Praesidus, the purveyor of remarkably satisfying military watch homages, will release its first chronograph, the PAC-76, on December 7. Of course, I had to get my hands on one for an advance review, and I’m happy to say that it is a worthy addition to the Praesidus line.
The PAC-76 is nearly a dead ringer for the third-generation Lemania Fleet Arm pilot’s watch that was issued by the Royal Air Force (RAF) from 1964 to 1990. It shares the RAF’s asymmetrical case shape, narrow handset, and its big 12 and 6 layout. The most significant departures are the Praesidus’s slightly smaller size, and its movement, the affordable and reliable Seiko VK64 MechaQuartz, which mates a quartz unit to a mechanical chronograph module.
Other, less obvious aspects have been modernized as well, like the K1 mineral crystal, the Super-LumiNova on the hands and markers, and the gaskets sealing it for a handy 100m water resistance.
The PAC-76’s case grows more interesting as you take in its details. It measures 38.5mm wide, 45.3mm long, and 11.4mm thick, including the tall box crystal. You’ll likely notice the thickness on the right side between the buttons that gives the watch its distinctive shape. You might initially miss the fact that it has three finishes: a brushed case, polished crown and buttons, and a sandblasted bezel.
Moving on to the dial, Praesidus has gone with the expected military black but in what they call a popcorn texture. If you think of popcorn in terms of ceiling and not snack, it makes sense. This imparts an aged look while also offering a strong contrasting surface that highlights the raised makers and concentric-patterned subdials. It’s an utterly sensible dial that is elevated to a particularly attractive one by those small details. Two-tone lume mirrors that of the government-issued original and easily eclipses both the potency and longevity of any 30 to 50-year-old survivors.
As with other Praesidus watches, you will be able to order a PAC-76 with conventional leather or nylon straps, or a Bonklip-style bracelet. I’d suggest the bracelet because it is highly likely that you don’t already have anything like it in your collection, and you really should give one a try.
Out of the box, I was confronted with a very short end, a very long one, and a wave of confusion as I had no idea what to do with it. Not to fear. It looks weird, but it is quite simple.
Thread the clip through the larger of the two loops on the small end, adjust it to the proper size for your wrist, and then clip the clasp on any of the open links. The spring tabs on the signed clasp keep it secure.
You will be rewarded with a lightweight, low-profile bracelet that offers a wide range of adjustments and ample airflow for those sticky summer months. Also, let’s face it, it looks pretty cool.
With the bracelet in place, the PAC-76 was a perfect fit for my 6.75″ wrist. It’s on the small side, which I like, but the tall dome, broad dial, and asymmetrical bulge give it a purposeful presence. Its sober, military aesthetic means it is easy to transition the watch to a dress-casual look by swapping the Bonklip for a more tailored black two-piece leather strap. The switch is made easier still by the bracelet’s quick-release pins.
On the case back, Praesidus has kept it simple with the name, specs, and a delightfully retro Praesidus logo. I’d be very happy to see them adopt this for use everywhere.
The Praesidus PAC-76 launches on December 7, 2024 for $395 on the Bonklip and $345 on a conventional strap. The price is more than fair, but as a Time Bum reader, you can do even better. Use code Loren15 for 15% off.
This is a lovely watch that fans of the post-war military style will surely enjoy. If that piques your interest, head over to the Praesidus.com PAC-76 page for more.
