Test Driving The Robot Aerodynamic Titanium Green — An Ode To A Czech Masterpiece
This past November, I had the opportunity to attend the WatchPro event in London. It was a great evening of seeing both old and new faces along with some fantastic watches. One of the pieces that caught my eye came from a small Czech company. The Robot Aerodynamic treads a dangerous path with its auto-inspired details, but it struck me as unique and very well done.
It was toward the end of the night at WatchPro when a group of us, including our own Dave Sergeant, were finishing our rounds. We were well into the open bar when we strode past Robot Watches, an up-and-coming Czech brand. The team engaged us and asked if we’d like to take a look at their pieces. After scanning the showcases, my eyes fell upon the Robot Aerodynamic, a watch that takes its inspiration from the windswept Tatra T77 from back in 1934.
The Robot Aerodynamic
The Tatra T77 was a landmark design and is widely considered the first mass-produced aerodynamic car. It even set the stage for a host of other important vehicles like the Volkswagen Beetle. Consequently, I can understand why a Czech-based company would choose to honor it with something enduring like a watch. The result is a piece that is at once modern as well as retro-steampunk. I normally don’t fall for such designs, but the Robot Aerodynamic is quite a watch to behold in the metal. As we will see via the detailing, this is not a run-of-the-mill offering from a small brand.
The specifications and design
The Robot Aerodynamic has a 39.5mm diameter and a sandblasted Grade 5 titanium case. The form is entirely modern and feels finely crafted. There are plenty of smooth, organic shapes when looking at the lugs, crown guards, and even the bezel-to-case transition. It’s a pleasing look and feels nice on the wrist. Water resistance to 5 ATM helps make it a fine daily piece as well.
The dial is certainly the most noticeable characteristic of the watch. The louvers on both sides are embossed and completely through the dial material. The Robot Aerodynamic comes in seven different dial and case color combinations, but this green version was easily the most distinctive to me. Firstly, it reminded me of the ’60s Bulova Accutron Spaceview. Better yet, it’s a chameleon that shows off green or blue depending on the viewing angle. I can recall ’80s titanium jewelry that took on similar tones after exposure to electric current. Regardless of the inspiration, the dial perforations are clean and allow the wearer to see into the movement below.
Those vents take on a design that mimics the vents in the car’s bodywork while evoking dashboard gauges. It sounds kitschy, but oddly, it isn’t in the metal. Furthermore, I find the symmetry of the design pleasing. Luminous central hour and minute hands are on display with a nicely crafted cover for the center pinion. The sub-seconds dial at 6 o’clock also integrates a date window with a background that matches the outer minute track. The contrasting outer track gives off a machined vibe. At 12 o’clock, the Robot Aerodynamic contains an eight-day power reserve display.
An intriguing movement
I was pleased to hear that the Robot Aerodynamic uses a hand-wound movement. This caliber comes from La Joux-Perret and is on view via the display back. Robot has decorated the movement by removing metal and staying on theme with the original Tatra. In the end, the brand managed to add quite a bit of character to a movement that otherwise has a very plate-like demeanor.
The Robot Aerodynamic on the wrist
What I can recall is that the Robot Aerodynamic felt great on the wrist. The titanium material, of course, brings lightness, while the sculpted case conforms well to the wrist. The watch comes on a medium-brown leather strap with a matching titanium pin buckle. This minimalistic strap design suits the watch well. The case’s 12.2mm thickness means that this watch feels more like an everyday piece than a super-slim dress watch, but that’s perfectly fine. It’s certainly a pleasing design to have on the wrist, and it feels like an expensive watch.
Pricing and availability
The Robot Aerodynamic is available on the brand’s official website for €6,300 and in a handful of retailers in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. I can imagine that this price will come across as steep for most as it’s an entirely new brand for most of our readers. However, should you find yourself in the proximity of a Robot retailer, I’d recommend trying one of these in person. The finishing is fantastic, and it’s a truly unique design. Finally, as we found out in our last discussion with the leadership at the company, we can expect to see more audacious designs using fine movements in 2024. We’re excited to see what’s in store for this newcomer.
