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WATCH REVIEW Ralf Tech WRX City Explorer C

Editor's opinion
63 / 100
Young brand revealed to the public in 2008 and launched by Frank Huyghe, Ralf Tech is a brand to be discovered. Let's review the WRX City Explorer C, a watch with virile sizes.
Straight to the Point

Ralf Tech WRX City Explorer C

Ref.: WRX CTE BAC
$3,450.00 US retail price July 9th, 2010
Pros
  • strengthened design and strong personality
  • independent little brand
  • watch delivered with two straps
Cons
  • perfectible finishing
  • a little high price
  • to be reserved to strong wrists
Brand Ralf Tech
Model name
WRX City Explorer C
Reference
WRX CTE BAC
Case material
Steel
Case diameter (without crown)
47,5 mm
Case diameter (crown included)
52 mm
Movement type
Automatic
Caliber
RTAC 001
Base Caliber
ETA 7750
Functions
Chronograph
Date
Day
Hour
Minute
Second
Crystal
Single-face crystal with anti-reflective coating
Power reserve
46h
Transparent back
No
Lug width
26 mm
Length from lug to lug
56 mm
Case thickness
18 mm
Strap material
Alligator
Clasp type
Pin buckle
Clasp material
Steel
Total weight
197 grammes
Retail price USA at July 9th, 2010
$3,450.00
Comfort (/15) 11
Movement (/20) 7.5
Movement Optimisation / Garnishment (/5) 0
Ease of handling and adjustment (/5) 3.5
Movement control proceeded by the Manufacture / horlogical awards (/3) 1
Power reserve (/2) 1
Complications (/5) 2
Finishing (/20) 12
Dial finishing (/6) 4
Case finishing (/6) 3
Quality of garnishment / caseback engraving quality (/2) 1
Crystal quality (/4) 3
Clasp finishing (inner and extern) (/2) 1
Functionality (/20) 16.5
Diurnal legibility (/5) 4.5
Night legibility (/4) 3
Water resistance (/3) 2
Strap : ease of size adjustment + ease of substitution (/4) 3
Clasp : quality and safety (/4) 4
Additional items (/10) 5
Limited edition (/3) 2
Watch delivered with several straps (/2) 1
Quality of the watch box (/1) 1
Portability with shirtsleeves buttoned (/2) 0
Goodies included (/1) 0
Understandability of the brochure (/1) 1
Value for money (/15) 11
When to wear it ? While driving your amphibious 4x4 !
Users opinion
69%
like this watch
Do you like this watch?

Ralf Tech is a new young brand revealed to the general public in 2008.
Its founder, Frank Huyghe, has resold his diving equipment company in order to thrust himself into the watch making adventure and create his own watch brand.
World record holder of depth of diving (-330 m) with Pascal Bernabé, Ralf Tech is a brand to be discovered.

 

A solid construction…

First claim from Ralf Tech : the systematic test of the dive watches in real conditions.
They go through hyperbaric box beam at the indicated depth in order to check their waterproofness.
A substantial precaution when a lot of brands content themselves with theoretical resistance.

With a casing equipped with double 47.5 mm diameter seals and a 5.9 mm thick sapphire, this Ralph Tech seems well carved to face several outings to the sea.

The global finishing is correct but could have been improved, in particular for the dial, a bit rough.

 

… combined to a strong personality

It is obvious that the Ralf Tech WRX is not a “shy” watch : it immediately stands out !
It is nice to notice that, even if evident inspirations from the competition are found (hands and cushion shape casing of Panerai type, “Méga Tapisserie” motif of the dial from Audemars Piguet, for the most obvious…), the WRX has a peculiar and endearing personality.

 

Ralf Tech WRX City Explorer C : its strong personality combined with a pleasant design produce an interesting alternative for someone who is looking for a different and endearing watch.

A dive watch… that reminds of the automobile world

Paradoxically, although the brand’s discourse and its founder experience are really diving directed, this WRX rather reminds of the automobile world.

First with its name !
WRX City Explorer C, it sounds more like a trendy ATV than a diving tool, right?

But the comparison does not stop there : as the super powerful American “muscle cars” but at the end not really adapted to a sport driving, the WRX City Explorer C seems indestructible but will be more comfortable in the urban exploration than in the sub-marine one : the readability is average, nightly and daily.

As for the chrono, it is certainly more present for the look than to improve the performance : simply because it cannot be used under water and its doubtful graduation does not match the movement’s frequency.

The hands stopping between the markers cannot allow an accurate measure of the time of cooking of the pastas, once back on dry land…

 

What to remember

Let’s be clear : despite its 300 m waterproofness, the Ralf Tech WRX City Explorer C is not a watch thought for diving.
Nevertheless, its strong personality combined with a pleasant design produce an interesting alternative for someone who is looking for a different and endearing watch.
Only the price seems a bit ambitious on this chrono version…
The 3-hand models offer the same looks for a more reasonable price.

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