Carl F. Bucherer Manero Central Counter
The Carl F. Bucherer Manero Central Counter is a sporty chronograph with a distinctive personality. Angus Davies, a self-confessed armchair dweller, explains why this watch should prove appealing to active souls and non-sporty types alike.
Headquartered in Lucerne
Most Swiss watches are made in the French-speaking parts of the landlocked nation. There are exceptions, IWC is based in Schaffhausen and there are some brands located in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland’s largest bilingual city.
Carl F. Bucherer is headquartered in Lucerne (or Luzern), a city in the ‘heart of Switzerland’, where German is widely spoken. Overlooking Lake Lucerne and surrounded by mountains, this chocolate box pretty city, famous for its medieval architecture, no doubt serves as a wonderful source of inspiration for the Swiss watch brand.
Going its own way
In recent years, Carl F. Bucherer has produced some fabulous watches, including the Heritage Tourbillon Double Peripheral Limited Edition and the exceptional Manero Minute Repeater Symphony. With both these models in mind, the brand has never sought to emulate the timepieces made by watchmaking’s old guard, based in Geneva or the Vallée de Joux, both French-speaking areas of Switzerland. On the contrary, Carl F. Bucherer has always navigated its own path to brilliance.
Carl F. Bucherer Heritage Tourbillon Double Peripheral Limited Edition
For example, the Heritage Tourbillon Double Peripheral Limited Edition is endowed with a discreet oscillating weight that hugs the edge of the movement, allowing the wearer to view an exquisitely engraved scene, positioned to the rear of the watch. Unusually, the tourbillon eschews bridges and is supported peripherally, affording sight of the gravity-defying mechanism in motion.
Carl F. Bucherer Manero Minute Repeater Symphony
In terms of, the Manero Minute Repeater Symphony, it is also endowed with a peripheral rotor and peripheral tourbillon, but with the addition of another high complication, a minute repeater. In this instance, the gongs have been placed front of house, delivering an additional dose of animation to the dial. Moreover, the centrifugal governor is again located to the front, allowing the wearer to see it unfurl its arms and pirouette like a prima ballerina.
Carl F. Bucherer Manero Central Counter – introduction
Now, the company has released a new sporty chronograph, the Carl F. Bucherer Manero Central Counter and, to paraphrase Mr Sinatra, ‘Carl F. Bucherer has done it, it’s way’. Dauphine-style hour and minute hands, lined with a thin strip of Super-LumiNova, float above a black sunray-brushed dial. Rectangular shaped, luminescent batons denote the hours.
Two counters grace the central area of the dial, a small seconds display and a 24-hour day/night indicator. This latter detail is just one of several highlights found on this model that refreshingly breaks with convention.
A green central chronograph minutes hand
Instead of employing a regular chronograph minutes counter, Carl F. Bucherer has equipped the Manero Central Counter with a central chronograph minutes hand in green, sporting a prominent white tip. This approach makes much sense and should appeal to myopically challenged wearers. No more squinting at a tiny track within a tiny counter, the Lucerne-based firm has conceived a highly legible alternative. The central chronograph minutes hand kisses a green hued track, positioned just to the edge of the central dial area. The brand has masterfully employed different shades of green along with a ’15 minutes extra time’ scale executed in white. As a self-confessed armchair dweller, I can only assume this feature is for football fanatics or other sporty souls who choose to get unnecessarily sweaty. Coffee and cake served in the comfort of my own home seems a far more civilised proposition to me, but alas, I digress.
DLC-coated bezel
A fourth hand, dressed all in white, measures the elapsed seconds. It reaches over the minute track and converses with crisp white numerals set against a black backdrop. A date display sits at 6 o’clock, while the black DLC-coated bezel is marked with a tachymeter scale, proving ideal for calculating the speed of moving objects.
There’s a lot of information shown on the dial, but it all seems very logical and simple to read. The choice of fonts and the judicious use of colours means the dial is able to impart much information without bewildering the wearer.
Carl F. Bucherer Manero Central Counter – case
While the dial is a sumptuous and considered affair, the brand has not neglected the case or movement. Measuring 42.5 mm in diameter, the case tastefully unites brushed and polished surfaces. I’m especially drawn to the lugs which feature brushed upper surfaces adjacent polished, bevelled edges. The contrast of the two surfaces, each neatly defined, demonstrates CFB’s commendable attention to detail. The crown, pushers and caseback are also presented in gleaming form.
Carl F. Bucherer Manero Central Counter – CFB 1967 caliber
An exhibition caseback grants sight of the automatic CFB 1967 caliber. The oscillating mass is partially openworked and incorporates the brand’s logo. The automatic device bridge is embellished with circular Côtes de Gèneve motif, golden text and blued screws, while the mainplate is adorned with colimaçon. Assuming the mainspring is fully tensioned, the watch will run autonomously for 40-44 hours.
Carl F. Bucherer Manero Central Counter – closing thoughts
I suspect the Carl F. Bucherer Manero Central Counter will appeal to active types who enjoy nothing more than climbing a mountain or partaking in some form of team sport. However, despite my penchant for sipping tea beside a warm, roaring fire, I can see much virtue in CFB ownership. Once again, Carl F. Bucherer has created something different, producing a timepiece with a central chronograph minutes hand and a neat 24-hour day/night indicator, all topped off with the tasteful use of colour. Moreover, this chronograph brims with Swiss quality as you would expect, but it is also a product of Lucerne, a picturesque place that has endowed this watch with a bewitching smile and a fascinating character.
Further reading
https://www.carl-f-bucherer.com/
Technical specifications
- Model: Carl F. Bucherer Manero Central Counter
- Reference: 00.10923.08.33.99
- Case: stainless steel, diameter 42.5 mm, height 14.43 mm, water resistance 3 ATM (30m), sapphire crystal to the front, exhibition case back.
- Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds, date, day/night indicator, tachymeter, chronograph
- Movement: CFB 1967 caliber, self-winding movement, 47 jewels, power reserve 40-44 hours
- Strap: hybrid rubber strap with brushed texture in black and olive-green with quick release system, stainless-steel pin-lock folding clasp
- Price: £6,200 (RRP as of 3.12.2022)