Fergus Nash
Having previously owned two vintage watches with Landeron movements, I have always believed that the Landeron movement was the unsung hero of the Swiss chronograph world. One of the watches I owned was a rotary dating back to 1937, the Landeron 47, which still works perfectly and intuitively. Mellow has made my dream come true by releasing these limited edition watches. With an improved Landeron 248 movement in a bicompax package, the Mellow Antigua is the ultimate choice for vintage lovers of yacht style.
motion
Normally, I would start by analyzing the Mellow Antigua case, but I can’t help but get excited about the movement. Founded in 1873 in the Swiss town of Le Landeron in the canton of Neuchâtel, the company grew into a very important manufacturer of watches and movements by the 1920s. The Landeron 47 was the first cam-actuated chronograph caliber and, after a short run in 1937, was succeeded by the Landeron 48, which revolutionized the Swiss chronograph industry. Before that, column-wheel chronographs were much more expensive to produce and were reserved for wealthy clients only. Between 1937 and 1970, the Landeron 48 and its variations were used by brands such as Heuer, Breitling, Baume & Mercier, and Doxa.
The movement used in the Mellow Antigua is an all new Landeron 248 caliber, nearly identical to the 48. It has been meticulously overhauled to remove any signs of aging and maintained with modern lubricants, ensuring an even longer life than Landeron would have imagined in 1937. You can see the clever layout of the movement through the display case back, as well as the Mellow logo engraved on the bridge. It runs at an unorthodox frequency of 18,000 vibrations per hour and has a power reserve of around 41 hours. It is manually wound, with a screw-down crown out of the way, giving you the full vintage experience. The chronograph is started with the top pusher as usual, but the bottom pusher is used to stop and reset the hands. These movements were once very common, but have long been out of production, so sourcing replacement parts will take a while. The closer you are to Switzerland, the easier it will be to repair, but generally speaking parts are still plentiful.
Incident
The Mellow Antigua borrows from the 1960s case shape and appropriate details for its exterior styling. The brushed surface of the lugs emphasizes the sporty feel, while the high-polished bevels across the lug tips add a touch of sophistication. The sides of the case are also brushed, and the perforated lugs allow for easy strap changes. The bezel is polished and features a stunning sapphire insert in a bakelite-like style. It also features gold markers and numerals done in a funky mid-century typeface.
Dimensionally speaking, the Mellow Antigua has been tastefully upsized from vintage precision to something both physically and aesthetically pleasing. The case is 39mm in diameter, the bezel spans 40mm, and the lug-to-lug length is 48.6mm. Considering it uses a manual-winding movement, it’s a relatively thick watch at 13.6mm, but it suits the style of the watch and is also water resistant to 100m.
Dial
Named after the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta in the Caribbean, the Mellow Antigua perfectly represents the blend of carefreeness and technical perfection that accompanies the yachting lifestyle. The two dial colours are both captivating and named “Miho Black” and “Soft Sand” respectively. The compass-inspired double-sided seconds hand is located at the 9 o’clock position, while the chronograph minute counter features a “big eye” style guilloche subdial at the 3 o’clock position.
The orange and pastel blue colors really stand out against their respective black and silver surroundings, and the orange chronograph seconds hand and parchment-colored lume give the whole thing a beautiful warmth. The minute track is nicely printed with crisp markings below the tachymeter, and the silver hour markers glow in the light. Thanks to Swiss Super-LumiNova, this watch looks just as impressive in the dark.
strap
By default, the Mellow Antigua comes fitted with a gorgeous leather strap made by Morecan, the same Belgian brand as Mellow. The top-grain, buffed nubuck leather is a golden honey colour on the Soft Sand dial, while the Miho Black version is closer to tan mocha. Each watch also comes with a tropical rubber strap in either green or black. If neither option appeals to you, Mellow also makes a vintage rivet-style steel bracelet for an additional €125, and the 20mm lug width means a variety of aftermarket options are available.
Mellow Antigua rates and availability:
Each Mellow Antigua colour variant is limited to 100 pieces, for a total of 200. They are currently available for pre-order via their website here , with deliveries expected in September 2023. Price: €1,750 / USD1,910 / AUD2,763
Brand Mellow Model Antigua Case size 39mm (40mm bezel) x 48.6mm x 13.6mm Case material Stainless steel Water resistance 100m Crystal Sapphire Dial Miho Black, soft sand Lug width 20mm Strap Molequin leather and rubber Tropic Movement Landeron 248 Power reserve 41 hours Availability Limited to 100 pieces per colour, available to pre-order now Price €1,750 / US$1,910 / AU$2,763
