Bonaparte1973's review on his Carlingue Diver Heritage

If there's one watch I never expected to add to my collection, it's this Carlingue Heritage Diver. Although I'd had the opportunity to chat several times at various trade shows with its creator, Alexandre Voirin, who readily shares his world at the crossroads of watchmaking, rock music, and tattoos, and to try on the steel and bronze versions of the range, the 200m diver's watch features (which I already own), the neo-vintage look (so overdone lately), the Miyota 9 movement (often too noisy and erratic for me), and especially the 51mm lug-to-lug width (too imposing for my 17mm wrist) hadn't managed to convince me. It took an advertisement—yes, it's a pre-owned watch—at an unbeatable price to give me the desire to try this black Mission series long-term, figuring that at worst, it would make a friend very happy. A fortunate decision indeed; the all-black finish makes all the difference. It softens the perceived bulk of the watch's length and lets the well-designed 40x12mm case take center stage, admittedly heavily inspired by an Alexandre design for another brand. The beige indices and dial markings are striking, reinforcing the military aesthetic and ensuring excellent legibility. They give me the impression of a Field watch rather than a diver's watch, and I'm delighted. The rubber strap, bearing the Black Mission emblem, is very comfortable, but I think I'll soon be swapping it for a leather strap from the collaboration between Carlingue and a collective of tattoo artists. Even the Miyota movement seems more pleasant than usual. In the end, an unexpected watch that fills a gap in my collection with character.