What if you could have the aesthetics of a vintage watch without all of the fuss?

This is the sentiment that Parisian industrial designer and watch collector Etienne Malec infused into his brand, Baltic Watches. Imbued with vintage inspiration but built with modern materials and outfitted with contemporary movements, Baltic timepieces marry looks from Patek, Rolex, and others without veering into homage territory: They encapsulate the essence of vintage watches, but they’re certainly not copies. And best of all — they’re wildly affordable.

This particular Balic is an HMS-002, an automatic dress watch with a ‘stepped’ case inspired by timepieces from the 1940s. Housed in a 38mm stainless steel case with ‘holey’ lugs, an acrylic crystal, and a signed crown, it features a handsome, brushed and satin-finished silver 'sector' dial with printed ‘Arabic’ indices, an outer minute track, and a matching blued-steel ‘feuille’ handset. 

Powered by the automatic Miyota 8315 movement with 60 hours of power reserve, it comes paired to a signed blue leather strap with a signed stainless steel pin buckle.

If you look carefully, you can see traces of vintage Calatravas from the golden age of watchmaking — but at a tiny sliver of the price.

What’s to argue with?!