OCEAN7 has officially announced the LM-PC Pilot Chronograph with immediate availability. A watch that likely needs a nickname, the LM-PC Pilot Chronograph is a 44 x 15 mm automatic chronograph powered by the Swiss ETA 7750. The sandblasted stainless steel case is available in only one finish, a DLC treatment which gives you the look of PVD without all the scratching common to a PVD finish.
This new model will retail for $799 which an excellent value for an ETA 7750 powered and DLC treated chronograph. At this price point the LM-PC will have little to no competition in the automatic chronograph market. For example, an Archimede Pilot Chronograph, which uses the same movement, costs $1375 and does not feature a DLC case treatment. Similarly, the Damasko DC56 Black, a pilots watch powered by the ETA 7750 and featuring a scratch resistant coating, costs some $2100. If you’re willing to forgo the pilot aesthetic and DLC coating, you can get a Christopher Ward C40 Speedhawk for $895 USD, which is great value as a standalone product, but is still $100 more that the LM-PC.
This is very aggressive pricing from OCEAN7 but they don’t appear to have cut any corners in the LM-PC’s build and features. The LM-PC model uses a sapphire crystal on the front and in the display case back and all dial markings are covered in orange Super Luminova paint. Unlike most of the OCEAN7 family, the LM-PC is not a dive watch and is only water resistant to 50m. The LM-PC comes fitted with a black rubber strap (with matching buckle) or buyers can choose from leather options at an additional cost. We will post more photos as they become available but this is definitely a great deal if you have been considering adding an automatic chronograph to your collection.
Watch
James, can you look at the buckle on the rubber strap. I have a O7 watch that _had_ a black buckle. The buckle was PVD’d and quickly scratched/peeled off. I believe this was due to the high polished mature of the SS buckle underneath. Wondered if O7 had gone to the trouble to DLC the buckle too.
James Stacey
As per the product page the buckle is PVD coated, not DLC. I dont actually have the watch in person, it was just announced in the last two days. I hope that helps!
Jon
I wish they made a quartz version of this watch. Very sharp.
Ptsiatas1
Why so they could sell it for $ 40.00 bucks The 7750 movement is used in Breitling Super Avenger costing $ 6000.00 as well as a Graham oversized Fighter costing over $12,000.00 and many other expensive Watches why you want some cheap crap Quartz version is beyond me.
Human
Ocean 7 should bring out a lower cost version with a good quartz movement. I’m in favour of more options since quartz would mean that the watch will be an accurate timekeeper, more durable and hence a more practical daily wearer with the DLC treatment. Why should sharp looking, well built watches be purely in the realm of mechanical movement loving purist snobs is BEYOND ME.
Guest
I’m with jon and Human. Most people don’t have the money to throw at a mechanical watch, while I do admit they are cool. This article sums the issue up the issue succinctly.
http://www.thegatesofdawn.ca/wordpress/posts/2010/02/25/expensive-watches/