Graham Chronofighter Vintage GMT
The Graham Chronofighter Vintage GMT combines a big date, GMT and chronograph in a generously proportioned timepiece. The styling embraces both modern and vintage details, brought together in one cohesive design.
This detailed review of the Graham Chronofighter Vintage GMT includes live images, specification details and pricing.
An increasing number of people choose to travel for leisure, eager to embrace new sights, new tastes and different experiences. However, the same people also choose to read English newspapers while visiting foreign shores or watch British television programmes.
Irrespective of whether travel is for business or for leisure, temporary residence or permanent stay, there is a small part of every English national abroad that yearns for the green fields of home. Despite the allure of many business capitals, the modern day executive travelling overseas will seldom choose to forget the family waiting back in Blighty.
Leisure or business? travellers will forever think of home because ‘home is where the heart is’. The dual time or GMT watch provides a fitting reminder of time at home and a suitable aide memoire to telephone England at an opportune moment.
Recently, Graham unveiled a bold new timepiece equipped with a GMT complication, the Graham Chronofighter Vintage GMT. This watch provides a horological connection with home no matter where the wearer is located at that snapshot in time.
The dial
Graham has not chosen to embrace the usual Pantones often used by other watch companies, but instead it has selected distinctive shades of green, brown, blue and black/grey. Each shade is delivered in a graduated tone, displaying a luxurious, individual character, which makes each timepiece feel special.
The ‘modern’ hour and minute hands are lined with luminescent treatment, a feature which is seen on many other Graham models, proffering a welcome sense of familiarity. These hands display the time in one’s current location i.e. Local Time.
Most pertinently, this timepiece is equipped with the aforementioned GMT function to indicate the prevailing hour at home i.e. Home Time. The slender hand, featuring a red and white tip, is used in conjunction with a 24-hour scale to show the hour and the time of day / night.
The hour markers are luminescent and lozenge-shaped. A big date display is presented below noon. It is simple to read and looks superb.
The bi-compax dial layout confers equilibrium and symmetry. Each subdial is snailed, augmenting the sense of luxury. At 3 o’clock, contrary to many similar watches, the subdial displays the small running seconds, while at 9 o’clock there is a 30-minute chronograph register.
Encircling the dial is a chapter ring, making reading off elapsed seconds with the central chronograph seconds hand very user-friendly.
The dial of this model exhibits an even handedness, with each indication assuming its role without detriment to its neighbour. The dial colours are unusual and incredibly attractive. And, most importantly, the dial is simple to read.
The case
The 44mm stainless steel case is generously proportioned and features highly polished surfaces. The lugs arc sharply, encouraging the strap to encircle the wrist with a comfortable embrace. Indeed, when wearing this watch, I found its union with my wrist to be incredibly agreeable.
The bezel, marked with 24 hour markings, is ceramic and exudes a luxurious black and silver gleam. It is interesting that this dose of modernity sits happily alongside ‘vintage’ details such as the ‘trigger’.
The ‘trigger’ is probably the most distinctive feature of all the case elements. It exhibits a glorious vintage feel, appearing like part of a weapon from yesteryear. The device proves intuitive to use, inviting the thumb to engage with the curved section at its base. Actuating and stopping the chronograph is simple and can be done in a fraction of a second, making the measured time interval more representative of the situation observed. The reset function is positioned at 10 o’clock and the crown, at 9 o’clock, is simple to pull out and manipulate.
An exhibition case back reveals the Calibre G1733 automatic movement.
Each variant of the Graham Chronofighter Vintage GMT is supplied with a colour co-ordinated calf leather strap, paired with a stainless steel pin buckle.
The movement
The Swiss G1733 self-winding chronograph movement contains 28 jewels and the power reserve provides 48 hours of autonomy.
The balance has a frequency of 28,800 vph (4Hz). The movement features perlage, Côtes de Genève motif and blued screws, reaffirming that this is a quality timepiece.
Closing remarks
Graham has produced an interesting timepiece with the Chronofighter Vintage GMT. As the name suggests there are ‘vintage’ elements such as the trigger, but there are also many contemporary constituents, such as the ceramic bezel. However, the resultant mien of this watch is resolved and harmonious.
I especially like the off-piste selection of dial colours offered. They offer something new without doing so merely for the sake of it. Despite the profusion of dial details, including subdials, GMT hand and big date, the dial does not appear cluttered and proves simple to read.
The scale of the watch is significant without being too large and the short lugs encourage the strap to circumscribe the wrist comfortably.
However, the most pertinent aspect of this watch is that, irrespective of your travels, you can be rest assured that you can easily ascertain the prevailing time at home.
Technical specification
- Model: Graham Chronofighter Vintage GMT
- Case: Stainless steel; diameter 44mm; water resistant to 10 bar (100 metres); sapphire crystal to front and case back.
- Functions: Hours; minutes; small seconds; big date; chronograph; GMT
- Movement: Calibre G1733; self-winding movement; frequency 28,800vph (4Hz); 28 jewels; power reserve 48 hours
- Strap: Hand-sewn calf leather strap supplied on stainless steel pin buckle.
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