Integral
(Reference U8483-LA1.1)
A review by Brandon Sparks
The Purchase
I already own a Limes Nightflight II. I've had it for over a year now and still like it. Ever since the release of the Integral model I've really wanted a new tonneau shaped watch. This really started when I bought a $15 vintage Waltham (1928) and fell in love with its curves. Dubey & Schaldenbrand, Daniel JeanRichard, Girard Perregaux and a few others all proved a little beyond my grasp. Since I was familiar with the Limes watch brand, it rose to the top of my list. The Limes Integral was within reach and had the right shape. However, it is a slightly modified tonneau and it took me a little while to warm up to the pictures (I had never seen one in person). Another factor was my desire to have a watch with fine decorative finishing on the movement. This put most watches out of my reach and the price of the Integral once again put it at the top.
I took some time and finally decided to just do it. I gathered up four vintage pieces in my collection and sold them to fund the Integral. I was going to order the black dialed version, then Steven Walker told me how much he liked the white dialed version and how much it resembled an enamel dialed watch. Now another decision to make! I finally decided I have too many black dialed watches already (military) so I ordered it in white.
Click on any of the photographs in this review for a high-resolution version!
First Impressions
The watch arrived in a small blue box with the Limes logo on top in silver. No big frills here. A signed warranty card, and a small bag of German Gummi Bears (my daughter sends her thanks to Herr Ickler)! I understand Limes plans to upgrade the packaging on some of the watches in the future. This would be a nice bonus, but really doesn't add (nor does the simple box detract) anything. I opened it up and Pow! The white dial is more striking in person than any picture can relate. Most watches earn a "That's nice dear" from my wife. This one earned a "WOW! That's beautiful!"
The Dial & Hands
I was really amazed. The white dial is so high gloss it does resemble enamel! The gloss black numerals are an incredible contrast. The "roulette wheel" minutes track is really set apart by the silver and red, a striking combination! I was unable to capture this in the pictures, but the dial has a depth to it. At just the right angle the light will reflect off the edges of the numerals which are slightly higher than the white. The minutes track is slightly lower than the white of the dial adding yet another level.
The design of the dial compliments the shape of the case very well. The "exploded" numerals are not overly exaggerated, but this is still quite a daring design! The "roulette wheel" minute track is very like Franck Muller in design, but a bit more subdued than his (and at a fraction of the cost!). The date window is actually quite discreet on this dial. I'd still love to see a "3" there but I use the date feature constantly. Some have said they don't like the wreath in the Limes logo and it has been removed from some models. However, on this dial the wreath works beautifully as the basically circular design is echoed in the "roulette track". I am also grateful Limes did not put INTEGRAL on the dial. AUTOMATIC is on the bottom half and under the "6" is MADE IN GERMANY. Just enough info.
The hands are leaf style in gloss black, the perfect compliment to the dial. The point of the hour hand rests solidly within the minutes track but the minutes hand extends far outside the track. This doesn't bother me at all as it is a design element necessary to this watch but some might find it difficult to align the minute hand exactly as it is thick where it crossed the track. The second hand extends beyond the track as well however it is quite thin so reading it over the track is easily done. One very minor nit to pick is that the hands, on very close inspection, appear to be skeleton hands filled with gloss black paint instead of solid throughout.
The Movement
A highly modified 25 jewel ETA 2824-2 powers the Limes Integral. It has a Glucydur balance and Nivarox 1 hairspring, adjusted to 5 positions and decorated with Cote-de-Geneve and perlage. It is a bi-directional automatic winding movement with a 44 hour power reserve when fully wound. The sapphire display back provides a good look at the fine finishing. There is no plastic spacer in this model, instead metal tabs are used to secure the movement nicely into the case. An incredibly finished movement for this price range! In my very unscientific examination of timing, the watch seems to lose about three seconds per day, which is quite fine.
The Case & Crown
Many of the tonneau watches today are rounded in virtually every aspect. The Integral is not quite so designed. The basic shape of the case is the classic tonneau, but that's where it stops. In profile the case is quite flat with the lugs extending downward without curve. The crystal is not curved (one of the few things that would make a great improvement to the design, but cost of this would be a huge factor). The dimensions are 33 mm in width, 45.3 mm in height and 9.4 mm thick.
The case is three-piece with a polished bezel, a satin-brushed case body and a caseback with both polished and brushed surfaces. The brushing is very uniform and the text is laser-etched into the back. It is extremely sharp and gives the LIMES INTEGRAL text a very stoic feel in its serif typeface. The back is secured with six visible screws from the bottom up and six more from top down that are hidden under the bezel. It is a very interesting combination of graceful curves and hard corners. Perhaps I can best describe the feeling as "opera with a little poetry thrown in.".
The crystals are flat sapphire both front and back. In front the crystal conforms to the shape of the case and dial while the back crystal is round and accents the shape of the movement.
The crown is not signed (I do wish it had the laurel motif) and is not screw down though it is sealed with a double o-ring configuration. I am quite glad of this as too many watches have screw down crowns. Having quick access to setting and winding is a bonus (after all, this isn't a diving watch!). Manual winding is a little stiff, but this is understandable with the secure o-ring configuration. The quick-set date and time setting functions work flawlessly.
The Strap & Buckle
The strap is leather patterned to look like crocodile skin. It is a bit too stiff and threading it through the buckle is a bit difficult. A good looking strap overall (but I'd like real croc better!). The buckle is standard tang style with "LIMES" laser-etched onto it. Nice, but I decided to swap my EOT butterfly deployant clasp with the standard buckle. This gives much less wear to the strap and fits perfectly. I really like the clean look of the clasp when closed. Here are some shots of the new combination.
On the Wrist
The Integral is a deceiving watch. When reading the size specifications I thought it would be a bit smallish on the wrist. I was very wrong! It wears quite large and has a very substantial feel to it. I really enjoy the large dial surface area and with the white dial it has great impact!
Here is a side-by-side comparison with a Limes Nightflight II at 37.8mm diameter. The Integral is narrower in width but slightly larger in height.
Final Thoughts
The Limes Integral is a wonderfully designed watch with a well finished movement at a great price. It is a little on the daring side in many respects, yet not so much so as to be freakish. The attention to detail is evident and the overall appearance is quite pleasing. I've now worn it for a few days. I'm surprised how it now seems smaller and more elegant on the wrist. Glad I made the jump! Here it is as a member of my collection.
Technical & Contact Information (from the Limes website)
| Name: | Integral |
| Reference: | U8483-LA1.1 |
| Movement: | ETA 2824, highly
decorated and modified Swiss automatic movement, adjusted in five
positions, 28.800 vib/h, 25 jewels, blued stainless steel screws, Glucydur
balance, Nivarox 1 hairspring, Incabloc shock absorption, LIMES logo |
| Watch case: |
Stainless steel, with 12 screws, polished and fine satin finish, sapphire crystal, transparent case back with sapphire crystal and 6 screws, double O-ring crown, waterresistant 50m, size: 33 x 45,3 mm, thickness 9,4mm |
| Dial + Hands: | brilliant white dial with black numerals and hands |
| Band: | brown leather strap |
| Current Price: | US $ 895, - shipping costs included for most countries |
Steven Walker: I.O.
Watches
Limes US Representative website: Limes
US Website
©
All photographs by Brandon Sparks. Pictures taken with a borrowed Fujifilm
FinePix 4700 Zoom digital camera.
© Copyright Brandon Sparks,
May 2001, all rights reserved.
Use of this review granted by permission only.
