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It’s always fun to discover new, home-grown American microbrand watches with a local theme. Based in the American Midwest, Haven is one such brand, launching with a chronograph watch called the Chilton that brings together a host of features vintage watch fans tend to appreciate. Swiss movement and “box-style” sapphire crystal? Check and check. Panda dial-version? Check. Reverse panda dial-version? Check. And the vintage inspiration continues in just about every detail.
The Haven Chilton takes cues from across the world of vintage chronograph watches and is even vintage-sized at 37.5mm (and water-resistant to 30m). That diameter should help balance out the thickness typically dictated by chronograph movements — though the use of a manually wound movement here does offer a slightly thinner profile at just under 13mm, including the domed crystal. The movement in question is the uncommon Sellita SW510M, which offers a pleasingly symmetrical 3-6-9 sub-dial layout and 58 hours of power reserve. Forgoing a date window uncomfortably wedged at 4:30 was probably the right choice.
The two versions at launch feature a silver dial with blue sub-dials, and this look’s reverse: a blue dial with silver sub-dials. Each has a colorful yachting-timer motif in the chronograph minutes sub-dial — which might seem slightly odd paired with an unexplained pulsometer scale on the silver dial version. In all, however, these are aesthetic cues a lot of vintage watch fans get excited about. Another bonus for certain buyers will be the local connection, with “Midwest” on the dial and a Great Lakes motif on the case back, the watches being assembled by Haven in Indiana and Minnesota. Available directly from the brand, orders for the Haven Chilton will ship in August 2019 for a price of $1,799.
Gear Patrol also recommends:
Dan Henry 1963 Pilot Chronograph Quartz Watch ($230)
Farer Segrave Automatic Chronograph ($1,950)
Yema Yachtingraf Heritage Chronograph ($2,399)
