BA111OD Launch Chapter 7, Their First Chronometer Wristwatch

BA111OD is the archetype of a modern microbrand. After looking into his family history and learning of his ancestors’ close involvement with horology, Thomas Baillod founded the brand in 2019 from his garage and in less than a decade they have grown to have presence across Europe. In a relatively short time, they have achieved some significant milestones such as producing the first Swiss Made tourbillon watch priced at less than CHF 5,000. Now they’ve achieved a new milestone for themselves with the production of their first chronometer certified watch, the BA111OD Chapter 7.

Not only does the Chapter 7 represent a mechanical evolution for BA111OD, but it’s also an aesthetic one. The majority of their past chapters follow hyper modern designs with skeletonised or open-heart displays paired with understated round cases that let the more extravagant dials take centre stage. Here though, the design takes us back to the 1970s and the early days of integrated bracelet sports watches.

The case is angular with broad, flat surfaces topped with a decagon bezel. It feels like a hybrid of watches like the Girard-Perregaux Laureato and modern interpretations like the Christopher Ward The Twelve and Citizen Tsuyosa. If you know anything about those watches, you’ll certainly be aware that they are insanely popular, so BA111OD are onto a winning trick with the Chapter 7’s 40mm steel case.

Most 1970s sports watches pair their steel cases with a textured dial – think Audemars Piguet Tapisserie Royal Oaks and the horizontal lines of the Patek Philippe Nautilus. That’s another tradition that BA111OD have stuck with, albeit in their own modern way. The dials, which are available in jet black, absolute blue, forest green and frost blue, feature vertical engraved lines that have a depth gradient to them, meaning they have deeper grooves at the top which get less deep the further down the dial they go until the engraving stops altogether. The height on the dial at which the engraved lines stop is different for each line and the effect as a whole is incredibly dynamic.

I’m simultaneously reminded of claw marks, like a bear marking a tree, the drips of cartoon-ish blood across the screen in a hammer horror flick and stalactites in a cave. For what is a pretty simple design in the grand scheme of things, it’s a punchy visual. The rest of the display is completed by wedge shaped hands, baton hour markers and a date window at 3 o’clock.

It’s beneath the dial where one of the most significant elements of the BA111OD Chapter 7 can be found, the chronometer certified movement. Specifically, it’s the Soprod P024, which has a 38-hour power reserve and an accuracy of -4/+6 seconds per day. Chronometer certification means each movement is individually tested to ensure it can maintain that accuracy in multiple positions and under varying conditions. It’s certified by the Geneva Chronometry Observatory from TIMELAB, one of the main alternatives to COSC.

Chronometer movements tend to be more costly than non-chronometer movements (getting watches tested does cost time and money after all)  yet the BA111OD Chapter 7 remains accessible. On rubber strap it’s £665 and on steel bracelet it’s £720. For a Swiss made chronometer watch in a popular case style with a distinctive dial design, that’s great value. I would like to see a wider range of colours in future as well as an extended power reserve, but this is a strong foundation for BA111OD’s new chapter.

More details at BA111OD.

​Oracle Time 

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