RGM Model 600 Chronograph
The RGM Model 600 Chronograph is a period-themed, military-style chronograph. Housed in a sensibly-sized 42mm steel case and endowed with a bi-compax dial layout and glass box sapphire crystal there is much to love about this handsome watch.
These days, the world of fine watchmaking is dominated by Germany, Japan and Switzerland. The character and specification of a watch is often strongly influenced by its country of origin. In Europe, we don’t see enough timepieces from the U.S despite the nation having a rich history of creating watches.
The RGM Watch Co is based in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1992 by Roland G. Murphy, a Swiss-trained, American watchmaker, the company has a diverse portfolio of models. Mr Murphy makes guilloché dials using a traditional rose-engine lathe. This is a labour-intensive technique but surpasses all so-called stamped ‘guilloché’ dials.
However, Mr Murphy’s talents extend beyond guilloché. His company offer models endowed with grand feu enamel dials, thermally-blued screws and painstakingly polished movements. The RGM Watch Co makes skeleton watches and tourbillons as well as models heavily influenced by American history, such as the RGM Model 222-RR.
Recently, the American brand unveiled a new model, the RGM Model 600 Chronograph. ‘Inspired by military and pilot chronographs of the 1960s and ’70s’, this latest watch features a becoming bi-compax dial configuration.
The dial is presented in a stealthy shade of matte black. Syringe-type hour and minute hands impart the prevailing time with a high quotient of period charm. The Indexes comprise Arabic numerals, executed in a clean, unfussy font, while a lithe central chronograph seconds hand converses with the minute track hugging the edge of the dial, imparting meaning efficiently.
Two counters grace the dial, a 30-minute chronograph register adjacent to the crown and a small seconds display, located opposite at 9 o’clock. Both counters are slightly recessed, augmenting the dial’s overall allure, while the hands and indexes feature a liberal application of Super-LumiNova enhancing legibility in dim light.
The vintage-inspired design is reinforced with the addition of a glass box sapphire crystal, a first for the brand. The beauty of this type of glazing is that it imbues the dial-crystal ensemble with an attractive sense of depth and allows light to flood the dial plane. Housed in a 42mm stainless steel case, the scale of the watch should appeal to a large cross-section of society.
At the heart of the watch is the tried and trusted ETA Valjoux 7753. Again, Mr Murphy has put his own stamp on the movement. It is rhodium plated and adorned with Côtes de Genève decoration. The RGM Model 600 Chronograph is presented on a ‘classic pilot style’ leather strap.
It would be easy to look at the $4250 asking price (RRP as at 15.3.2021) and compare this watch with cheaper mass-produced models, however, RGM Watch Co has imbued this new timepiece with a significant amount of hand craftsmanship. In fact, bearing in mind its protracted creation, the asking price represents incredible value for money.
As a native of the United Kingdom, I have admired this brand from afar for a number of years. RGM Watch Co has much to say with its glorious products and I would like to hear more of its story at a UK retailer sometime soon.
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