The new stars at Swiss watch-brand Carl F. Bucherer are not again Hollywood actors or sport enthusiasts as brands usually commit as ambassadors to represent their products, but 188 manta rays! The reason is mainly the brands support in The Manta Trust, a UK registered charity committed to protecting and ensuring the survival of manta rays in more than 20 countries. These mysterious sea creatures survival is being threatened by overfishing. Carl F. Bucherer has supported this charity for many years and now launches a limited-edition timepiece dedicated to the charity for the first time!
The new Patravi ScubaTec Manta Trust is limited to 188 watches. Two manta rays are pictured on the dial and what makes this watch so special is, that each watch is unique! On the backside of the case you can spot a specific manta ray that has been captured on camera underwater by Manta Trust CEO Guy Stevens and his team. The identification number is engraved underneath and with this number the owner has an access code to the website where he can name this real manta ray.
Part of the sales proceeds will go to help finance an entirely new kind of scientific expedition. This includes a trip in August, where a team of the foundation has spend two weeks out at sea monitoring the manta ray population in the Maldives to analyse their habitat use and feeding habits, as well as the planktonic prey on which the mantas feeds. This information is essential to ensure the survival of the species.
Let’s also talk about the watch’s features. Patravi ScubaTec Manta Trust has an automatic helium release valve which makes dives up to 500 meters possible. The indices and hands are highly luminescent which make them extra visible and readable underwater. The bezel is made of stainless steel and ceramic and fitted with a black rubber wristband. A real sports-watch! And as mentioned before, the real stars of this watch, the manta rays are visible on the dial and a ‘personal’ manta ray hidden on the backside of the case.
By the way, the name ‘manta’ comes from the Spanish language meaning blanket. Giant mantas can grow with a span of up to 7 meters and weight 2 tons! And they don’t have a poison sting like some other skate species and therefore are not dangerous for humans but on the contrary even tolerate divers in their surroundings! A nice project with an environmental benefit that Carl F. Bucherer has added to their collection.
