Reply With QuoteNice one! Got an early 70s look to it, obvs, and kept the size period too
A bit of background - Le Forban Sécurité Mer was a French brand, launched in 1969, which offered 'serious' diving watches only sold through maritime supply shops. They only ever offered diving watches and produced around 20 models during the life of the company, some finding favour with the French Navy, notably issued to the Coast Guard (the 'patmar'), vintage models bearing the MN stamp are now quite collectable.
The brand has been relaunched as a micro-brand with a new model called the 'Malouine' - the adjective relating to the port of Saint Malo, onetime home to corsairs and privateers, or forbans as they are known in French.
The watch has a Miyota 8215 automatic movement, measures 39mm across, has a domed sapphire crystal and the crown has the anchor logo. It comes on a silicone tropic-style strap with a signed buckle and is available in black or sunburst blue.
And here's mine! Number 006.
Nice one! Got an early 70s look to it, obvs, and kept the size period too
Looks very nice👍
Very nice simon!
How much was it Simon?
Very nice Simon. I really like the look of the blue sunburst dial. Though for the price, I'd like to see a bracelet.
Very handsome watch. FWIW, I have several 8215s. All have been better or equal to 2824s in terms of accuracy and none have the infamous second hand stutter.
I'm liking that alot. Any chance of a profile shot to see how much the crystal domes please?
Nice one Simon, I like that a lot.
Best Regards - Peter
I'd hate to be with you when you're on your own.
Something different and not a brand you see that often.
Apologies for a sidetrack, but Le Forban ownership is stamped in to my memory. I sold an MN Le Forban 10 years ago on the forum, £300 or thereabouts. The first response to the sales post was an accusation of speed posting to access SC. A badge of honour. Of course it was an accusation without foundation whatsoever, which was withdrawn.
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It's very entertaining to see who your accuser was!Originally Posted by BillyCasper
Belle prise, Simon.
I just had a look on their website, and it seems very good value. I'll enquire further.
Will it be sold as the Falkland in the UK?
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
I quite like that.....the little Tricolor band is a nice touch. Just under €500 seems a reasonable price too. My only criticism would be the mildly amusing publicity shots on the website with the Wild and windswept models 😀
It'd be interesting comparing this with the Baltic Aquascaphe:P Great watch!
That's a very nice-looking diver. Enjoy!
It's been a while since something has caught my eye but this certainly has.
I've got a soft spot for them as I've got a Le Forban Securite Mer stuffed away in a drawer due to problems with the screw down crown. Damn thing weighs a ton and has a case you could use to drive in 6 inch nails
Found a similar one on google images, but mine has a light blue bezel
They are just under 500 Euros including shipping and VAT.
I was really tempted with the blue, the bezel is a particularly nice shade, but as I'm fond of my blue Vostok scuba dude, I thought I'd go with the black. But it was a tough call.
Best I can do
There's an idea!Will it be sold as the Falkland in the UK?
I'd say this is to try and woo the Daniel Wellington crowd, rather than convince old 'uns like us.
Quick thread resurrection, the watch has been reviewed (+ve and -ve) by The Urban Gentry.
Really like the look of that. I would love to see a new version of the 1969 original, that'd definitely be on the shopping list.
Very nice! How have you found it now that you've had it for a few months?
I'm pretty sure the brand owner intends to launch a new model later this year with the distinctive oversized numerals; no doubt to criticism that he is ripping off the Glasshütte SeaQ.
For me it's an ideal everyday desk-diver - extremely low profile, highly legible and running at +4 secs/day. The only minor negative is the famous, or infamous, noisy rotor of this particular movement - but it is only really noticeable if there is no daily-life background noise - music, TV, etc.
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