I Love LA! The Camp Malaga Red

"Santa Ana winds blowing hot from the north, and we were born to ride!"

Randy Newman, I Love LA

Courtesy of Camp Watches

Having spent many years Los Angeles adjacent in Santa Barbara, I was excited to learn (belatedly) about Camp Watches and their Field Timer. 

But back to the matter at hand -

I love LA, but those who know me also know I love an enamel dial, and this little wrist rocket ticks all of the Henki boxes:

Hand winding, enambel dial, unique typeface, and for me just as important - a small (likely to grow) brand with small production - to quote the Dynamic Duo at the Wrist Check Podcast - "When you know, you know."

Camp Watches is the baby of Justin Jakobson. He mentions that his first watch was a Swatch Yamaha Racer. As one of mine was the Swatch Calypso Diver (bought at May Company in the  Midway Mall in Elyria, Ohio back in August 1985) I already feel a bond!

So per the website, it appears that all conception, design, sales, and marketing rest with him and Camp Watches in LA. The watches are assembled by Reglatronic SA in Ligornetto, Switzerland - that's the Ticino region for those of you unfamiliar. On a side note, I highly recommend a trip to the region if you are so inclined, but save Lugano for last. Ticino is beautiful, and an under-appreciated hub of Swiss watchmaking. 

Courtesy of Camp Watches

If I have read correctly, the Camp Malaga comes with three straps, my favorite being the Bonklip bracelet - I'm just funny that way. But it also comes with a leather strap (above), and on in Cordura nylon (below) -

Courtesy of Camp Watches

The movement is Sellita's SW210-1b which is a hand-wound caliber.

Courtesy of Camp Watches

And it is attractively priced at $900 US.

I realize that for many possibly reading this, The Camp Malaga is not a "new" item, but then again I often find myself at the back of the "Conga Line" -

Shamelessly borrowed from the world-wide infoweb

Here are the pertinents -

Specifications

• CASE: Brushed + polished 316L stainless steel 
• WATERPROOF RATING: 100m/330ft
• DIAL: Berlac stove enamelled lacquer, 15 layers, 1.3mm thick
• DIAL TYPEFACE: 1940 Ford Coupe numerals
  
• FEATURES: Swiss Super LumiNova on hands + numerals
• MOVEMENT: Sellita SW210-1b manual winding, 28’800 A/h (4Hz) with an accuracy of +/-12 sec/day, 18 jewels, adjusted to 2 positions, fully customized train wheel bridge
  
• CRYSTAL: Top hat double dome sapphire with internal AR coating
• CASEBACK: Flat sapphire exhibition window
  
• CASEBACK TYPEFACE: Aeronaves, designed by Mans Greback
• CASE DIAMETER: ø 39mm
• LUG-to-LUG: 47.2mm
• LUG WIDTH: 20mm
• THICKNESS: 10mm including boxed sapphire
• FUNCTIONS: Hours, minutes, seconds
• POWER RESERVE: 42 hours minimum, 45 hours average
• STRAPS, 3 Included: Full-grain Italian leather, Cordura nylon, Steel Bonklip-style
  
• BUCKLE: MIM 316L stainless steel
  
• WEIGHT: 66g/2.3oz with leather strap
• PRODUCTION: 100 pcs

Now to put you in the mood -

Yes, Randy Newman was the original, but in terms of pure audio quality I prefer OMC's take ; )