The 1980s-Inspired Delma Midland Automatic with Integrated Bracelet
Delma resurrects the name Midland and gives it a 1980s integrated look.
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Most of Delma’s repertoire is sporty, verging on instrument-style watchmaking incarnated by the highly impressive 5,000m-rated Delma Blue Shark IV. The brand has long demonstrated its ability to create robust and capable watches at fair prices. But today, Delma has decided to embrace the other end of the spectrum with its answer to the highly popular sporty-chic watch with an integrated bracelet. Dubbed Midland, a name with a long history for the brand, this new watch adds a cool and old-school 1980s touch to the genre and retains an accessible price.
The new Delma Midland Automatic is the latest creation of a watch with 100 years of history. The brand celebrated its centenary this year with the release of an unexpected tourbillon watch. The name Midland has a strong significance for the brand, too, as it was one of the four brand names used by the founding brothers in the 1920s, and it was also the name of Delma’s first chronograph model, released in 1946. The name Midland continued to exist, and by the 1980s, it gave birth to bold and sporty watches. But for its return, the Midland changes everything.
Back to the 1980s and the oddly cool, slightly outdated power of the fashion era. For that, the Delma Midland Automatic relies on a shaped case with an integrated bracelet and a textured bezel, responding to the current trend for sporty-chic watches with metal bracelets. Yet, we’re not looking at another RO-inspired model. We’re looking at something a bit more in the vibe of Miami Vice and Gordon Gekko: the 1980s with a modern twist.
The steel case has a classic barrel shape, a combination of satin-brushed surfaces, and polished bevels on the sides. What makes this new Delma Midland original is the use of a geometrically shaped link to connect the bracelet to the case and a finely fluted bezel to frame the dial. In typical Delma style, the watch remains robust with a 100m water-resistance. The proportions are classic: 40.5mm diameter, thickness of 10.8mm and length of 47mm. A sapphire crystal protects the dial.
The Midland launches in six colours, ranging from classic white, black or dark blue to more original tones such as dark green, ice blue and salmon. All the dials feature a pyramid-stamped guilloché-style pattern with applied markers and hands that are nickel-plated and filled with Super-LumiNova. A date window is placed at 3 o’clock.
Under the see-through caseback is a tried-and-tested Sellita SW200-1 (alternative to the ETA 2824), providing reliability and accessibility. Running at a 4Hz frequency, it boasts 41h of power reserve and is wound by a customized rotor.
Original and different, the Delma Midland Automatic is also fairly priced at CHF 1,100 or EUR 1,250. It is now available from the brand and its retailers. For more details, please visit www.delmawatches.com.
3 responses
For a similar budget I’d be more tempted by the nivada f77.
These look amazing imo. Bummer i´m broke af right now lol
I want to like it, and in a vacuum they’re amazing. That being said, I can’t help but feel that these like many other 70’s era integrated bracelet watches are just a cash grab.