Baltimore Watch Company Balt Pilot Worldtimer

I made my way to the DC Architecture Center today for the District Time Watch Show (more about that in a separate post) and was prepared to soak in some watches and try my best not to walk out with half a dozen!

Luckily, I only ended up buying one, and I offloaded one too, so I managed to net even! The new addition to the collection is a TSAO / Baltimore Watch Company Balt Pilot Worldtimer with meteorite dial. There are a number of reasons why I am happy to add this to the collection.

• I'm a Baltimore kid, born and raised outside of Towson, and so its good to have a watch from a Maryland-based company.

• I've been in the market for a worldtimer for a while now, and while I've had my eye on more up-market models from Farer, Omega, and Bvlgari, I am very tickled to have one that has Baltimore on the dial (in Oriole Orange, no less), instead of New York (F*** the Yankees!).

• I know this is going to sound pretentious, but I've been fortunate enough to have my collection gradually shift up market over the last five years, and as a watch enthusiast, I am happy that I am still into the smaller and more affordable brands, and that I'm not just chasing status through more expensive pieces.

Now, for a little about the watch itself. It's grade 2 titanium, and it wears very comfortably. The case has some interesting lines, reminiscent of some of Bremont's recent offerings. I like the detailing on the crowns and that the watch came with a canvas/rubber strap (with quick release spring bars, hallelujah!) in addition to the bracelet and a three-watch travel case. Very nice touches, indeed. The finishing on the rotor is particularly note-worthy. I wasn't expecting that at this price point. 200M of WR is nice too if totally unnecessary for me.

I'm headed to Greece in April, and this will most likely be my companion (too bad it says Cairo on the dial and not Athens). I'll be interested to see how the Seiko movement performs over two weeks of consistent use.

If I have some quibbles, they're about legibility. The broad white hands are good against the meteorite dial, but the 24-hr ring, "Balt Pilot", and "Worldtimer" are really tough to make out. I was going back and forth between the meteroite dial and the purple. I wonder if I am going to ultimately wish that I had gone for the latter (Ravens, baby!).

All in all though, when you add up everything that you get out of the Balt Pilot Worldtimer for $750 (show discount), plus the fact that I am supporting an independent brand from back home, it's hard not to be very, very pleased.