Rossling & Co. The Regatta 1959 Chronograph 

Today, we are taking a look at the Rossling & Co. 1959 Regatta Chronograph: A piece that does a lot of things right.  This watch caught my attention because it was able to do something that a lot of companies miss. It was able to create a well-executed minimalist chronograph, and they were able to simultaneously price it competitively.

To me, the Junghans Max Bill Chronoscope is the epitome of a perfectly executed Bauhaus-styled chronograph.  However, at over $1,500, it isn’t an option for a lot of collectors. I always keep my eyes open for well executed minimalist chronographs, but rarely find anything.  The Regatta definitely caught my attention by doing a lot of things right.

Specifications

Let’s begin with the specification.  This watch features

• 40mm Diameter Stainless Steel Case

• 10mm Thick (including the domed crystal)

• 20mm Lugs

• Lumed Minute and Hour Hand

• Bi-Compax Miyota Chronograph (quartz) Movement.

• Signed Crown

• AR Coated, Domed Sapphire Crystal

• 50m Water Resistance

• 24 Month Warranty

• Leather Pouch

• Quick-released Leather Strap

The Good

Something the Regatta does better than most other designs I’ve seen is finding the perfect balance between too much and too little white/blank space on the dial. Clearly going after the minimalist look, this balance is something the entire design hinges upon.  While there is a lot of white on this dial, the subdial hash marks are the same size of those around the perimeter of the dial, creating a uniform look. Along with this, the font used for the date plays well the thin font theme of this watch.  The same can be said about the numbers in the outer ring of the dial.  The splash of blue adds life to the watch, without being too bold, keeping in tone with the overall design.

On the wrist, the Regatta wears very light and thin. It will easily fit under a cuff.

Its design, while on the dressy and formal side, can be dressed down with a different strap.

The chronograph pushers are my personal favorite type of pusher.  I like them to be easy to access and easy to push. It also alludes to vintage chronographs also plays well with the overall design. 

The small crown is on the small side, but is still easy to access and grip.

The packaging was subtle, but very nice. A leather pouch is always appreciated, as I can use it for watch storage or for travel.

What Could Have Been Better

One of the few things I found lacking in the Regatta was the lack of more lume.  Many brands, I believe, feel lume is often synonymous with sports watches and stray away from them in dressy designs. However, I would once again point to Junghans, who are able to pull off an extremely minimalist design, with small dots of lume at 12, 3, 6, and 9.  This may not seem like much, but it goes a long way in my book.

Conclusion:

From a design standpoint, this is one of the best minimalist chronograph designs I’ve seen out there, and I have seen a lot of them. From a technical specification standpoint, the Regatta provides some great features at its price range.  At under $300, this would be a good add to anyone looking for a quartz minimalist chronograph.

Below is an unboxing video that shows what you get when you buy this piece. You can find more about this watch at Rossling and Co. website.