titanium case – stepped bezel – sapphire crystal front & back – 30m water-resistant – purple, green, salmon or grey-blue dial – faceted and polished markers – Dauphine style hands – ETA Peseux 7001 – hand-wound – 21,600vph – 42h power reserve – mesh steel bracelet or leather strap with pin buckle – EUR 990 (leather strap) or EUR 1,050 (mesh bracelet)

Louis Erard Excellence Regulator

Louis Erard takes a different route with this movement and adds a regulator module on top of it. This Excellence Regulator has been part of the collection for quite a while already but hasn’t lost any of its charm. The stamped guilloché dial gives it an appealing look, along with a split display for the hours, minutes and seconds. On top of that, you also have the convenience of a power reserve display, quite practical with a hand-wound movement! The polished steel case measures 40mm in diameter, and it comes on a leather strap. Surprisingly, the price hasn’t moved an inch since it was launched, so it can still be yours for CHF 2,245.

For more information, please visit LouisErard.com.

Quick Facts – 40mm diameter – polished stainless steel case – sapphire crystal with AR-coating – solid stainless steel caseback – 50m water-resistant – silver dial – stamped guilloché pattern – regulator display (central minutes, hours at 12′, seconds at 6′) – additional power reserve display – ETA Peseux 7001 with Louis Erard RE9 module – 21,600vph – 42h power reserve – black calf leather strap with folding clasp – CHF 2,245

Furlan Marri Disco Volante

The most recent entry in this Buying Guide selection comes from Furlan Marri and is called Disco Volante. Although the hour-minutes-small-seconds display is pretty straightforward, the whole package simply looks great! The case looks like a flying saucer, hence the name, and is riddled with retro charm. The stepped bezel, the tucked strap fitment, the recessed crown and so on. Dial-wise it’s also quite the looker, with a good sense of depth and detail. Available in three colour combinations, all with a matching leather strap, the Disco Volante retails for CHF 2,500. For that you get a very nice iteration of the ETA/Peseux 7001 though, with redesigned bridges and a nice level of finishing.

For more information, please visit FurlanMarri.com.

Quick Facts – 38mm x 8.95mm – stainless steel case, brushed & polished – stepped bezel – sapphire crystal front & back – 50m water-resistance – two-tone dials in multiple colours – central hours & minutes, small seconds – Peseux calibre 7001 – manually wound – 21,600vph – 42h power reserve – hand-finished components – each watch comes with 2 leather strap with pin buckle & quick-release push-pins – CHF 2,500

Holthinrichs Deconstructed

Our Dutch friend Michiel Holthinrichs has pushed the ETA/Peseux 7001 to its limits with the very outspoken DECONSTRUCTED. Not necessarily in terms of indications, but more in terms of design. Pretty much the entire movement has been re-engineered and half the parts are constructed in-house. The dial and movement are almost completely openworked, and there are 25 parts in the dial alone. The 3D printed grade 5 titanium case is fitted to an also 3D printed grade 5 titanium bracelet, for a downright Geiger-esque look that wouldn’t be out of place in some SciFi blockbuster. This 20-piece limited edition costs EUR 35,000 before taxes, but a ton of work has been poured into it so we feel it’s quite justifiable.

The Holthinrichs DECONSTRUCED, launched last year.

For more information, please visit HolthinrichsWatches.com.

Quick Facts – 38.5mm x 9.8mm – 3D printed grade 5 titanium case – various textures & finishes – sapphire crystal front & back – deconstructed dial (25 parts) – skeletonised base plate – laser-cut components with hand-finishing – Calibre HW-M01, in-house developed (50% Dutch made) – Peseux 7001 gear train architecture – 21,600vph – 42h power reserve – 3D printed grade 5 titanium bracelet with 3D printed folding clasp – 20-piece limited edition – EUR 35,000 excl. VAT

Ludovic Ballouard Upside Down

We round things off with one of watchmaking’s most inconspicuous yet captivating creations; the Ludovic Ballouard Upside Down. Although it looks simple at first glance, don’t be fooled by its sleek exterior and dial. Upon closer inspection, you’ll notice that all but one of the hour markers is upside down and there’s only one central hand, for the minutes. This unique display is courtesy of a rather complex movement, relying on the base architecture and geartrain of a Peseux 7001 no less! A total of 228 parts orchestrate a synchronized jump of two hours disc after every passing of 60 minutes. The case comes in gold or platinum, and there’s an array of dial colours, materials and finishes available. The base price is EUR 83,000, but bespoke options will easily push this into the six figures.

For more information, please visit Ballouard.com.

Quick Facts – 41mm x 11mm – gold or platinum metal case, polished –  concave bezel – sapphire crystal front & back – 30m water-resistant – various dial colours and materials (including Osmium) – upside down jumping hour display – central minutes hand – small seconds subdial (optional) – Calibre B01, in-house – Peseux 7001 geartrain architecture – unique jump hour mechanism with snail cam and 12 Maltese crosses – 228 components – 21,600vph – approx. 40h power reserve – alligator leather strap with a hand-engraved buckle matching the case – base price of CHF 83,000 – customization & unique pieces possible at a premium