Locman Montecristo OISA1937
By Nancy Olson
It’s impossible to talk about Locman watches without talking about Italy, since the brand and its locale are inextricably bound. The company was founded there in 1986, and its nationality has been a moving force in its evolving range of products and—less quantifiably, perhaps, but no less surely—in its spirit.
The Locman Montecristo OISA 1937 timepiece ramps up the Italian influence even further. Here, Elba-based watchmaker Locman and Milanese movement maker OISA share their respective competencies in the new 370-piece limited edition watch housing an all-new hand-wound movement that was years in the making.
OISA, founded in 1937 by Domenico Morezzi, claimed its fame in the production of mechanical watch movements, at one point producing 10,000 of them per month. But by 1978, quartz movements had taken their toll and the company closed. Morezzi’s grandson, Carlo Boggio Ferraris, resumed production in 2017, and the manually wound OISA Caliber 29-50, originally designed in the 1960s by Morezzi, is now beating in a Locman timepiece.
The enamel dial of the Locman Montecristo OISA 1937 watch features an etching of a vintage sail boat on the map of the continents.
Locman Montecristo OISA 1937
The remodeled movement features Côtes de Genève finishing on the bridges enclosing the gear train, and hand-rendered perlage embellishes the mainplate. It delivers a frequency of 25,200 vph and offers 60 hours of power reserve. The 19-jewel Cinque Ponti (five bridges) mechanism measures 29.5 mm, with a height of 3.5 mm.
Just 370 pieces of the Locman Montecristo OISA 1937 watch will be made.
The enamel dial of the Locman Montecristo OISA 1937 is enhanced by imagery of an ancient sailing vessel traversing the eastern and western hemispheres, so designed to evoke travel and adventure. Roman numerals and simple markers denote the hours, while the Italian flag is at 6 o’clock; “Made in Italy” is centered below. The word “limited” is artfully centered between 10 and 11 o’clock, and three central skeletonized hands mark the hours, minutes and seconds (the hour and minute hands have luminescent coating).
The 42mm case is stainless steel, though an 18-karat gold version with a white dial is available. The exhibition caseback, framed by titanium, offers a great view of the decorated movement, while the screw-down crown—with a triple O-ring seal—ensures water resistance to 100 meters. The watch is fitted on a leather strap. In steel, the watch retails for $6,815.
Locman Montecristo OISA 1937 boasts a transparent case back for viewing the movement.
Montecristo Collection
Other commemorative limited editions, in addition to this Montecristo OISA 1937, round out the Montecristo Collection, and additional “non-limited” variations are offered in an assortment of materials, sizes and modes (quartz or mechanical). A 34mm ladies model features optional diamonds on the case. And there’s a 42mm skeletonized model in steel, with or without PVD coating. Each is an interesting representation of the company’s unique take on Italian design.
More Locman Collections
Locman offers “something for everyone” within its wide range of timepieces, among them the Stealth, the 1960, and the Sport Tonneau collections. But perhaps the series most indicative of Locman’s coastal Italian roots is the Mare (Italian for “sea”), which includes a quartz chronograph, three-hand automatic, automatic 300 and Marina Militare.
The special silicone compound used for the strap models offers resistance to temperature variations, UV rays and saltwater—in short, they’re perfect for the beach. The watches feature screw-down crowns that provide water-resistance up to 100 meters, and the pushers on the chronograph models have double silicone seals. According to an old Mediterranean legend, sharks represent courage and strength and act as a powerful symbol of protection for sailors. So to honor this tradition, many of the dials are decorated with an image of a shark at 6 o’clock.
In the past Locman has actively collaborated with the Italian Ministry of Defense, producing watches for the Italian Air Force and Navy, and for special groups like the Folgore Paratroopers Brigade. Locman will be exhibiting at the JCK Show 2022 in Las Vegas—Friday, June 10, to Monday, June 13—at the Bridge Booth #11123.
