Founder of the Méraud brand is the Belgian Stijn Busschaert, who after several years working as a real estate consultant decided to devote himself exclusively to his old passion for watches. His first model, called Bonaire, a 1950s-style diver, is currently sold out. His second model is the Antigua chronograph (also sold out), powered by the well-known Landeron 248 calibre, produced in the 1960s.
It is a manual movement, with 18,800 vibrations per hour, 41 hours of power reserve and cam-driven gearbox, refurbished and personalised with the Méraud logo.
The discontinued but 'new old stock' movements were purchased in Switzerland, not without difficulty, and were all fully overhauled and customised with the brand logo. They are reliable instruments, produced in over three million pieces between the 1940s and 1970s, and have equipped hundreds of models during their long careers.
The Antigua is produced in two versions of 100 pieces each, with a black or beige dial and contrasting counters. The watch is inspired by vintage yachting right from its name, a tribute to the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, which takes place every year on the Caribbean island. The price is €1,750.
The continuous seconds hand at 9 o'clock is in the shape of a compass needle and the chrono minute counter at 3 o'clock has the two classic subdivisions of 5 minutes each, highlighted in light blue and orange, to calculate the starting times for regattas. Price of the bracelet version: 1,875 euros.
The rotating bezel is a sapphire crystal with luminous inserts and deliberately recalls the bakelite ones typical of the 1960s. Each watch also comes with an additional rubber strap, 'tropic' style, very much in vogue among divers in the 1960s. Website and e-commerce: www.meraud-watches.com; Instagram: @meraudwatches.
