My last two posts covered the agony and ecstasy of co-branded watches (Co-Branded Watches – What’s The Point? and Breitling Bentley Partnership RIP). Mostly agony. So it makes perfect sense that I’m reviewing a Ducati-branded watch (/sarc). As you can see, the Locman Italy Herrenuhr Ducati is a time-only timepiece with a motorcycle mojo. There’s a lot to like about this watch, especially if you’re into ICE . . .
An internal combustion engine (ICE) is powered by what goes on inside its holes (cylinders). That’s where the suck, bang, blow thing happens. The dissected Ducati V4 Granturismo engine above displays the holy engine block [sic] at the top, above the big round bits (cylinder heads) that go up and down to make the bike go like Hell.
There are a lot of circular bits inside a traditional motorcycle engine. To evoke the bike’s powerplant, the Locman Italy Herrenuhr Ducati has a lot of holes. They perforate the rubber strap, the side of the lugs, the bottom of the hour and minute hands and the end of the second hand.
The design is hardly Ducati specific. Still, helmets off to Locman for creating an interesting, aesthetically consistent watch. Special credit for placing the non-functional strap holes off center, balanced against each other on opposite sides.
Do the holes make the Locman Italy Herrenuhr Ducati’s thick rubber strap “breathe” better, as they supposedly do for leather “rally” watch bands? (No commission on link.) Not that I noticed. I reckon it’s the motorsports thought that counts.
The Locman’s dial also deserves plaudits for the way it incorporates the Ducai logo. Instead of billboarding the connection between the Italian watchmaker and Italian motorcycle manufacturer, Locman positions the Ducati shield above the 6, and sizes it identically.
In no way does the Ducati shield detract from the watch’s legibility, while serving as a reminder that its wearer either owns a Duck or wishes he/she did. And who doesn’t love the engraved, monochromatic Ducati logo on the crown – other than non-bikers and owners of any other motorcycle brand?
The size difference between the 6, 9 and 12 indices and the rest of the blocky numerals combine with the large hands’ simplicity and differentiation (two holes for the minute hand, one for the hour hand) to render the Locman Italy Herrenuhr Ducati an easy reader.
The indices on the raised rehaut – counting up in five minute increments – enhance the effect. While I wouldn’t recommend reading a watch while riding, the double-digit five-minute markers enable an at-a-glance estimation of elapsed minutes. And what tachometer-loving motorcyclist doesn’t appreciate the red dashes between the 12, 1, 2 and 3?
It would be really cool if the dashes were painted with tachometer-appropriate SuperLuminova. Alas, the Swiss paint maker’s palette doesn’t include red, and I don’t think Locman’s target demographic likes to think pink.
The hour and minute hands burn bright with thick, white, triangular luminosity – and that’s your lot, mate. They deliver a pretty a general idea of the time in the dark, but so does a full moon and it stays lit a lot longer.
The Locman Italy Herrenuhr Ducati is powered by an unnamed quartz movement; the website doesn’t make any accuracy claims. On the positive side, the Locman’s engine offers hacking seconds.
As best I can tell, it’s accurate to +2 seconds per day. On dry land. With a 50m water resistance rating, the Duck-branded watch is about as water-sports compatible as a laminated paper hat.
I’ve worn the Locman Italy Herrenuhr Ducati whilst caning a Ducati Multistrada V4S for some weeks now, running the bike up to double the double-nickel without the slightest care about durability (for the watch). The timepiece is picking up plenty of good vibrations without succumbing to movement-killing excitations.
The 316L steel-cased Locman presents a shiny polished ring on the top, satin finish everywhere else (including the buckle). The 42mm timepiece offers reassuring size and heft, weighing-in at 3.1 ounces.
So it’s a steel-bodied XL quartz watch that doesn’t feel like a cheap Chinese flyweight – a characterization that applies to more than a few Timex I could name.
That said, a Timex doesn’t cost $350. The American-owned Chinese watchmaker only sells four watches above that price point. I mean, watch models. I think. None of them sport a Ducati logo. How much is that worth? Whatever someone’s willing to pay, obviously. If I were a Ducati-owning watch collector, I’d pay the freight.
Which I am. Which I did. Not because I want to signal strangers that I own a Ducati. Because the Locman Italy Herrenuhr Ducati is a solid, right-sized quartz watch with plenty of panache, even without the logo. The gentle reminder that I’ve finally made it into the Ducati owners’ club is a bonus.
Model: Locman Italy Herrenuhr Ducati
Price: €299.00/$352
SPECIFICATIONS:
Case: 316L stainless steel
Diameter: 42mm
Weight: 3.1 ounces
Bracelet: Rubber, pin & buckle
Case back: Sealed
Dial color: Black
Crystal: Mineral glass with sapphire coating
Movement: Unidentified
Water resistance: 50m
RATINGS (out of five stars):
Design * * * * *
A co-branded watch that both does and doesn’t make a big deal of the partnership. Well-judged details on a cylindrical theme set it apart.
Legibility * * * *
Sensible size, font and layout make for a highly legible timekeeper. Big lume on the hour and minute hands. Star deducted for lack of luminous indices.
Comfort * * * * *
Not too heavy, not too light. Plenty of adjustability holes. Rubber fetishists need apply.
Overall * * * * *
If you’re a Ducati owner, here’s your horological jam.
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Besides the licensing whore that is Harley-Davidson, it seems to be the Euro-duo of Triumph and Ducati that put out branded watches. The bulk of them that I’ve seen are lackluster fashion watch variants but a few try harder and get a real motif going. Often that risks going too far to the bold side to be practical. This hits the sweet spot.
The tapering circular holes magically denote motorsport without me really knowing why. I want to say I’ve seen muffler hangers or footpeg brackets with that shape but I’m not really sure. There seem to be some Scrambler mufflers with holey heat shields, but they seem to be aftermarket.
I would complain about the omission of the slang term Ducatisti for the desmo jockies but, like “cognoscenti” I don’t know what the singular form is.
The co-opting of the 15 minute dive time gradation to signify analog engine redline display is subtle but effective. The position, even the number 12, is not jarringly incorrect, in general.
What a beautifully rendered piece if it had no date window at 3.
Being an avid motorcycle rider, I actually do check the watch while riding if I’m wearing shorter gloves. I’ve also had five (5) Ducatis, so I guess I could theoretically be the target audience for this kind of watch.
What strikes me first is the poor legibility. If I check the time on my wrist instead of the built-in clock in the bike, I want to be able to read the time in an instant as I want to keep the eyes on the road and traffic. I normally wear a racing or pilot chrono when I ride, and despite the subdials, I think they’re more legible than this piece.
Next, I find the design and choice of movement particularly boring. Okay, it’s a $300 quartz watch and not the over-priced co-branded stuff we see elsewhere. But imagine this being a mechanical watch with a more subtle Ducati connection (not the logo shield simply stamped on the dial), it could have been a potential collectible. This appears (to me) as a cheap give-away/free-bee watch you’d give a supplier or customer at a trade show.
Harsh.
LOL. With the right filter on, you’re overdoing it a bit in terms of the choice of words that could be interpreted quite differently in a gay context. ROFLOL. Next time, try putting in /s at the end. Then again, people might nit get it …