Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. Pellikaan Timing Reveals The Lorentz ‘Speed Of Sound’, Its First-Ever Chronograph
A big and bold chronograph from a small Dutch indie watchmaker.
It has been quite a while since we’ve seen something really new coming from the niche watchmaking company Pellikaan Timing. Run by Hubert Pellikaan, a very passionate Dutchman with a background in pharmacy and science, the brand has a small but devoted following. The designs are all about legibility because Hubert wants his watches to be read from across the room. And admittedly, each one is extremely clear and intuitive! The story of Pellikaan Timing starts with the Flying Dutchman, born out of sheer stubbornness and frustration, and has now culminated with the brand’s first-ever chronograph. This is the Pellikaan Timing Lorentz ‘Speed of Sound’.
The background of Pellikaan Timing starts with an Omega Speedmaster and the hunt for a new watch to join it on Hubert Pellikaan’s wrist. But the search for a new companion wasn’t easy, as Hubert always found some flaws in the designs he initially liked. So what do you do? Simple, you take a pen and paper (or photoshop) and start designing your own watch! And thus, after a bit of time and a lot of trial and error with simple paper-printed dial designs, a watch was born! The very first watch was called the Flying Dutchman, which got attention from watch enthusiasts and pushed Hubert into making small batches of watches for people and eventually starting his own company.
This new chapter, the Lorentz ‘Speed of Sound’, continues the path of the Flying Dutchman and is a rock-solid chunk of a watch. The name is a direct reference to Dutch physicist Hendrik Antoon Lorentz, who shared a Nobel Prize in 1902 with Peter Zeeman for the discovery and theoretical explanation of the Zeeman Effect. Big, at 45mm in diameter and 15.4mm in height, this watch does not fall in line with the current watch trend of downsizing. And it doesn’t need to be, sizeable watches are still admired by many, and even I can attest to that as the owner of several watches over 44mm in diameter. The case is made of stainless steel and has a brushed and polished finish, with simple pump-style pushers and a large pull-out crown. The sloped bezel embraces a sapphire crystal on top, while the caseback allows a view of the movement.
As with previous watches, Hubert Pellikaan has dedicated himself to creating the clearest, most legible dials imaginable, and it shows. The Lorentz ‘Speed of Sound’ comes with a matte black dial with contrasting white markings and details. There’s some real thought in the scales as well, as the chronograph seconds scale, for instance, perfectly aligns with the number of steps of the hand itself. Sounds logical, but some companies do get this wrong from time to time! As a result, the chronograph seconds can easily be pinpointed to 1/8th of a second. Furthermore, the sub-dials are recessed, there’s no running seconds or date display, and the signature crosshair design is also present. Sword-shaped hands indicate time with Super-LumiNova.
Regarding movements, Hubert Pellikaan has gone for something as robust and reliable as the case. He makes no secret of the fact he uses the ETA/Valjoux 7750 automatic chronograph, a virtually bullet-proof movement. To him, it makes no sense to reinvent the wheel when you have access to proven technology such as this (even though he holds a patent for a balanced pallet fork). The movement is not finished apart from the rotor, which fits with the watch’s robust, almost industrial look. It runs at a frequency of 28,800vph and provides a power reserve of 46 hours.
The Pellikaan Timing Lorentz ‘Speed of Sound’ is limited in production, but not necessarily by number. The first batch of 20 watches is available to order now, with production commencing in the first half of 2023. It comes on a NATO strap of your choice (various colours available), brown or black leather straps or a black alligator leather strap. Prices range from a very sensible EUR 1,500 on NATO to EUR 1,580 on leather and EUR 1,700 on alligator leather. To us, that sounds look good value for money, as similar watches (in movement, at least) are often priced considerably higher!
For more information and to lock in your order, please visit PellikaanTiming.nl.
Editor’s Note: The watches shown in the article are prototype watches, which can be subject to minor scratches and faults.
