Baltic MR Roulette

No more bets

Baltic follows up their highly touted MR Classic with a sporty take on a familiar design: the MR Roulette. In 2022, in collaboration with A Collected Man, Baltic released their first roulette dial in Blue. It was an homage to 1950s dress watches and, in particular the Patek Philippe Calatrava ref. 96, limited to only 300 pieces. The latest collection features four colourways–black, silver, salmon, and the aforementioned blue–only this time around they will remain part of the brand’s permanent catalogue. Here, we’ll take a look at the salmon iteration.

Baltic MR Roulette Watch Review — ^{Baltic MR Roulette @calibre321}

Key Features of the Baltic MR Roulette

The MR Roulette remains a discreet 36mm in diameter and a particularly svelte 9.9mm in height (including the Hesalite dome). Unlike the MR Classic, the predominant finish here is brushing–vertically over the bezel and circularly across the drilled lugs. There is a line of polish separating the bezel from the mid-case, and another along the undercarriage that folds into the display case back.

The watch is tidy 44mm lug to lug and the unprotected, knurled crown is push pull. The aforementioned case back is attached to with six screws and the watch is water resistant to 30m.

The dial, of course, is the main talking point here. Gone are the polished Breguet numerals and delicate leaf hands. In their place, Baltic have designed their own serif font, and we find it radiating in the form of a roulette wheel around a pebble-textured disc at the centre. The sector-styled dial has a further chapter ring with a railroad minute track and left of centre there is an asymmetrical small seconds register with a fine azurage. A set of faceted dauphine hands presides over it all.

Just as visually interesting, the case back offers up an unobstructed view of the automatic Hangzhou CAL5000a Micro-rotor–originator of the “MR” nomenclature and ultimately the ultra-thin case. The calibre is decorated in a gold-coloured oscillating weight with perlage underneath, blued screws, and a Côtes de Genève finish on the bridges. It is a 4Hz movement with a 42-hour power reserve.

Baltic have equipped the watch with an Italian calf leather strap; however, it is also available on any of the brand’s bracelets, which include a beads of rice, a flatlink, and a straight beads of rice.

Specs

Case	316L Stainless Steel 36mm Diameter 44mm Lug to Lug 9.9mm Thick /w Glass 20mm Lug Width Display Case back 30m Water Resistance
Dial & Crystal	Domed Hesalite Pebbled Sector Dial Printed Indexes /w Custom Serif Font Small Seconds Dauphine Handset
Movement	Automatic Hangzhou CAL5000a Micro-rotor 34 jewels 28, 800bph 42-Hour Power Reserve
Strap	Black Saffiano Leather or choice of Bracelet

^{Baltic MR Roulette}

Final Thoughts

While the new MR Roulette shares much with its predecessor, the MR Classic–case, dial colours, etc.–it ultimately hits quite differently. It feels like a sporty rendition of a dress watch; more “modish” than elegant. I like the polyvalence that the brushed case provides and I would like to see it up close on the brand’s beads of rice, or even the flatlink. I think it would prove quite attractive. The dial is a study in texture and very well-rendered. The pebble finish interspersed with the circular brushing of the various tracks, and then interrupted with the azurage of the small seconds, provides the illusion of depth and also lends the dial a degree of sophistication. With this, the MR Classic, the Prismic, and even the brand’s Bicompax, Baltic are slowly cornering the market on the sub-$1000 dress watch.

Pricing & Availability

Launched in July, the first 100 pieces of each iteration are numbered. The Baltic MR Roulette retails for $594USD ($817CAD). For more information, please visit the brand website.

About the author

Brent Robillard is a writer, educator, craftsman, and watch enthusiast. He is the author of four novels. You can follow him on Instagram.

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