Alain Silberstein Bolido

Review by Ludwig

Summary

• The Hunt:

  Why did I buy this watch? A fair question. The simple answer is that I have no earthly idea what came over me, or rational excuse for buying this watch. I suspect that aliens from outer space had something to do with it...

  I first came across this critter last year, when I was on my quest for Really Large Watches. You know - things like the Panerai Luminor Marina, the IWC Jubilee Portugueser, the Minerva Anniversary, and the Eberhard Traversetolo. I was talking with Richard Paige of Paris1925 on the phone about my search, when he said "I've got just the thing tucked away in back - a Silberstein Bolido." I laughed, knowing that this watch was essentially an overpriced Swatch for the W.I.S. set. Besides, I already had the Ikepod Seaslug - what use did I have for another zany watch?

  But the thought of the Bolido kept growing on me. Every time I saw a picture, I thought: "Ugh, that is one truly ugly watch. But, it's sort of cool, too..."

  Eventually, when my Luminor started feeling like a mid-sized watch to me, I called Richard Paige up on a lark, and asked him if he still had that Bolido. He did, and offered to send it down to me for me to take a look at, to see if I liked it.

  When it showed up, I hated it. I generally like much more refined, or at least classic-looking watches. Usually watches with something significantly interesting (horolgically, design-wise, or history-wise) about them. This Silberstein seemed just a gratuitiously-huge monster, with an over-the-top, garish aesthetic.

  Over the next week, though, it must have emitted some sort of cosmic rays which damaged my brain. I started looking at Robert Venturi architecture books. Eichler homes. Tea kettles by Michael Graves. All sorts of overly-ironic postmodern kitsch, the sorts of things I normally despise. My Ikepod Seaslug even started looking a bit pedestrian to me. Soon, I became a convert to the Silberstein way.

  Come, join us...

  
  
• Am I still happy?

  I don't know if "happy" is the correct word to use in this context. "Loony"? Yes.

  
  
• Would I buy it again?

  Yes, though don't try this at home... Unless you are fearless, stick to your JLCs, Rolexes, Langes, and Panerais... It takes a serious amount of personal self-confidence and attitude to wear this watch in public successfully. If you have doubts, don't do it. You'll also find that you need a very strong left arm - it weighs a ton! If you don't have regular access to steroids, you may wish to wear this on a strap, instead of the bracelet.

  I can't wait to wear it to the next TimeZone dinner :-)

Specifications

• Movement:
  I believe that the movement is an ETA 2892-A2, with power reserve complication. It is a 28,800 bph autowinding movement, XXmm in diameter, Xmm high. It has XX jewels, and XX parts. Gold, drilled, ball bearing central rotor. Perlage on plates and rotor. C.O.S.C. certified chronometer. Picture and more movement data upcoming.
  
  
• Functions:
  • Hours, minutes, center sweep second "hand"
  • Date in window at 12 o'clock
  • Power reserve on partial subdial at 6 o'clock, with red hand.
  
  
• Case:
  Rectangular/wing-shaped/"streamlined" stainless steel case, 316L SS. Length 48mm, width 35.5mm, depth 13.5mm. Antiglare sapphire crystal. Water resistant to 30m. Caseback has sapphire(?) display back, attached with 8 screws. Very brightly-polished. Strap/bracelet is attached to the case with mobile rollers, which help to make this oversized watch quite comfortable to wear. The crown is triangular, with a white enamel inlay. Limited edition of 500. Mine is #4XX, so you better act quickly if you want one :-)
  
  
• Strap/bracelet:
  Very heavy, highly-polished stainless-steel bracelet, with robust hidden clasp. Bracelet tends to scratch on the underside of the wrist, but is easily polished back up. The watch also comes with a black leather strap, and a very nice leather storage box (Scatola?). I understand that the watch also is available with the infamous two-color red/blue leather straps as well. The stainless bracelet is so awesome in appearance and comfort that I haven't tried the watch with a strap yet.
  
  
• Dial and hands:
  White-colored dial. Silver lined chapters at most 5-minute positions. Power reserve partial subdial at the 6 o'clock position, with +/- markers, and Silberstein logo. Silberstein signature near the middle of the dial. Date at window at 12 o'clock position. The hands are a bit zany. The hour hand is a large red triangle, with 3 dots. The minute hand is a blue baton, with white line near the top. The seconds "hand" is a usually-invisible rotating yellow star in the middle! I suppose you could call this a sweep second. There is no indication as to which limb of the star is the actual pointer. It takes some time to get used to telling the time with this watch...
  
  
• Warranty:
  1 year.
  
  
• Price: $6,800 U.S. list price!

Impressions

• Pros:
  • Zany looks. I've gotten more comments, positive and negative, on this watch during a few short weeks than any other watch I've ever owned. It drips sarcasm and irony. Think Warhol soup-can prints...
  • Size - this is the biggest/heaviest watch I have ever worn. When your friends whip out their Panerai Luminors, this'll trump them every time.
  • Size - did I mention that this is huge?
  • Size - no, really, really huge...
  • Bracelet - very comfortable, though very, very heavy. The rollers that attach the bracelet to the case help tremendously with the comfort and wearability. This is not a watch that you'll forget that you are wearing.
  • Uniqueness - you won't see one of these everywhere. This is probably for the best for all parties concerned...
  • Accuracy - who can tell? It seems accurate, and is C.O.S.C. certified, but the lack of a useful seconds hand, and no discrete minute markers, make it impossible to tell over short periods of time, how accurate it is. Over the several weeks I have had it, it doesn't appear to have gained/lost any noticeable time.
  
  
• Cons:
  • Zany looks: people will mock you. Children will cry. Dogs will flee at your approach, yelping in terror.
  • Size: I am a really big guy. This watch is almost too big for me. The watch is bigger in volume and weight than a Panerai Luminor Marina. If you are small of body, or spirit, stay away!
  • Cost: a bit much to pay for what is essentially just an eclectic piece of design, and not a watch. I suspect that the resale value is a mite low, since there's probably a pretty thin aftermarket. This is really a hard-core designer watch, and not a significant piece of horology in any way, shape or form.
  • Legibility: it is a bit hard to determine the time with this watch, until you grow used to the dial. And the seconds "hand" is merely silly.
  • Function: the crown is a royal pain to manipulate, especially for those of us with any sort of repetitive motion disorder.
  • Robustness: The watch is not very water-resistance. The shiny bracelet scratches easily, though this is easily remedied.

Manufacturer's Info

• Name: Alain Silberstein
• Address: 5 avenue Cusenier, F-25000 Besancon, France
• Phone: +33 3 81 83 14 06
• Fax: +33 3 81 83 22 95
• Email: asc@a-silberstein.fr
• Web: www.a-silberstein.fr

Add your comments here, or view the comments of others...