(This article by Roberta Naas first appeared in Forbes.com.)
Ritmo Mundo Pegasus glass watch is made using synthetic glass.
In a bold and daring move designed to take Ritmo Mundo watches – now celebrating its 22nd anniversary – to new levels, the brand unveils the new Pegasus is a marvel in time thanks to a synthetic glass case that mimics the look of half-million-dollar sapphire cases for pennies on the dollar. In fact, the new Pegasus glass watches from the Los Angeles-based watch brand sell for $3,500. This enables lovers of the sapphire crystal case (also synthetic) who can’t afford the price tags of about $90,000 to a million or more, the chance to buy into the luxurious aesthetic.
Naturally, some of those other highly expensive sapphire cased watches house incredible movements with functions like tourbillon escapements and minute repeaters inside – driving up the price. The time-only Pegasus watch distinguish itself with an intriguing skeletonized movement that is highly visible thanks to the clear glass case (and sides) that gives a panoramic view of the components.
Ritmo Mundo Pegasus glass watch is a 7 on the Moh’s scale.
The new collection represents Ritmo Mundo’s first fully transparent, super durable glass watch case. The creation, which took a full year of sourcing the synthetic glass supplier and working out the details of the design, is very typical of Ritmo Mundo. This brand, whose name translates from “rhythm of the earth,” has always been known for pushing the boundaries and yet still offering a superb quality/value proposition.
The 44mm cushion-shaped glass case is highly scratch resistant and ranks at a 7 on the Moh’s hardness scale (most of the high-priced synthetic sapphire cases rank 9 on the scale). Still, according to Ali Soltani, founder of Ritmo Mundo and a long-time industry veteran, the groundbreaking durable glass is cut under water (which acts as a lubricant) and is not only scratch resistant but also chip and break resistant. Rigorous testing has yet to reveal any instances of shattering, confirming the exceptional durability of this pioneering glass.
Ritmo Mundo Pegasus glass watch features an inner ring made in bright colors.
“I would not suggest throwing your timepiece against the wall,” quips Soltani, “but we have even drilled the case to see if it would break.” In those tests, he admits that by using a hard enough drill bit, there is breakage. But, then we ask, who is going to drill through their watch?
The fully transparent glass case is square with angled edges (often referred to as cushion shaped) and boasts a round dial in the center. The synthetic glass (made with silicon dioxide) – when cut — yields very crisp, beveled edges to the case. The case front seamlessly affixes to a mineral-reinforced glass mirror dial and a separate glass case back. Everything is secured with stainless steel screws. The ergonomic watch measures just 11.3mm thick (less than half an inch in height).
Versions of the Ritmo Mundo Pegasus glass watch also are set with crystals in the inner ring.
Injecting a bit of fun and color to the Pegasus watches, Ritmo Mundo offers colored dial rings or flanges in bold green, bright red, blue, white, silver and black – and in some instances even offers combinations with what look to be gemstone-set flanges but are actually crystal-set to keep the prices in line. Color variations include red, green, blue and white or colorless crystals. The color-coordinated hands are coated with luminescence for easy night reading.
The watches are powered by automatic movements hand assembled in China, and, thanks to a screw-down crown and a sealed corrosion-resistant back case, they are water resistant to 3ATM. The movement endows the Pegasus 48 hours of power reserve and the watches are finished with a hypoallergenic silicone strap with stainless steel clasp pin buckle.
Ritmo Mundo Pegasus glass watch retails for $3,500.
“The Pegasus outlines the blueprint for Ritmo Mundo 2.0,” says Ritmo Mundo brand founder Ali Soltani. “It’s a daring and nuanced design for the discerning collector – an attainable luxury watch that is genuinely innovative and remarkably cool. This crystal-clear glass watch case design affirms our desire as a brand to push boundaries and set new standards – not just keeping pace with the future – but also shaping it.”
Soltani, as mentioned, founded Ritmo Mundo in Milan in 2002 with the goal of offering contemporary watches “attuned to the pulse of pop culture.” Over the past 22 years, the brand has formed alliances in the worlds of auto racing, sports, Hollywood and more.
