Today we are going to review a watch from a German company called Tufina Watches. I personally bought this timepiece through their official website. Recently, they had an end-of-the-year holiday sale, so I went for it. How I came across this brand is simple. I was browsing the web trying to find a good skeleton watch and Tufina popped up. Apparently skeleton timepieces are kind of their niche. After checking out other people’s reviews online, I decided to purchase Casablanca and see for myself.
Overview
- Movement: Mechanical
- Case: 316L stainless steel with 5 micron 22 karat gold plating
- Size: 44mm without the crown
- Water resistance: 3ATM
- Design: Skeleton, open front & back
So, this is supposed to be the brand’s all-time best-seller. They say this is one of their limited edition timepieces with an art deco design. I paid a very affordable price for a German watch. I did some digging into the company’s past and licenses and apparently they’re completely independently-owned by a long line of watchmakers, all from the same family. Their workshops are located in Germany, where they built their watches by hand, something which immediately piqued my interest. Now let’s get into the details.
Tufina Theorema Casablanca GM-101-3 Gold case.
The case
So the case is made of stainless steel. 316L is considered high-grade in the industry, so I have no complaints whatsoever. Moreover, they’ve added 5 micron 22 karat gold plating, which creates a beautiful shine. The finishing is polished and it seems to have been done quite well. They’ve achieved a perfect mirror-like finish. Considering how well it reflects the light and that there are no inconsistencies, I can imagine they didn’t rush this process. For a 44mm watch Casablanca looks quite presentable on the wrist, however, it isn’t too heavy. I think it’s the perfect size for a watch that you can wear every day.
At 3 o’clock we have the crown with a patterned grip and an elegant guard. It rotates easily and smoothly. On the top we have a fixed bezel (nicely polished as well) with engraved indentations and the collection’s name – Theorema. On the back there is an exhibition caseback. A sapphire coated lens sits on the top of the case. I really appreciate the sapphire coating… It is not something you see that often in watches at this price range. The water resistance is 3 ATM, which isn’t a lot but it will do for everyday wear, rain and accidental splashes.
Tufina Theorema Casablanca GM-101-3 Gold skeleton dial.
The dial
Now, onto the most intriguing part of this timepiece. The skeletonized face is what gives Casablanca its character and flare. Around the dial there is a chapter ring with raised, round hour markers and the Made-in-Germany stamp at the bottom. At 6 o’clock we have a seconds sub-dial which is designed in fine circular patterns combined with the Theorema logo. The rest of the dial is fully skeletonized. If you take a closer look at it, you will notice that the engravings are extremely fine and even. An overall symmetry is achieved despite the numerous intricate details. Bold, golden Roman numerals stand out quite nicely. They’ve made the sword hands double-colored and luminous. I think this is a very wise choice as it allows for better legibility. The lume is decent I would say, lasting for a couple of hours.
The movement
The movement is assembled in-house and by hand. Now, this is a mechanical timepiece. Mechanical movements hold a very dear place in my heart. Anyone who knows a bit about watchmaking or appreciates horology as a whole understands how special mechanical pieces are. The process of hand-winding your watch and seeing the hands move very very smoothly over the dial is quite intimate. And Casablanca did not disappoint. Also, I was very happy to see that the movement was equipped with 17 rubies. Precious gems reduce friction and allow for better longevity. In terms of accuracy, I noticed it only loses about +/-7 seconds per day, which is quite decent.
The strap
I was pleasantly surprised with the band. I expected the leather to be stiff (I usually prefer metal bracelets), however, the genuine leather seemed durable and yet comfortable. It quickly molded into a shape that complimented my wrist. The crocodile pattern is a nice touch and I like the matching brown stitching (which was quite well done and symmetrical). The butterfly buckle was a real nice touch! It also displays the collection’s logo, a feature exclusive to luxury brands.
Tufina Theorema Casablanca GM-101-3 Made-in-Germany.
The packaging
Casablanca came in a sleek black box made of a hard plastic material. Inside the watch was perfectly nestled in a black cushion covered in suede. With it came an instruction booklet and an international guarantee. The booklet gave information on maintenance and care, which I think is quite useful especially for buyers who haven’t owned a mechanical watch before. The warranty extends two years.
Final Notes
Overall, I can say Casablanca is one of the best skeleton watches I’ve seen thus far. It has some pretty nice specifications – mechanical movement, a durable 316L stainless steel case, luminous hands and a high-quality leather band. For a German brand, I’d say you will make a safe bet for a timepiece at this price range. If you like the sophisticated, timeless look of see-through watches and are looking for a well-executed skeleton timepiece with great finishing, then the Tufina Casablanca is undoubtedly the best option in the market currently.