Channeling the golden age of chronograph designs, Méraud Watch Co introduces its latest in the new Antigua model. Serving as an ode to the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta race in the Caribbean, the watch follows-up on the 2019-introduced Bonaire diver, which like today’s model was itself a 1960s vintage-inspired timepiece.

In design, the new Antigua channels early diver chronograph styles with a vintage regatta twist via its “big eye” aesthetic, recalling historical styles like those seen produced by Nivada Grenchen, Croton, Yema, and others. These vintage models were purpose built for yacht-racing and sailing, pairing equal parts chronograph utility with dive sturdiness, and the latest from Méraud matches the style with its own modern flair.
In dimensions, the Antigua opts for moderate sizing, making use of a 40mm by 13.5mm steel case, with contrasting brushed and polished finishing throughout providing a nice combination of textures to elevate the sporty look. A pair of pump pushers and a slightly domed crown add to its vintage credentials on the right side, while a Bakelite insert produced with a faux patina colorway is put to use for the watch’s dive scale for its unidirectional bezel. A 100m water resistance ensures its aquatic wearability when secured to the wrist via its tropic rubber strap or triple link steel bracelet.

Heading underneath the domed sapphire crystal, we come to the vintage-inspired design code of the Antigua...