Praesidus is one of the brands that I instantly fell in love with. We focus on showcasing vintage-inspired military watches with unique stories. This brand has a talent for finding noteworthy military stories and using them as inspiration for their watches. The latest addition to the ever-growing lineup is the Praecidas Type H-75 Chronograph. The historical inspiration for this watch was the Leonidas chronograph issued to Italian military helicopter pilots in the 1960s and 70s. Praesidus is a modern interpretation of the classic military chronograph with updated specs and a mechaquartz caliber. It’s finally time for the test flight.
One look at the new Praecidas Type H-75 Chronograph and a series of classic chronograph references come to mind. However, this watch is based on the Leonidas CP-1 chronograph created for the Italian Air Force in the mid-1960s and later issued into the 1970s. The original watches are very popular among fans of military watches and classic chronographs. Praesidus aims to revive the look of the Leonidas CP-1 while making it more affordable.
Praecidas Type H-75 Chronograph Details
I was lucky enough to acquire two Type H-75 chronographs. They are the same except the straps are different. But it gave us a great opportunity to see the difference in presence. But before we talk about the strap, let’s talk about the specs first. Type H-75 features a 38mm stainless steel case with a thickness of 11.5mm, a lug-to-lug length of 45.5mm, and a water resistance depth of 100m. It also features a unidirectional stainless steel bezel with a black aluminum 60-minute timing insert.
On the right side of the case are two pump pushers and a large crown. The oversized crown and pushers were originally created to allow military pilots to operate the watch while wearing gloves. Due to its generous size, it was easy to hold and use. Indeed, in today’s watch landscape, no watch is too big. But let’s put things in the correct context of the 60’s and 70’s rather than the ordinary ones of today.
The angular lugs have a clever combination of polished and brushed areas, contrasting with the fully brushed case. I love how the designers added some visual touches to liven up the atmosphere a bit.
Distinctive dial following Leonidas CP-1
Paired with the case is a black textured dial that we have previously seen on Praecidas. The original dial of the Leonidas CP-1 Chronograph did not have such a pronounced texture, but this adds depth. Additionally, the two slightly recessed subdials feature an azurage finish and contrasting details.
The 24-hour counter at 3 o’clock is linked to the central hour hand and essentially functions as an AM/PM indicator. The subdial at 9 o’clock is a 60-minute chronograph counter. Additionally, the dial features large Arabic numerals to indicate the hours, and a minute track is located around the outer periphery of the dial.
The watch’s handset is modeled after the original Leonidas one, with double-tapered pencil hands for the hours and minutes and a central chronograph seconds hand with an arrow tip. What is noteworthy is its luminous color. The slightly raised Arabic numerals on the dial are decorated with light green luminescence, while the hands are decorated with vintage-inspired yellow luminescence. Both glow green in the dark, making it easy to read the time.
We are used to seeing sometimes two different lume colors on the original Leonidas chronograph. However, the contrast in this new version of Praesidus is quite stark. It reminds me of Glashütte Original SeaQ 1969, which I wrote about 5 years ago. Finally, while the original Leonidas CP-1 chronograph had white hands, Praecidas opted for brushed steel hands. There’s probably a reason for that, but it’s another detail that makes the Type H-75 a little different.
Seiko Instruments VK64 Mechaquartz Chronograph Caliber
Hidden behind a steel screw-down caseback, the Praecidus uses a VK64 mechanical quartz chronograph movement to power the watch. Most people know that mechaquartz calibers use a quartz-based movement for basic timekeeping functions and a mechanical module to control the chronograph. As a result, the chronograph second hand will move significantly when the chronograph is activated.
The nominal accuracy of the movement is within ±20 seconds per month. Additionally, the battery life under normal use is approximately 3 years. This movement is found in many affordable chronographs, and the Type H-75 fits the bill perfectly. Priced at $245, the new Praesidus is certainly very affordable and we have nothing but praise for it.
Wearing the Praecidus Type H-75 Chronograph
I loved the Praesidues Type H-75 Chronograph on my wrist. The 38mm case is perfect for wrists of various sizes and fits perfectly on my 18.5cm wrist. As mentioned earlier, there were two watches with different 18mm straps. The first had a light gray canvas strap and the second had a brown leather strap. First of all, regarding the latter, the brown leather strap is flexible considering its thickness, yet feels good to the touch and is durable. The appearance matches the watch well and gives it a vintage pilot feel.
The strap is quite long so you will need to use a second keeper to control the end of the strap. Also, since the strap is thick, it takes some force to remove the pin from the hole when removing the watch. This is not the most practical solution, especially if you want to take the watch off quickly. That said, the quality is definitely great.
Brown leather strap over gray canvas strap
Aesthetically, the gray canvas strap with leather lining is my favorite, but it takes some getting used to. Plus, it’s very long. If you combine these two with a wide keeper, the end of the strap will stick out somehow. That’s why I would choose the brown leather strap over this gray canvas strap, or the black canvas strap to complete the three options. However, once on your wrist, the watch feels well made for such an affordable watch. You can tell that Praesidus takes great pride in creating wonderfully detailed watches.
Additionally, the chronograph is easy to use thanks to well-sized pushers that allow you to start, stop, and reset the chronograph with a firm click. Another thing to get used to is the lack of a small seconds subdial. Therefore, it is a watch that does not seem to have a long lifespan at first glance. Of course, the central hour and minute hands move, but there are no readily discernible running indicators like most watches have.
Final thoughts on the Praecidas Type H-75 Chronograph
At $245, the Praecidas Type H-75 Chronograph is an incredible value. This watch follows the legendary military chronograph, and fans of the original Leonidas CP-1 who don’t want to spend €10,000 on a vintage original now have the chance to purchase a fun and affordable alternative. You can If you’re a fan of the famous Type 20 chronograph and are looking for an affordable option, you might also be interested in this new Type H-75.
While this isn’t my favorite Praecidas model (that title still goes to the Dirty Dozen-inspired DD-45), it’s still a nice rendition of the classic military watch. I had a lot of fun wearing both options for a few days between heavy hitters. In the meantime, this ultra-affordable H-75 chronograph may not have the high-end caliber or great finish of other watches on my wrist, but it beats them in terms of fun and looks. I’m glad you came to the conclusion that they are comparable. Add to the story of the watch and we can’t help but admire Praesidus for another great release.
For more information, please visit the brand’s official website. Let us know what you think about this new Praecidus H-75 Chronograph in the comments section.
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