Circula SuperSport
Manufacturer: Circula Watches | Price: €587 EUR ($680 USD, £505 GBP)
There seems to be an absolute shit ton of these compressor style dive watches coming in for review recently. A few months ago, the whole craze was a bunch of sports watches that were fitted with integrated bracelets, (much like the superb Direnzo DRZ 04 Mondial). However, that style of watch seems to have subsided lately. This SuperSport Compressor Diver from Circula Watches however, that I have here today, is a little bit different from the rest that have been reviewed, or are due to arrive soon. The main difference being is that this one is a proper Super Compressor, manufactured to become more water tight the deeper you go. The more pressure that’s applied to the caseback, it subsequently presses it against the o-ring gasket, thus creating a tighter seal. Anyway, before I go into too much detail of how this works and start confusing myself, never mind you guys, let’s see if this watch is worth the asking price of just over 500 quid.
Full Specification
- Dimensions: Case – 39.9mm, Thickness – 13.2mm, Lug to Lug – 46.3mm, Lug Width – 20mm
- Movement: Regulated Sellita SW200-1, 28,800vph, 26 Jewels, Hackable, Self Winding, 38hr Power Reserve
- Case: Fully Brushed 316L Stainless Steel
- Bezel: 120 Click Internal Unidirectional, Operated with Crown at 2 o’clock, Fully Lumed
- Dial: Sandwich Construction, Index Hands, Baton Hour Markers, Colour-Matched Date at 6
- Lume: Swiss Super-LumiNova® BGW9 & C3 X1
- Bracelet: Brushed & Polished 316L Stainless Steel, Solid Links, Pin & Collar, Milled Clasp
- Crystal: Domed Sapphire, Multiple Underside Anti-Reflective Coatings
- Water Resistance: 300m / 30ATM / 990ft
- Caseback: Screw Down, Embossed Artwork
- Crown: x2, 6.3mm, Screw Down, Signed, Lumed Logo (Main Crown)
- Weight: 164g (sized up for my 6¾″ wrist)
- Where to Buy: Circula Watches
- Warranty: 2 Years International
Circula Watches
Case & Crown(s)
This Super Compressor case of the Circula SuperSport according to my calipers, has a diameter of 39.9mm when measured from 9 to 3. The lug to lug is 46.3mm and the overall thickness, including the slightly domed sapphire crystal, I measured in at 13.2mm. The mid-case, caseback, fixed external bezel, both crowns and bracelet are all 316L stainless steel. The finish of the case itself is entirely brushed, yet there is a nicely done small polished edge at the base of the external bezel. The SuperSport has a total water resistance rating of 300m, which is quite impressive, when you take into consideration that the watch is only around 13mm thick.
The proportions of the SuperSport are fantastic, although in my opinion wears just a smidge bigger that the 40 x 46mm might suggest. It does wear brilliantly on my wrist and I’ve found it very comfortable indeed. The signed crowns are nicely sized at just over 6mm, the main crown looks great with it’s lumed logo and both are a piece of cake to operate, with tons of grip and there’s no wobble either when the crowns are in use. As you can also see in the image below, we’re also given an embossed caseback, with a diver’s helmet and some wavy lines depicting the sea surrounding it. There’s also the usual basic specs etched around the edge.
Strap / Bracelet
The Circula SuperSport is available with a total of two strap options. As standard, there is a black tropic rubber strap (EPDM), alongside a cost option of a gorgeous 316L stainless steel bracelet. If you pre-order the SuperSport from now up until the 15th October, you will get the bracelet for free! (worth €100). The bracelet itself is a really good one too! H-link in design, with solid links throughout, female endlinks, milled clasp with a shit load of micro-adjustment holes. For sizing etc, we’re given the dreaded but secure pin & collar system. Don’t worry though, the collars are pretty large, and it only took me just over 5 minutes to size up. Measurement wise, the bracelet is 20mm at the lugs, that tapers down to 17.5mm at the slimmest part before heading back up to 20.5mm at the milled clasp.
Movement / Accuracy
The chosen movement for the Circula SuperSport is a regulated, high beat, smooth sweep Sellita SW200-1. This Swiss made movement is self-winding, has 26 jewels and the oscillating weight spins up, giving you up to a pretty decent 38 hour power reserve. The balance runs at 28,800vph ‘4Hz’ and the movement is also hackable. Checking the accuracy on my trusty timegrapher after wearing the SuperSport for around two weeks, I was very impressed with the final results, with the Circula SuperSport coming in at an average of just -1 second per day, with zero beat error. That’s an outstanding result, I’m very happy with that!
Dial, Bezel & Hands
The Circula SuperSport has a nicely manufactured unidirectional internal bezel, that is operated by the crown at 2 o’clock. The printed text on the dial are the words SUPERSPORT finished in yellow, with the water resistance of 300M/1000FT printed directly below, The CIRCULA logo (all in caps) is at the usual spot of just below the double batons at 12 o’clock. As you can also clearly see in the images, the dial itself is of a sandwich construction, with the lumed disk underneath leaving the baton cut-outs for the hour markers. Inbetween the pinion and hour markers are small cut outs with yellow accents, although it doesn’t add anything to the functionality, it’s just a lovely contrasting design feature. Taking everything into account, it all adds up to a relatively unique, yet beautifully designed dial.
Another huge tick from me, is the perfectly executed date complication that matches the dial perfectly. Next up are the hour and minute hands that are actually very nicely executed, with their proportionate and lovely, segmented index design. The lumed & long tip of the seconds hand is also rather nice, with the actual tip of the hand reaching right out to the edge of the printed minute track. No complaints from me regarding this dial, Surprisingly, I also love this ‘petrol’ colourway. Oh yeah, in case you haven’t noticed, MADE IN GERMANY is also printed in small caps, that flanks the small hour marker at 6 o’clock, just below the date.
Lume
The lume on the Circula SuperSport is fuckin’ outstanding and one of my favourite features of the watch. The lume itself is applied to the hour & minute hands, the internal bezel, as well as the long tip of the seconds hand. The lume is extremely bright and even although it does fade over time, it’s still very legible during the wee small hours. The actual formula that has been used here is a combination of both Swiss Super-LumiNova® BGW9 & C3 X1 Grade. BGW9 is applied on the crown & internal bezel from the 25 marker though to 55. C3 X1 Grade is used everywhere else, the dial, hands and again on the bezel from 0 through to 20.
Conclusion
I know some of you are going to ask me this, so I’ll answer it here… The SuperSport from Circula or the Maelstrom from Mitch Mason? Well to answer that peeps, I can honestly say you should try and get both! Granted, they’re both compressor divers, but they are different enough in design to justify owning both. Yes, I have backed the Mitch Mason Maelstrom earlier today, but let me tell you, Circula Watches are definitely going to have a fight on their hands to get this one back! I absolutely love this watch. To make matters even worse for you guys that can’t decide between the two… yep, this Circula SuperSport will most certainly be added to the Compressor Dive Watch section of Zaltek Reviews Elite List. Can’t afford both? Do more overtime, sell a kidney or stick one of your kids on eBay!
