Delbana Celebrates Its 90th Anniversary

This year, Delbana celebrates 90 years of watchmaking, a significant milestone and success. And of course, the manufacture set out to create a new series of automatic timepieces inspired by its own history under the name of a classic: The Delbana Recordmaster.
Originally introduced as a men’s model in the 1950s, the new Recordmaster I embodies Delbana’s heritage and DNA of quality and style at an affordable price. And this new watch is marketed to men and women alike.

When the Recordmaster was originally released, advancements in vinyl records had a profound impact on the music industry and society as a whole. The new method of recording and transmitting sound has been replaced by continuously changing audio formats but remains a nostalgic and cherished part of history – and for a lot of people vinyl records are not a thing of the past at all. The 1950s and 60s also represent a prime moment in Delbana’s history, a time period, where some of the brand’s most innovative models were introduced.

True to the original, the design of the new Recordmaster I is characterized by a series of stepped black microgrooves which mimic the texture of a vinyl record and serve as a backdrop for applied arrowhead indexes and retro Arabic numerals. The perimeter of the dial is further appointed with the minute track containing oversized circular hour markers that provide a whimsical touch and remind of sheet music and notes while the center of the dial is detailed with a delicate silver guilloche pattern. Delbana has equipped the hour markers as well as the hands with a generous amount of lume, therefore readability is a given, even in the dark.
The minute and hour hands are not only luminous but cathedral shaped, while the seconds hand comes in a striking red. A vintage Delbana logo recalls the classic inspiration while the addition of the date at 3 o’clock adds a further design element and convenience.

The ridged crown is engraved with the Delbana tower and solidifies the well-proportioned design. At 40 mm in diameter, the size of the new model is slightly larger than those of the past while practical and comfortable for daily wear. The polished stainless steel surfaces of the case and clasp give it a modern yet very classic appearance. The case is water resistant up to 5 atm.

The automatic movement Delbana chose for the Recordmaster I recalls early pieces of the manufacture, before quartz was introduced. The Sellita SW 200-1 is visible through a transparent case back to allow the owner to experience the joy of an automatic Swiss Made wristwatch. It works tirelessly at 4 Hz and provides a power reserve of about 38 hours.

Delbana offers the Recordmaster I on a black leather strap.
This watch is a limited edition which consists of only 90 pieces.