Second Hour Sattelberg

"Introducing the Sattelberg: our new, ultra slim field watch. It’s not often that we post about a new watch, and with everything that goes into running a microbrand it’s not often we have time. But today is a special occasion; there’s a new watch coming and it’s not only one we’re extremely proud of, but it’s also one that’s already generating major excitement among those close to the brand and in the watch media. The Sattelberg field watch is coming and we’d like to tell you all about it. When we set out to design our first field watch our guiding principles were ensuring it brought something new to the genre, and imbuing the the design with that distinctly Second Hour look.

For us that meant being able to both modernise the style and pay respect to the rich history that has seen field watches a staple for much of the last 100 years. The Sattelberg is named after Sattelberg in the Huon Peninsula, New Guinea. Not much more than a large hill at 896 metres, Sattelberg was a pivotal campaign in which Australian troops played a critical role, helping to turn the tide in the Pacific theatre. However, it is historical memory, rather than celebration of war, that makes Sattelberg so import to us here at Second Hour. So, through our research, we have harnessed that memory to honour instead the Australian spirit of tenacity and courage in the face of great adversity that was characteristic of those who saw that time. A nod to this rugged location can be seen in the longitude and latitude coordinates for Sattelberg etched into the simple case back.

The Sattelberg case engineering was a major challenge for us. We wanted to retain the same profile shape as the Mandala, reduce the overall thickness while maintaining a solid 100 metres of water resistance. After numerous tweaks and tests we are thrilled to have achieved our goal of a sub 10mm case thickness. At a class leading 9.8mm, including the sapphire crystal, the Sattelberg can truly boast being versatile enough to slide under any cuff. To enhance the dressy feel of the watch we have created an elegant lug curve from the top elevation and extended the lug to lug to 47mm. Featuring four dial colours: Service Blues, Officer, Gun Smoke and The Beacon (our first full lume dial), there is an option for all tastes.

The stunning brushed effect of the Gun Smoke and Service Blues dials will impress with their light changing beauty, and the classic black of the Officer provides a less playful, more formal look. As with every watch we make, it is perfectly complimented by our in-house designed diamond cut hands that offer precise lines and crisply finished edges. Each hand has generously applied Swiss SuperLuminova BGW9 for readability in low light conditions. Every Sattelberg is treated with our class leading surface hardening system that raises the case hardness value to 1200 Vickers.

The Beacon - full lume dial - is coated in genuine DLC. Beating within is the Miyota 9015 automatic movement, which not only allows us to achieve such a slim profile but has the added reliability and accuracy you can expect from a premium, Japanese Made movement. We scoured the world to find a strap worthy of the Sattelberg, testing many suppliers along the way. The canvas straps we've selected are produced by a small batch artisan maker to the highest standards and feature branded hardware, leather backing and oil sealed edges for superior comfort and durability. We know you’ll agree they compliment the Sattelberg’s characteristics perfectly.

An additional, custom made, two piece stretch fabric strap has been developed and is being tested for inclusion with every watch. Stay tuned as we hope to reveal them very soon. Manufacturing is set to begin in the next couple of weeks and pre-order dates will be announced very soon. Expect a short pre-order followed by delivery soon after. Reviews will be published to our website and sent via our newsletter as they emerge. Pricing is currently expected to be $465 USD - shipped with our robust zip up travel case and the extra stretch fabric strap. A launch discount will apply to pre-orders placed in the first two weeks. We look forward to welcoming everyone to the launch of this very special watch and encourage you to subscribe to our newsletter (sign up via our home page) to avoid disappointment."