Elka Watch Co. Introduces Arinis X Loch Lãt Swiss-Inspired Diver
By Matthew Catellier for FORBES
Elka Watch Co. has launched the Arinis x Loch Lãt, a new dive watch that draws on the regional history of Saint-Blaise, a small town on the edge of Lake Neuchâtel. This collaborative release connects modern watchmaking with a local heritage that spans over 4,000 years, including Roman-era construction and early engineering milestones.
The name Arinis refers to the ancient designation for Saint-Blaise, where in 80 BCE sandstone was quarried and shipped across the lake to help construct Aventicum, the Helvetian capital of the Roman Empire. Long before that, around 2600 BCE, the now-symbolic Wheel of Saint-Blaise marked an early mechanical innovation. That artifact later became the emblem of Loch Lãt, a local whisky brand involved in the project.
The Arinis x Loch Lãt features a 41 mm stainless steel case with a 200-meter water resistance rating, a unidirectional ceramic bezel, and a chevé box-style sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating. Inside is the La Joux-Perret G100 movement, a modern automatic calibre running at 4 Hz with a 68-hour power reserve and stop-second function.