- Baltic has revealed its final MR references as a pair of limited edition watches that feature bezels set with eye-catching lab-grown moissanite stones.
- Available with either a roulette dial or with Breguet numerals, the watches feature updated movement finishing and are paired with either a beads-of-rice bracelet or a leather strap.
- Both watches are limited editions of 200 pieces, and on the bracelet, they’re priced at €1,160 (~AU$1,950), while the leather strap costs €1,100 (~AU$1,850).
The world of thoughtfully designed, well-made microbrand watches has come a very long way since the Baltic MR collection was first released in 2021, but half a decade later, the range has remained something of an industry benchmark in affordable watchmaking.
Now, Baltic has announced that the MR line is coming to an end with a final, sparkling hurrah as it debuts a pair of moissanite-set limited editions to mark the final chapter of a design that’s been loved around the world.
If you’re familiar with Baltic’s MR range, the spec sheet reads mostly the same as previous references within the collection. We’re getting a 36mm stainless steel case that measures 9.9mm thick (including the domed Hesalite over the dial), 30m of water resistance, and a micro-rotor equipped Hangzhou movement with 42 hours of power reserve.
The dial choices are also a familiar set, with the two options being either with applied Breguet numerals and leaf hands or a printed roulette-style layout with dauphine hands. Unlike the heavily textured references of the past, both of these dials arrive with a glossy black finish that certainly works to elevate the main draw of the limited editions: moissanite-set bezels.
Now, if you’re not one who enjoys bling, these are probably going to be a miss from the get-go. However, if you’ve always appreciated a touch of restrained sparkle – perhaps a Patek Philippe Ref. 5971P-001 or a Rexhep Rexhepi Chronomètre Contemporain II Diamant – there’s something very cool about these limited editions.
Are you likely to wear them as your daily watch? No. Could they tick the “special occasion” box in your collection that’s long been missing? Absolutely, they could.
Especially given that Baltic has always been an affordably focused microbrand, the use of moissanite doesn’t feel like it’s even close to straying into the territory of over-the-top, gaudy fake watches. They’re as elegantly proportioned as the MR range has ever been, and while they might look like diamonds from a distance, they’re not trying to trick anyone into thinking you’re wearing a six-figure watch.
Since 2023, when Baltic’s watch designer Jas shared a custom MR example on his Instagram, I’ve wondered if enthusiasts would get the chance to own an iced-out production version of the watch. Eventually, we did get one, and fittingly, as a farewell to one of the nicest affordable watches in the game.
Both versions of the Baltic MR Moissanite are limited editions of 200 pieces, and on the bracelet, they’re priced at €1,160 (~AU$1,950), while the leather strap costs €1,100 (~AU$1,850). If you want to add one to the collection, you’d better move quickly.
