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With the Atlantic Worldmaster Manufacture Calibre Limited Edition, there is once again a special watch for lovers of the Swiss brand. New is the specially developed manufacture caliber with manual winding. Whether this is reason enough to buy the watch, I want to clarify in this post. In advance – I have rarely seen such a price-performance ratio!
A very special Worldmaster
The watches called Worldmaster are the core of the Swiss premium brand Atlantic Watches. The collection is known for its versatile range of men’s watches in different sizes, price categories and types. Those who know Atlantic a little better understand that you can definitely rely on two things. First, the traditional Swiss brand releases limited editions with reliable regularity. Second, it’s always worth taking a closer look.
Autumn 2022: another limited-edition novelty is on the horizon. But it’s not just a new color this time that the Worldmaster Limited Edition with reference number 52952.46.63R is equipped with. At the heart of the black and gold men’s watch is the new Atlantic manufacture movement ATL-1, which the watch company says was developed according to “the highest standards of watchmaking tradition.” I’ll find out what the new caliber can really do in this watch review.
What else distinguishes a limited edition? That’s right, the special color. At least on the first photos, the Atlantic Worldmaster Manufacture Calibre Limited Edition makes a promising impression. The dial and case of the pilot watch are kept in black. Accents are set by the gold tones of the indices and hands. The back offers a surprise. But more about that later. And what would the Limited Edition be without a limitation? There are only 188 pieces of the latest Worldmaster. No, the number was not chosen arbitrarily. It stands for the founding year of Atlantic, 1888.
The Worldmaster Limited Edition on the wrist
42 millimeters in diameter is a measurement that looks good on any gentleman’s wrist. To the naked eye, I think the watch even looks a bit larger, perhaps due to the narrow bezel. At just 11.90 millimeters thick, the Atlantic Worldmaster Manufacture Calibre Limited Edition remains pleasantly slim and sporty.
What stands out are the strong borrowings from the design of classic pilot watches, even though I wouldn’t directly call the reference 52952.46.63R one. The pilot’s watch look fits always and everywhere, as long as it is implemented as successfully as here. The new Worldmaster goes very well with shirts, jackets, but also wool sweaters and polo shirts. There are no limits. This flexibility is always important to me.
The case of the Atlantic Worldmaster Manufacture Calibre Limited Edition
The circular case has a classic look and makes a very puristic impression on me. It curves into the lugs. The bezel and watch glass protrude very discreetly above the center of the case. Atlantic relies on proven stainless steel. However, this is covered with the characteristic black PVD coating – a sign that we are dealing with a limited edition here. The abbreviation PVD stands for Physical Vapor Deposition. The coating created by this process ensures excellent protection against corrosion. So, you can be sure to wear an extremely durable watch on your wrist that will still look good decades from now if used carefully.
Atlantic Watches has done a first-class job on the case finish. All surfaces are polished, which takes away some of the pilot watch’s visual functionality. However, it should be clear to everyone: this watch was not designed to pass missions as a pilot’s watch. The fact that the new Atlantic Worldmaster Manufacture Calibre Limited Edition still has characteristics of a pilot’s watch is very pleasing. For example, there is the double-curved sapphire crystal. This has an anti-reflective coating on the top and bottom. The anti-reflective coating noticeably improves readability and gives the wearer the feeling to touch the dial directly.
Atlantic certifies that its black case is water resistant up to 5 bar. Theoretically, this value is sufficient to dive 50 meters with the watch. However, I would advise against that. Water splashes are nevertheless harmless.
You can see that the black Worldmaster is limited on the side of the case. Opposite the crown, Atlantic has attached a screw-down nameplate, on which the number of the limited edition has been engraved. Our test model today bears the number 039 of 188.
Constructed in-house: the new ATL-1
Usually, the front is the chocolate side of a watch. In the case of the Atlantic Worldmaster Manufacture Calibre Limited Edition, this is not true. Not because the dial is ugly, quite the contrary. But it is the caseback that I continue to find fascinating. Often, watch manufacturers build a small viewing window into the caseback to be able to look at the mechanical movement. They did that here, too. However, it’s as radical as I’ve rarely seen before, especially not in this price range. From the screwed caseback itself, only a thin rim remains. It frames a round viewing window, through which the complete movement can be admired in all its beauty. That Atlantic is proud of its new in-house construction is more than obvious.
The ATL-1 is a mechanical movement with traditional manual winding, which is already recognizable by the missing rotor. So, the Atlantic Worldmaster Manufacture Calibre Limited Edition has to be rewound regularly. However, this is not a shortcoming, but a procedure that already comes close to a ritual for my favorite watches. The manual winding and the transparent case back contribute to my feeling to appreciate the timeless watchmaking art again more. The power reserve is 53 hours, the frequency 21,600 vibrations per hour. Via the fluted crown, the movement can be quickly wound (position 1) and the time can be set very easily (position 2).
The fact that Atlantic uses a manufacture caliber in a price range of less than 2,000 Swiss francs is highly unusual and remarkable. With the good performance on top, the watch currently occupies a truly special position.
As if made for pilots: Dial and bracelet
As befits a pilot’s watch (or one that takes up the aviator theme), functionality is at the heart of a successful design. Let’s note: the dial design of the Atlantic Worldmaster Manufacture Calibre Limited Edition is very successful because it is optimally readable. The Arabic numerals are large in size, and the hands are relatively wide. Since the numerals and hands are coated with Swiss Super-LumiNova, they can be read even in complete darkness or in dim lighting conditions.
At 6 o’clock, Atlantic surprises us with a small second. It is necessary because a central second is missing. Second and minute/hour can be read better separated from each other.
The designation ‘Premium’ also means that the equipment leaves nothing to be desired. In addition to the Atlantic Worldmaster Manufacture Calibre Limited Edition, there are two bracelets in the box. While both are made of traditional calfskin, they leave open the possibility of choosing different colors. My personal favorite is the beige-green vintage leather strap with contrast stitching. In this way, the Atlantic Worldmaster Manufacture Calibre Limited Edition reminds me a lot of the legendary soldiers’ pilot watches from the early 20th century.
For the “all-black” look, on the other hand, a black leather strap is available. It is adjusted with a deployment clasp. I find the pin buckle of the green leather strap more practical, though. Both straps are equipped with a quick-release clasp, so that changing the strap can be done quickly.
My conclusion about the Atlantic Worldmaster Manufacture Calibre Limited Edition
Whether Atlantic fans should also reach for the special model in 2022 and expand their collection? This question can be answered with a ‘yes’. As we all know, looks are always a matter of taste. But the Atlantic Worldmaster Manufacture Calibre Limited Edition meets mine completely. It has a timeless look, picks up the classic elements of pilot watches, but still looks much fresher than other pilot watches in the Worldmaster collection. The color combination of black and gold contributes significantly to this.
However, the highlight is without question the new manufacture caliber ATL-1, with which Atlantic takes a big step forward. The presentation through the glass caseback is already iconic.
Atlantic’s new men’s watch with the reference number 52952.46.63R currently costs CHF 1,825.00. However, considering the good quality and the newly developed movement, this price is more than justified. I would even go so far and speak of an absolute top price. Wristwatches with such a good manufacture caliber at a price of less than 2,000.00 Swiss francs are currently not available on the market.
More about the Atlantic Worldmaster Manufacture Calibre Limited Edition
Here you can find the watch in the store
The Worldmaster collection at a glance
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