Carl F. Bucherer Heritage Bi-Compax Annual Hometown Edition
A tribute to the 16 cities the brand calls home.
Carl F. Bucherer has breathed new life into one of his time-honored timepieces with the Heritage Bi-Compax of the Year, the elegant 1956 Bi-Compax Chronograph. Combining vintage style with modern features, it is a rare but functional combination of complications. The latest version of the model pays homage to the 16 cities the brand likes to call home. This is a new comprehensive collection of Carl F. Bucherer Heritage Bi-compax Annual Hometown Edition.
While Carl F. Bucherer likes to associate himself with Lucerne, the brand's historical roots, the new Hometown edition also pays homage to 16 other cities it proudly calls home. The hometown list includes the Swiss cities of Lucerne, Basel, Bern, Geneva, St. Gallen, Zermatt and Zurich. Other European cities include Vienna, Paris, Berlin, Munich and London. Completing the release are four other global capitals: Beijing, Mumbai, New York and Tokyo.
As the brand's CEO Sascha Moeri explains: "There's something special about home - where our roots and values are formed. No matter how far we go, it always defines us and occupies a part of our heart and soul. A vital part. The Carl F. Bucherer Heritage BiCompax Annual Hometown Edition pays homage to those connections and will be treasured by watch lovers who are proud to have their favorite cities on their wrists.”
The limited-edition watch is available in different versions, with a gradient dial in five colors: yellow, brown, burgundy, green or mint. Each watch also features a dedicated 3D-style engraving on the sapphire crystal of the caseback, representing one of its iconic buildings. For example, the Lucerne edition features the Chapel Bridge, while the iconic Tiananmen Square represents Beijing. The second watch we're going to review, the Geneva Edition, features the city's waterfront and Jet d'eau (water spray).
The Carl F. Bucherer Heritage Bi-Compax Annual Home Edition features a 41mm case with a round polished bezel and rectangular chronograph pushers. Reminiscent of watches from the 1950s, the dial is protected by a double-domed sapphire crystal. The Home Edition's gradient dial has a bright center and darkened edges. Black accumulators accentuate the dual composite dial layout. Two calendar displays and a large date window just below noon are complemented by a concealed rectangular window between 4 and 5 o'clock. Last but not least, the tachymeter on the perimeter of the dial is a sporty touch.
Inside the watch is the CFB 1972 automatic movement that combines a chronograph and an annual calendar. So it automatically tracks the correct calendar indications in 30- or 31-day increments, letting owners manually adjust dates once a year instead of five. Based on the ETA 2894 with an almanac module, it runs at 28,800vph. Its power reserve is 42 hours.
The Carl F. Bucherer Heritage Bi-Compax Hometown Edition of the Year features a black perforated calfskin strap with sides and stitching to match the dial color. The strap features a quick-release spring lever and a steel pin folding clasp.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS - CARL F. BUCHERER HERITAGE BI-COMPAX Hometown Edition of the Year Case: Diameter 41mm x H14.15mm - Stainless steel, brushed and polished domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides - Sapphire crystal case back - Water resistant to 30m Dial: Gradient dial with black registers in 5 different colours: yellow, brown, burgundy, green or mint - Big date at noon - Month between 4 and 5 o'clock - Syringe hands in luminous material Movement: CFB 1972 Automatic (Modified Base ETA 2894) Chronograph + Annual Calendar Module - 30mm x 7.33mm - 42h Power Reserve - 4Hz Frequency - Hours, Minutes, Small Seconds, Chronograph, Annual Calendar with Large Date and Month Strap: Black perforated calfskin strap with yellow, brown, burgundy, green or mint coloured sides and stitching (depending on the watch) - Quick release spring bar - Steel pin folding clasp