Filippo Loreti is young watch brand that is currently celebrating its 5th year in business. Founded on the idea of DTC (Direct-To-Consumer) marketing it creates quality time pieces at very reasonable prices. (View their storefront on Amazon here.) I was fortunate enough to get to spend some time with the Ascari Moss Rose Gold, and I have to say the watch does not disappoint especially when considering its current retail sales price of $179.00.
The Ascari line pays homage to the legendary 1950’s Ferrari Grand Prix driver Alderto Ascari. The case back is embossed with the likeness of the Lancia D50, the last car Ascari drove before retiring. All of Filippo’s watches are in some way or another inspired by Italy and Italian design. Their men’s watch lines include the Venice, Florentine, Rome, Odyssey, Okeanos, Arsenal and a the new Skeleton automatic. Filippo’s lines are always changing with many of there watches being limited editions.
Even though the Ascari is traveling in a crowded part of the market price wise, it holds its own. The specifications are nothing that is going to make you sit up and take notice, but it is a solid watch with a good movement, nice case and first class fit and finish. In my opinion what sets the Ascari apart, and this is true of all the Filippo Loreti watch lines, is style.
The Specifications
Case Size: 42mm x 11.9mm thick
Case Material: Stainless Steel Case
Dial: Moss Green
Glass: Flat Sapphire Coated Mineral Glass
Strap: 20mm Moss Green Rubber
Movement: Seiko VD54
First Impressions
When I fist found Filippo Loreti on the web, I was immediately taken with their wonderful color ways and variety of styles on display. I was immediately drawn to the Ascari Moss Rose Gold as well as the Odyssey Sand and Steel, but as I’m currently living in the Pacific Northwest, and surrounded by pines, I decided to go for the green.
At 42mm I was expecting the Ascari to wear a little larger than it does. Granted my wrists are a little on the large size at 7.25” or 184.15mm. This is not a deal breaker by any means, in fact it is kind of nice to find a sporty watch that doesn’t stick out and bang on stuff like my 50mm G-Shocks.
The thing that does stick out about the Moss Green Ascari is its style. I ran into my elderly neighbor at the grocery store and she kept staring at the Ascari and finally commented on how much she liked it. I have dozens of watches, some pricy, some big and flamboyant, some super rare and unique, but I very rarely get open comments about my watches, getting noticed really says something about the Ascari’s style.
The movement in the Ascari, the Seiko VD54 is a solid movement that uses a 371 battery with a typical life span of around 3 years. This jewel-less movement should run for years, my stepfather had a no jewel movement in a one of the original Mondaine Swiss Rail style watches from the 80’s. That watch was on his wrist every day for well over 35 years before it died, I expect nothing less from the VD54.
Another feature that I have found extremely helpful on the Ascari is the dual time bezel. Most chronographs have a fixed bezel with tachometer marking for timing speed. The Ascari bezel with its 12 hour markings has been great while I’ve been traveling this month, I just set it for the time zone my family is in and I always know when I can and can’t call.
If I wanted to get picky about the Ascari I could say that it needs a sapphire crystal glass, high end lume or a swiss automatic movement, but the truth is that Ascari doesn’t need those. I would go so far to say upgrading the watch would take away from what the Filippo Loreti watch line is. The Ascari is a stylish/fashionable quality watch at a great price. You could get a bottom of the line Seiko or a big honking Invicta for similar money, but would you really want to when a stylish handsome Filippo Loreti is available?
The Strap
I almost always swap out watch bands when I get new watch, but I have not with the Ascari. Typically, I do not care for rubber straps but the color, feel and style of the green strap that comes with this watch works great. If I were to swap the strap I think the only thing that would work is a nice leather strap, but it would need to be the exact right color of green to work with the watch.
I played with the idea of putting the Ascari on a brown strap as well as on several colors of 20mm NATO’s that I have. But none of them worked as well as the green rubber that came with the watch. Again, this really says that Filippos Designer is on really on top of his game, the Ascari Moss Rose Gold is a well though through product.
Conclusion
Filippo Loreti has found a unique balance in the watch world between horological art and a quality fashion item. I can easily see owning several Filippo Loreti watches to fill the fashion holes in my watch collection. Sure, you can get a green and gold watch from Rolex or an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, or you can get some cheap knock off Chinese piece of junk. With Filippo Loreti you get a great watch that is stylish and handsome all for less than a couple of hundred bucks.
Keep on a Watching!
Edward
