Firstly, before I begin my
review on the Azimuth SP-1 King Casino, I would like to specially thank “ablogtowatch” for giving me this opportunity to be the proud
owner of such a magnificent timepiece. I was amazed
to be selected to win this ostentatiously looking watch nicely crafted by Azimuth. Bilal Khan was great in accommodating my emails and responded almost immediately. I would also really like to thank Azimuth for sponsoring this stylish casino styled
watch.
The team of Azimuth here in Singapore was excellent and fantastic to me.
With the formalities all done, let me move on to
the review.
Azimuth has certainly thrown caution to the wind by
daring to be different. Envision the man wearing the watch and a design would materialise. Perhaps this was the muse whom the Azimuth design team
envisaged as they meticulously crafted its dials and face. Being the owner
of this timepiece, I now know they, in all probability, envisioned a unique
individual much like the timepiece they have created.
Just by looking at the SP-1 King Casino, this is one bulky
piece. It is a whopping 45MM across the wrist, yet, you would never expect it to fit so snug
and comfortably. Ergonomically, I think Azimuth nailed it. The big lug wraps nicely around your wrist. The only set back being that if you wear it on your left hand, the huge dice of a crown might jab into
your wrist every now and then. Apart from that, it fits great.
Never in my dreams did I think that shrinking down
a roulette wheel onto your wrist would be so much fun and it was a ‘gamble’ Azimuth
took. This wager surely did pay off handsomely with a magnificently looking piece. The
bold colours and intricate details weave together seamlessly.
The numbers which mimic that of the roulette wheel line
up nicely with the red and black tiles encapsulated by gold borders. Having the numbers encased in gold borders enhances its appearance by providing it the subtle embellishment needed.
Azimuth went one step further to intensify the casino
feel by adding some aspects of Baccarat which I feel blends in cohesively with the roulette wheel. A small detail that stood out to me, was that there are slight curvatures to the hour and minute hands pointing towards the
numbers and 'player' or 'banker' parts which represents the game of Baccarat. Another detail that has got
me hooked is the spinning turret which acts as the second hand. Even the crown
was ingeniously thought of. It happens to be dice-shaped and has dual
functions. Not only is it used for adjusting time, but when depressed, the hand spins and will stop at a
random spot on a number of the roulette wheel. Talk about having some fun with
your buddies the next time you are out at a bar!
An odd feature that I particularly like is the
domed-shaped sapphire glass which I liken to an optical illusion. From the top, it looks deceivingly flat but if you take a closer look you would be able to see
that it is actually spheroid in its construction. Azimuth's superior craftsmanship has managed to showcase itself in every infinitesimal detail impressively. Looking at it up close, it reminds me of a sundial for some reason which is apt as both are used to tell the time.
All these extra little details shows just how well thought and well put together this piece is.
The SP-1 Casino-King is fitted with a modified self-winding Swiss ETA which has a pretty decent power reserve of forty hours. In
terms of water resistance, it is resistant to a depth of thirty metres. In all honesty, I don’t foresee anyone carelessly wearing this to the pool for a dip. It is a little too cumbersome for that sort of
activity.
This watch is definitely flamboyant to say the least. It stands out in an innocuous but positive way, starting small conversations when you least expect with complete strangers. It certainly piques the interest and attention of people who cannot help but to ask for a closer look. Overall, this was a boldly conceived idea by the Azimuth team which seems to be a constant. It is surely a piece that may not appeal to all. This piece adds a little bit of excitement to the normalcy of everyday life.
Kudos to the Azimuth team for yet another
marvellously bold piece. Thinking out of the box and always pushing watch designing to the next level.
