The Swiss startup has launched an impressive series of vintage-inspired diving watches for the adventurer who appreciates fine watchmaking.

Start-up brand Laventure is the latest novelty coming out of the Swiss watchmaking world. From the town of Neuchâtel, to be more precise, a watchmaking capital that the brand founder Clément Gaud now calls home.

Clément had been involved with timekeepers all of his life - from antique pieces he discovered during his youth, to years designing for some of the top watch brands, including the likes of Audemars Piguet, HYT, Christophe Claret, Ebel, Maurice Lacroix, Mido, and more.

By 2017, it was time to venture out into the independent world of watchmaking. And what better way to dive right into the deep end and set up your very own watchmaking company, aptly named Laventure.

The new venture got its start on Kickstarter, where it reached its objectives with backers pledging 201,400 Swiss francs to bring the project to life. Taking a closer look at the watch, it’s no wonder the funds came flowing in.

The first timepiece is called the Laventure Marine, and as the name suggests it is inspired by the diving watches of the 1960s. The watch is a contemporary take on the classic design, and I find that it is well designed and full of character.

The watch is packaged in versatile 41mm stainless steel case that sports a nice, hefty bezel. The domed sapphire crystal and the oversized screw-down crown ensure an excellent seal up to 200m, protecting the solid ETA 2824-2 automatic movement beating inside.

The watches are also Swiss made, ensuring quality with 90% of the value coming from Switzerland – above and beyond the 60% requirement to wear the “Swiss Made” label.

What I like most about the Marine is the dial, which comes in the option of three colours: blue, green or brown. Each has a textured feel about it and the colour darkens at the edges to give an aged look without the years of wear and tear.

If course I would prefer to have the patina effect on an actual diving watch from the 1960s, but that would come at a steeper price and without the guarantees of quality and performance that this modern take provides.

Being a diving watch, the Marine is also highly legible. The hands and markings – which add to the vintage look - are in metallic colors and ensure optimal contrast. Thanks to a uniform photoluminescence, optimal reading is ensured during day or night.

Each colour variant will be produced in a limited edition of 50 piece each. For those lucky enough to have already secured their Laventure timepieces, each watch will be delivered in a very nicely packaged box inspired by the old books of Jules Verne: Les Voyages Extraordinaires.