The Initial Open Heart from Charlie Paris – Review

Charlie Paris – Initial Open Heart

Two childhood friends, Ambroise and Adrien founded the Charlie Paris brand and launched their first watch collection in 2014. They wanted to create an alternative to luxury watches at an affordable price. They try to combine traditionality and modernity.

A few weeks ago, I got a parcel from Paris. I opened it and I was happy with what I saw. The packaging and the garnish were really nice and aesthetic. This is how it should be done. It came in a high-quality blue nice watch box with a manual and a kind message. It is an eco-responsible box; it is made from recycled cardboard.

You can read their story and check out their website here.

You can also watch the unboxing video here.

There are three dial variations available, a blue, a green, and a white one and you can choose from 8 strap options.

I chose the „Mick Bleu”, which is a blue leather strap with white stitching.

On the end of the strap, there is a nice stainless-steel buckle. I think there should be a logo here, I feel a lack of it. Nowadays a marked buckle is a basic thing.

These are quick-release straps, which are very popular nowadays, which I honestly love.

The case is made out of 316L stainless steel. Great finishing and polishing everywhere, no sharp edges anywhere. All the surfaces, lug ends, and case edges are smooth.

The diameter of the case is 40mm, the lug width is 20mm and the thickness is 11.5mm. Great dimensions for a dress watch! Actually, with this white dial and with the form of the case it looks bigger!

The crown looks good and has a good feel. In fact, I could imagine an embossed logo on it, that’s what I miss.

The see-through case back is mesmerizing. A sapphire crystal at the back and on the front.

I’ve always loved watches with a transparent back because it gives you a glimpse behind the scenes.

Through the crystal, you can see a Miyota Cal. 82S7 automatic movement. It is pretty decorated with the ”Geneva Waves” and the marked rotor. To me, it looks much more expensive than it is. Nice and very aesthetic. I really like it.

The movement’s accuracy is around -20~+40 sec per day and it has 42 hours of power reserve with a 21,600 per hour vibration frequency. 21 jeweled and also hand-windable. An affordable yet good-looking movement with some fantasy, I would say a great choice!

On the back, some text is also shown in a circle: 316L stainless steel, 3 ATM water resistance, sapphire crystal, and it is assembled in France. And a unique serial number is also shown. And no surprise it is all in French!

The dial is unquestionably special. This sandblasted white color gives some pure elegance to the watch. The thin steel hour markers are in harmony with the eternal classic sword hands.

There is also an inner white chapter ring marked every 5 minutes.

 At twelve you can see the „Charlie Paris” logo.  At the center of the dial, you can see the „heart” of the watch. At five a small second, at 7 an open skeletonized balance, and a 24-hour indicator at 9. It is really satisfying to see the movement when you are checking the time. The blue small second hand stands out a bit from this dial and it is in a balance with the blue straps.

With these big steel sword hands on the white dial is always easy to read the time. Actually, there is no luminescence anywhere on this watch, but I don’t feel it necessary here. This elegant dress watch is in perfect harmony, every corner and every edge are perfectly balanced, and the lume on the hands would break this balance.

The 30m water resistance is also good for a dress watch, no more needed. No one would wear such a watch in the water, but it is splash resistant, which is enough in my opinion.

I think the price is fair without a doubt. 395€ for the Initial Open Heart. For this price, you get a unique automatic watch with good quality and a timeless classic design. You won’t see many of these on the street because this is not your everyday watch.

I can definitely feel the professionalism and quality when I hold this watch in my hands. With its polished case, elegant dial, and comfortable straps, it has everything you need for a good dress watch. You can see into its “heart” and therefore this watch will never lie to you!

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