Gorilla introduces a new chronograph to their collection – known as the Fastback Thunderbolt Chronograph, it is created in conjunction with independent Vallée de Joux manufacture Dubois Dépraz,
Press Release information with commentary in italics.
Commentary
Gorilla is somewhat of a disrupter in the industry. The company is the brainchild of Octavio Garcia. As the former Chief Artistic Officer at Audemars Piguet, Octavio is no stranger to out of the box design. Their first product the Fastback Original hit the market sub-CHF 1,000 and was the beginning of the provocation to the market’s big players. Here is a small independent maker, with an interesting design, and a limited edition of 500 individually numbered pieces at this price level. Of course, it used a reliable, but inexpensive Miyota 8215 self-winding movement. The fit and finish of the case, dial and hands were excellent for the price level. The series continued with more of the same model, but in different colourways, materials, each with an intriguing name, and every one a limited edition series. And this is the theme of Gorilla.
Then came the Drift series, with an impressive movement resulting from a collaboration with Vaucher. This brought the interesting wandering hours complication as a module which is placed over the ultra reliable ETA 2824-2 base movement. The wandering hours was strongly reminiscent of the Audemars Piguet Star Wheel. But instead of a classical case in precious metal, the Drift was housed in a uniquely sculpted blend of high-performance materials, purposefully assembled in a sequence. We reviewed one version of the Fastback GT Drift “Elise” (retail CHF 3,480) in detail here.
In this latest, iteration, we see Gorilla move into the traditional chronograph world. This is a strongly competed landscape, especially at the target retail price of SGD 12k, where many of the competition are well established and with excellent reputation. From houses like Tudor, Breitling, Omega, Zenith, Bell & Ross and the like. However, it in the design language of the Gorilla that stands out. It remains more radical and continues to push the envelope. The use of multi-layers of materials remains the same…a style genre perhaps first popularized by Jean-Claude Biver in his fusion Hublot watches. In the Gorilla Fastback Thunderbolt, the design uses grade 5 titanium case which is brushed, bead-blasted, and coated in black DLC to provide visual contrast to the bright orange aluminum line sandwiched below matte black ceramic bezel. Visual impact from the photographs released is indicative of a powerful and strong stance. The play of colours is well chosen, and works well. The myriad of hues from the pastel blue to the black, partially skeletonized dial, with the orange and white markers pop rather well.
The choice of movement is the not uncommon Dubois Dépraz chronograph module over the ubiquitious ETA 2892-2. This movement is used in many module chronographs in varying price ranges.
And it remains to be seen if this new chronograph will be received the same way as the more modestly priced Original and Drift models which have been applauded by sell out status in each iteration.
We have secured a sample to examine in detail and to photograph from the local retailer, Watch Wonderland, and will revert with a detailed report once we have done that. Probably in October.
Gorilla Fastback Thunderbolt Chronograph
MSRP: SGD 12,288 inclusive of GST / USD 8,500 excl. tax.
Created in conjunction with independent Vallée de Joux manufacture Dubois Dépraz, the Fastback Thunderbolt proudly introduces the chronograph complication into the Gorilla lineup.
The Thunderbolt chronograph’s design was approached with a sense that the watch is a sentient being, menacingly poised on your wrist, prepared to strike. A grade 5 titanium case brushed, bead-blasted, and coated in black DLC creates contrast and sheen against the bright orange aluminum part-line, and the Fastbacks signature cushion shape matte black ceramic bezel.
Black ceramic push-pieces enveloped in grade 5 titanium crown guards extend the Fastback’s high-tech purposefulness by providing scratch-proof start, stop, and reset contact points to activate the customized Dubois DD268 skeletonized chronograph module.
A unique crown design in bead-blasted ceramic and titanium sends power to the Mighty ETA 2892 automatic caliber via Dubois Dépraz patented Stem Transmission System (STS), providing a balanced external pusher crown alignment. To ensure optimal nighttime usability, all chronograph indications, including hands, counter scales, and tachymeter, are treated in X1 Super-LumiNova. Our italic Gorilla logo inspired the Thunderbolt name.
Consequently, the luminescent-filled, bathtub-applied logo sits riveted against a lightning bolt design background. The open-worked dial of the Fastback Thunderbolt chronograph is designed to evoke the flamboyant spirit of motorsport with its luminescent Arabic numerals and the recognizable powder blue and orange color combination, and yet not obstruct the skeletonized movement’s intricate beauty or compromise on time measurement readability, even in dark conditions.
The Fastback Thunderbolt chronograph proudly celebrates the Gorilla x Dubois Dépraz collaboration by engraving the Dubois Dépraz signature on the movement “couvre” of the 99 numbered pieces of this mechanical time-measuring instrument born in the cradle of watchmaking.
The Thunderbolt is a Limited Edition of 99 pieces. Shipping commences in December 2021.
Gorilla Fastback Thunderbolt Chronograph Specifications
MODULE
Dubois & Dépraz DD268, bi-compax layout, Swiss Made
BASE CALIBER
ETA 2892-A2, Swiss Made, bi-directional winding mechanism, 4 Hz/28.800 vph, stop seconds, Incablock™ shock system, 42 hours power reserve, 21 Jewels, elaborated grade, personalized oscillating weight
FUNCTIONS
Hour, minute, small seconds, chronograph with central seconds and minute counter
CASE MATERIAL
DLC coated and brushed grade 5 titanium, matte ceramic bezel with engraved tachymeter scale, ceramic pushers and crown, titanium grade 5 pusher-guards, anodized aluminum pin-stripe
CASEBACK
Titanium grade 5, engraved, sapphire crystal
CRYSTAL
Scratch resistant sapphire, anti-reflective coating on both sides
DIAL
Skeletonized with Super-Luminova™ coated numerals, applied Logo and indexes at 3 and 9 o’clock, applied chronograph function counters, central and counter hands filled with Super-Luminova™
STRAP/BUCKLE
FKM rubber & Alcantara™ hybrid, titanium grade 5 pin buckle
CASE DIMENSIONS
44 mm case diameter
48.5 mm with crown-guards
57 mm lug-to-lug
13.8 mm case thickness
WATER RESISTANCE
100M/330FT/10ATM
REF. NUMBER
OTN03.0
LAUNCH: Pre-orders July, 2021/ Delivery begins November, 2021
limited edtion of 99 pcs, individually numbered
