Swedish brand Bravur has released a new edition of the Bravur Grand Tour chronograph in collaboration with the EF Education-EasyPost pro cycling team, suitably dubbed the Bravur x EF Education-EasyPost Team Edition.
The Release
The new Bravur X EF Education-EasyPost Team Edition features a 38.2mm stainless steel case with a lug-to-lug of 46.3mm and a thickness of 14.4mm. The case is brushed on its sides and top; polished chamfers match a polished fixed bezel. The 18mm lugs emerge naturally from the case, sloping down without disrupting the case lines; they feature polished interior facets. The chronograph pushers are brushed with small, polished chamfers and flank the 3 o’clock branded crown. The caseback features a checkered flag motif around the sapphire display crystal. The watch is powered by automatic Swiss Sellita SW511b, with a bustom rotor with the same checkered flag motif. It comes with an 18mm textured FKM rubber strap in green to match the dial.
The dial sits below a domed sapphire crystal. It features a traditional three-register chronograph layout, with a 15-minute counter at 3, 12-hour counter at 6, and a running seconds at 9. The recessed registers are rendered in dark green and bright pink, the EF Education team colors. The minute track features a checkered flag motif in the same green and pink. Inside the minute track, the silver central dial features what Bravur calls a tarmac texture. The chronograph and running second hands are bright pink, while the hour and minute hands are rhodium-plated with Super-LumiNova fill. The outer ring features 5-minute markings, plus cycling easter egg: an upside-down 13 in pink makes a nod to the cycling tradition of the rider assigned number 13 wearing the number upside-down to avoid the bad luck associated with it.
Our Thoughts
There’s no shortage of sporting collaborations between watch brands and various teams, but I’m not sure how many cycling partnerships there are. I’m sure they’re out there, but the most popular watch partnerships are undoubtedly with autosport. Still, there’s a logic here. Cycling is mechanical, physical, and speed-oriented, all of which begs for a chronograph, and the entire Grand Tour line pays homage to the sport. It should be known that this watch is a “team edition” but is unlikely to be worn during races by team members: members will have their own engraved editions, but EF Education team CEO Jonathan Vaughters refers to the watch as part of the team’s off-bike collection.
Outside of the Grand Tour line, Bravur has always exercised restraint in design and color, but the Grand Tour line seems to be where they get to have a bit of fun. I’ve always liked the lines of the collection, and this new colorway with its contrasting bright pink and deep green are a win. The matching FKM rubber strap is sure to be comfortable, and the proportions of the watch itself seem very manageable for an automatic chronograph. That said, at 38.2mm wide and 14.4mm thick, it’s bound to sit high on the wrist. The only thing I wish for is for Bravur to bring some of the panache of the Grand Tour to its other lines.
Availability
The Bravur x EF Education-EasyPost Team Edition is available now and is priced at $2,550. It can be purchased directly from Bravur.