Steinhart Architect Green - My Favorite Design, A Review (plus Video)

The Steinhart Architect Series is the first integrated sports model design released by Steinhart in 2023. It is a homage to the Gerald Genta integrated sports model design of the seventies that has become iconic and evergreen. 

In recent years, I have started to be more interested in formal watches instead of the typical diver or sports watches. The style of formal watches I like is the integrated bracelet design. Currently, I have five such models in the collection. They are The Citizen Series 8 GMT, Yema Wristmaster Traveller, IWC Ingenieur IW3236, Tissot PRX and Tissot PRX Chronograph.

 

When I recently saw the model featured on Gnomon Watches Singapore's website, I got the urge to get one. Luck would have it, Gnomon Watches Singapore had a year-end sale promotion which made the deal more affordable.

 

To be honest, I didn't expect Steinhart to create something formal and looked so similar to one of Gerald Genta's iconic design. The brand has a lot of homages but mostly sports or dive watches. I do tip my hat to Steinhart as this is an area that many people are interested in. 

There are three dial colours to choose from and I decided on the green as it is my favorite colour.

The Series

There are three models under the Architect series, each with different dial colours: black, blue and green. All are priced the same. From Gnomon Watches Singapore, the MSRP is RM4,003 (@16 December 2023).

The design is very simple with a 3-hand and a date complication.

The Watch

The Steinhart Architect Green is made from 316L stainless steel. The design takes a lot of cues from designs made by the famous Swiss watch designer, Gerald Genta where the integrated bracelet and casing creates a seamless look. The watch features a satin brushed finish on the top and side of the case surfaces. This same finishing is also used on the stainless steel bracelet.

 

 

The watch casing itself measures 39.0 mm across. Due to the integrated bracelet design, the lug-to-lug length is 39.0 mm but in reality, since the end-piece can be construed as part of the bracelet, this makes it wearable to practically everyone. The height is also well proportion at just 11.5 mm. Overall, a very decent sized timepiece. 

 

The chapter ring is vertical and polished to a mirror finish. The khaki green dial is rather unique. Assuming it is one piece of dial plate, Steinhart did a number of processes on it to create a surface with many sections. For a start, for the first 2.0 mm of the dial measured from the outer edge, the surface is clean. It is on this surface the minute scale is painted on in white. The scale has a combination of numbers, line and rectangles.

To transition to the next major section, Steinhart create a deep trench of about 0.5 mm wide which is clearly visible. The rest of the dial has horizontal lines cut into it to create a 'wooden deck'. All the hour markers are applied and features a mixture of Arabic numerals and rectangular shaped indices. The logo and the brand are also applied and polished, located at the upper quadrant. Meanwhile, the words 'AUTOMATIC' and 'SWISS MADE' are painted at the bottom half of the watch.

The handset has a broad concept but not too overwhelming. The hours, minutes and seconds hands appears to be different in design but fits well. All the markers and hands glow blue in the dark as they are filled with Superluminova BGW9. The dial also features a circular cut date aperture located at 4:30. The use of a green background for the date wheel helps blending in with the dial.

 

 

Protecting the dial is a domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the inner surface. At first glance, the crystal looks flat but there is a curvature. The crystal is surrounded by the tall fixed octagonal bezel. The bezel has the same surface finish as the watch casing.

 

At 3:00 is the screw-down signed crown with deep gear-tooth texture. Once unscrewed, there are three positions for the crown. The first allows one to manually wind the watch. Pulling the crown in the first position adjust the date. Pulling the crown to the second position adjust the time.

 

The Architect has a screw-down case-back with a display window made out of sapphire crystal. This construction gives it a 100 meter water resistant. Although some key features of the watch is etched around the case-back, Steinhart did not put a serial number to help individually identify the watch from another. Honestly, I think Steinhart could do better. Not having a serial number cheapens the watch despite the great design and quality manufacturing effort put into it.

What one can see through the display window is the Sellita SW300-1 Elaboré Premium automatic movement. Operating at 4 hertz, this 25 jeweled movement has a power reserve of approximate 56 hours thanks to the new optimised barrel. The rotor has be given a golden coat for visibility. 

 

The integrated bracelet completes this excellent package. As seen above, the bracelet are all polished and edges have been rounded to make it visually pleasing and comfortable to wear. The 23.0 mm stainless steel bracelet, which tapers to 18.0 mm, is worn with a butterfly or deployant clasp.

As highlighted earlier, the watch is painted with Superluminova BGW9. Below is a image of the watch in the dark.

 

 

The Wearing Experience

The Architect exudes confidence and class. It punches above its actual price point. The design of the bracelet is very conducive to people with hairy wrist as there are no sharp edges for hair to get caught in. Below is a video of the watch on my wrist.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, below is the video of the unboxing.

 

 

The concept of an integrated bracelet is one of the best watch design theme is my humble opinion.

Specifications

Case Material: 316L stainless steel

Bracelet Material: 316L stainless steel, tapering from 23 mm to 18 mm to a signed butterfly clasp
Dial: Green with horizontal line texture

Crystal: Medium domed Sapphire with double anti-reflecting coatings on the interior side

Luminous: Superluminova BGW9 on hands and hour markers

Diameter: 39.0 mm

Lug-to-Lug: 39.0 mm

Height: 11.5 mm

Lug Width: 14.0 mm
Crown Type: Screw-down signed crown
Movement: Sellita SW300-1 Elaboré Premium

Jewels: 25

Frequency: 28,800 BHP (or 4 Hertz)

Accuracy: +/- 15 second/day

Power Reserve: 56 hours with new Optimization Barrel

Functions: Central hours; central minutes; central sweeping seconds; date; hacking seconds
Display Case-back: Flat sapphire glass

Decorations: Golden signed rotor
Water Resistance: 100 meters

Vendor: Gnomon Watches, Singapore

MSRP: RM4,003

Purchase Date: 16 December 2023 (delivered by DHL on 19 December 2023)

Purchase Price: RM3,602.70

Serial Number: n/a

Warranty: Two (2) years plus additional 180 days from Gnomon Watches

Gifts: Free Gnomon Velvet Pouch and free Gnomon Microfiber Cloth - Winter 2023 Edition

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