Viribus Unitis 153.27 Limited Edition (Pre-Aged Bronze)

The 153.27 is a 42mm bronze mechanical dive watch with a 200 meter (660 feet) water rating, powered by the extremely reliable Miyota 9015 automatic movement, incorporating a date complication, a smooth high beat second hand sweep, and a power reserve of over 42 hours.

Why We Love This Watch

Viribus Unitis Watches have some unique features that we've not seen elsewhere. In particular, the sandwich dial's cutouts for the indices are all meticulously edged with an applied border, making for a stunning design. Color choices are intriguing too. The green dial color is based on the historical color of the WWI vintage aircraft, and the marine grade CuSn8 bronze has been carefully pre-aged to produce some rich red-hued colors. Even the unusual leather canteen-style watch box picks up on the WWI era theme, adding to the collectibility of this timepiece.

 Limited Edition

This model is a 200 piece limited edition, with each watch individually numbered.

Almost all have already been sold, with just a few remaining. We were very excited to be able to procure a small quantity of just three per color, the first time that Viribus Unitas has ever partnered with a retailer. We have a promise of three more to follow, after which all stocks will be depleted and this model will no longer be available.

The Story Behind The 153.27

153.27 was the identification number of an Albatros D.III fighter aircraft from World War I, which you can see beautifully engraved on the back of the watch. This biplane was flown by Georg Kenzian Edler von Kenzianhausen, one of Austria-Hungary's most successful fighter pilot aces of the war, with nine confirmed victories, seven of which were in Albatros D.IIIs.

 At least two of Georg Kenzian's victories were recorded in the 153.27. One was at Arsiero-Villaveria on the 18th November 1917, where his opponent, a Nieuport fighter was set on fire. The other was South of Asiago on the 27th November 1917, where his opponent, an Italian S.A.M.L. reconnaissance two-seater, was also set on fire. Possibly other victories were obtained in 153.27 such as a victory on the 7th December 1917 where only the model flown was recorded.

Austro-Hungarian Albatros D.III fighters were armed with twin 8mm (.315in) Schwarzlose machine guns, with the 153 series being powered by a 168kW 225hp Austro-Daimler engine. To give an idea of how dangerous flying could still be in this era, Austro-Hungarian pilots often removed the propeller spinner from their D.IIIs as it was prone to falling off in flight! This was only rectified starting with aircraft number 153.112, so would've been an issue to contend with in aircraft number 153.27.

The dial color is based on the historic color that 153.27 was painted, and the two arrows at 9 o'clock are taken from the aircraft's altimeter. Here the top number is the service ceiling of the Albatross D.III, (just over 18,000 feet,) and the lower number shows the maximum water rating of this dive watch. The diving and aircraft themes are honored by the second hand which features both an anchor on the counterweight and an aircraft pointer. The anchor is also the signature element on the crown.

The Story Behind The Brand

We especially love microbrand watches when we have an opportunity to help a talented watch designer bring his first creations to market. Thomas Hiden is the inspirational creator and driving force behind Viribus Unitis Watches. Situated deep in the Vienna Forest in Austria, his one man company has produced some truly inspirational designs based on the historical theme of Austro-Hungarian WWI flying aces. Handling his watches, you can feel his sense of pride shining in the meticulously designed details.

Specifications

• Type: Microbrand watch.
• Reference: Viribus Unitis Watches 153.27.
• Limited Edition Size: 200 numbered pieces.
• Complications: Date window.
• Color Scheme: Green and bronze.
• Water Resistance: 20 ATM / 200 meters / 660 feet.
• Diameter: 42mm, excluding crown.
• Lug-to-Lug Length: 52mm.
• Lug Width: 22mm.
• Height: 14mm.
• Weight: 180 grams, excluding strap.
• Case: CuSn8 marine grade bronze.
• Case Back: 316L marine grade stainless steel with biplane engraving.
• Dial Type: Sandwich.
• Glass Type: Scratch resistant Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.
• Bezel: 120 click unidirectional bronze bezel with aluminium insert.
• Lume: Swiss Super-Luminova
• Straps Included: 1x green 22mm NATO strap with bronze hardware.
• Movement: 24 jewel Miyota 9015 automatic movement.
• Oscillation: High beat 28,800 BPH, (8 ticks per second.)
• Hacks: Yes.
• Hand Winds: Yes.
• Automatic Winding: Yes.
• Power Reserve: Over 42 hours.
• Manufacturer's Warranty: 2 years.