New Territory, Same Fortis Expertise
After more than a century of watchmaking, Fortis can cite several years in its history that are significant to the establishment of its reputation as a leader in the design of fine timepieces. Years like 1943, when Fortis introduced the water resistant Fortissimo; or 1987, the year Fortis launched its trend-setting Fortis Flieger Chronograph; and 1994, when a Fortis watch made its first orbit around the earth aboard the MIR space station.
Fortis introduced its newest collection – Terrestis – in Basel earlier this year, and in doing so added 2015 as another watershed year in the brand’s history. Within the Terrestis collection, watches like the 19Fortis series pay homage to vintage designs of the 1900s, especially the ’30s and ’40s, and fill a previously vacant niche in the brand’s lineup. The 19Fortis is a sophisticated dress watch for the cosmopolitan adventurer – the kind of suave gent who spends his time negotiating the rhythms of fast-paced modern life.
| Fortis 902.13.21 19Fortis | Fortis 902.13.21 19Fortis Caseback | |
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The design is part nostalgia and part opulence, beginning with a straightforward case that aims to highlight the dial with its thin polished bezel and discreet curved lugs. At 40 mm in diameter and 8 mm in height, it’s designed to have a low profile and slide comfortably under a shirt cuff. And the case is available in one of two metals: polished stainless steel or solid 5N rose gold.
There are two dial variants for each metal: an “a.m.” version of silver-opaline and a “p.m.” version of anthracite, the first representing day (light) and the latter representing night (dark). Aside from the a.m. versus p.m. background coloration, the dials of all four 19Fortis models are almost identical. The pattern at the center of the dial is described as “pleated texturing,” meant to convey the qualities of a perfectly “pressed tuxedo shirt,” which speaks to the watch’s place among gentlemen.
| Fortis 902.13.22 19Fortis | Fortis 902.13.22 19Fortis Caseback | |
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Moving outward, applied rose-gold-coated Roman numerals at 12, 2, 4, 8 and 10 o’clock are interspersed with similarly coated dot hour markers. A small minute-and-second track at the outside of the dial features Arabic numbers at five-minute increments, in pleasant contrast to the large and sparsely populated Romans.
The watch’s baton-style hour and minute hands are also coated with 5N rose gold, with the hour hand reaching just to the outer edge of the central pleated pattern and the minute hand extending further to the minute-and-second track. The silver-opaline dial version features one significant difference – a blued sweeping seconds hand, another nod to traditional watchmaking and a striking focal point. Models with anthracite dials have a rose-gold-coated seconds hand instead. The 19Fortis features a single complication – the date – aptly framed in a tidy window at 6 o’clock.
| Fortis 902.20.21 19Fortis | Fortis 902.20.21 19Fortis Caseback | |
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More blued steel is visible through the window on the caseback, where the blued screws of the Swiss made ETA 2892-A2 automatic movement appear. The winding rotor is engraved with the Fortis emblem and features perlage circular graining to match the bridges below. The caseback employs six screws to fasten it to the front of the case.
19Fortis watches are paired with one of two strap styles, dressy alligator-patterned leather with matching parallel stitching or more casual grained leather with white parallel stitching. Each strap is available in black or brown and all of them have tang buckles in either stainless steel or rose gold to match the case.
| Fortis 902.20.22 19Fortis | Fortis 902.20.22 19Fortis Caseback | |
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The symmetrical design of the 19Fortis is an example of refined, harmonious arrangement, and it proves once again that Fortis sees no boundaries in its ability to build watches for all aspects of modern life. Every 19Fortis watch is packaged in a leather box and comes with the Fortis international warranty. Contact an authorized Fortis dealer today to explore the 19Fortis and the entire 2015 Terrestis collection.
Gevril Group US, Canada and Caribbean Fortis Watches Agent
Gevril Group is the sole US, Canada and Caribbean agent for Fortis Watches and the authorized Fortis watch repair service center. Contact us by email or by calling 845-425-9882.
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