Romaric Andre, aka Seconde/Seconde/, is a busy man these days. I barely recovered from the Christopher Ward desk diver, but now he’s back with a collaboration with Spinnaker. This shows that the often snobbish world of watches is looking for some light-hearted fun. Well, today I’m going to give you some lighthearted fun. This is the new Spinnaker Fleuss 40 Automatic Seconde/Seconde/ 2024 Edition for Halloween. If this sounds familiar, you’re onto something. The two brands previously collaborated on Halloween, giving the world 50 spooky phantoms. We’re back with two new products this Halloween!
Spinnaker is releasing batches of 888 pieces of each variant for order today. Of these 1,776 watches, 1,000 will be sold through Spinnaker’s website, with the remainder going to retailers. However, if demand exceeds supply, Spinnaker will make a second batch available for pre-order. Each watch is stamped to indicate which batch it was produced from. Each watch in the first batch will also have a unique “xxx/888” engraving. The second batch is scheduled for April 2025. I applaud Spinnaker for this. Because we offer something special to our early backers while not restricting others from using it.
spinnaker fruit 40 automatic
Before we get into Seconde/Seconde/’s clever shenanigans, let’s quickly summarize the Fleuss 40 automatic. As the name suggests, this is a 40mm model as opposed to last year’s 43mm version. It doesn’t take a trained eye to see where this watch draws its inspiration from. Let’s just say they didn’t nickname it “50 Phantoms” for nothing. Incidentally, the official name comes from the influential diver and diving engineer Henry Albert Fruth.
The steel case has a diameter of 40mm, a lug-to-lug width of 47mm, and a thickness of 11mm (excluding the raised crystal). If you think the proportions are quite attractive for a diver, you’re right. Spinnaker is rated for 150 meters of water resistance. It has everything you could want in terms of specs, including sapphire crystals on the front and back, a screw-down crown, and a 120-click unidirectional rotating bezel.
Inside is the Miyota 9039 caliber, which in my opinion is the best available in this segment. It has the typical noisy rotor wobble but otherwise runs well. The caliber operates at 28,800 vph and has an official accuracy of -10/+30 seconds per day. It also has a 42-hour power reserve. The Spinnaker includes a purple leather strap and a purple Tropic style rubber strap. A Ghostface cap completes the package.
50 Phantoms Second/Second/Treatment
Spinnaker and Seconde/Seconde/ are offering two versions of the Fleuss 40 automatic this Halloween. The first, the Phantom Classic, is almost identical to last year’s model, with the addition of 50 white luminescent ghosts on the dial. But this time, the luminous hour markers are pumpkin orange, while the bezel insert and strap are purple. Notice the words “2m / 6ft” on the dial. No, this is not a water resistance rating, but rather a clever reference to grave depth.
The second model (which I didn’t have in the office) also mentions important brands that I don’t mention. This is the No Apparitions version and features a ghost cross above the 6 o’clock index. For those unfamiliar, this refers to the original Fifty Fathoms anti-radiation dial. Since ghost apparitions are not allowed, they escaped onto the bezel and replaced the minute markers. Of course, there are still 50 pieces left. The orange lume of other models is replaced here by a yellow lume.
Both models also feature a small Easter egg in the shape of a “Boo!” Engraved and invisible date on the buckle. The latter is a witty jab at the ever-critical watch community. This is a no-date diver’s watch until you turn off the lights. A normally hidden date window will pop up at 4:30. Of course, this is what is depicted on the dial and does not actually work. Call it a “ghost date” if you like.
So, what are the 50 Phantom Fluids actually like?
I had a chance to try the Phantom Classic version and had mixed results. The Spinnaker Fruce 40 Automatic itself is a tremendous value for money watch. If you’re looking to maximize your specs and minimize your spending, this is for you. It has everything you need from a technical point of view. And while it’s a little rough in places, it’s better than you’d expect for a price tag of about $445.
Objectively, I can only say that this is a good product. They are comfortable to wear and have great value. But subjectively, this is not for me. That ticks a few boxes on my no-no list. I don’t like homage watches, funny watches, or purple watches. I love the small, nifty changes that Seconde/Seconde/ often makes. Take, for example, the rotating record second hand of his vintage Datejust. On the other hand, this is a thoroughly enjoyable watch. To me, they’re like little joke T-shirts. I don’t wear them.
However, it is important to distinguish between objectivity and subjectivity here. Let’s say you love Halloween and you and your kids decorate your house every year. I would like to take this opportunity to get a fun watch at an affordable price. Honestly, you can’t go wrong choosing these. Kids will love the crazy night lights too!
What do you think about the Spinnaker Fleuss Automatic Seconde/Seconde/ 2024 edition? Let us know in the comments section below.
