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A vintage-inspired timepiece designed with refined details.
Passionate watch collector and vintage timepiece aficionado Stijn Busschaert established his own company in 2016. Named Méraud from the French word for emerald (émeraude), the brand aims to shake up the industry by offering vintage-style watches that blend heritage character with state-of-the-art engineering and modern design. All at an affordable price. Deeply involved in every step of the manufacturing process, Stijn Busschaert ensures that each timepiece crafted to the highest standard. While designed in-house in Ghent, Belgium, the Méraud collection comes to life thanks to collaborations with established suppliers around Europe. For example, the STP1-11 caliber movement is made in Switzerland by a leading watch group brand, while the hand-finished leather straps come from a supplier that also works with an iconic handbag brand.
The company’s first timepiece, the Méraud Bonaire dive watch is minimalist and elegant as well as sporty and versatile. The name not only rolls off the tongue, but it also has a hidden meaning. An island in the Caribbean, Bonaire is known as “Diver’s Paradise” – a nod to the design’s source of inspiration. The Méraud Bonaire timepiece pays homage to 1960s dive watches and features vintage-style details such as a domed sapphire bezel insert which resembles the Bakelite bezels from the ’50s-’60s era. The 39mm case looks refined on the wrist and boasts contrasting finishes that create a play on textures. Expertly crafted, the case ensures water resistance up to 20bar/200m. The scratch-resistant sapphire crystal offers reliable protection against scratches, bringing peace of mind to those with active lifestyles.
While clean and minimal, the watch has a distinctive character. The intentional exclusion of a date window preserves the purity and balance of the design. Created with optimal legibility in mind, the dial features high-contrast text and indexes with a SuperLumiNova finish. The Onyx Black dial has a glossy finish and comes with patina-like SuperLumiNova, while the Marine Blue and Graphite Gray sunburst dials feature a C3 SuperLumiNova coating. Inside the 39mm case, the modified Caliber STP1-11 Swiss automatic mechanical movement keeps the time with precision. STP1-11 runs at 28,800 beats per hour and has a 44-hour power reserve. Elegant details include the “perlage” finish as well as a “Côte de Geneve” finish on the rotor.
Finally, the elegant strap measures 2mm. Hand-finished and saddle-stitched, the classic leather straps come in cognac, blue, or gray colors. All feature anti-allergenic lining. Thanks to the added lug holes on the case, the user can easily change the straps when needed. Each Méraud Bonaire watch comes with an extra rubber strap and a NATO-style strap as well as a strap changing tool, all placed in a stylish wooden box. Launched on October 17 through Kickstarter, Bonaire will be available to backers at a reduced cost (under $800) compared to the future retail price of just under $1000. All backers will also receive a unique caseback number. Photographs© Méraud Watch Company.
