The History of Szanto Watches
Szanto is a relatively new watch company based in California. It was launched in 2013 under the umbrella company Time Concepts. The man behind Time Concepts is Barry Cohen, who created Luminox back in 1989 with the goal to bring the self illuminating watch technology to life.
Barry Cohen established Szanto to fulfill a specific niche in the watch market: he aimed to create timepieces that captured the essence of vintage design, reminiscent of styles from the early 20th century, but combined with modern watchmaking technology and reliability.
Szanto is a brand known for creating vintage-inspired timepieces. The company takes design cues from the past, bringing classic and timeless looks into modern watchmaking. The name itself is a Hungarian family name, a tribute to the founder’s heritage on his mother’s side.
Design
From its inception, Szanto has been driven by a passion for the nostalgic aesthetic. The brand’s watches are characterized by their large dials, classic lines, and a color palette that often includes muted and earthy tones. This approach is intended to evoke a sense of history and timelessness.
Over the years, Szanto has expanded its collection to include a variety of styles, such as pilot watches, dive watches, and field watches. Each style adheres to the brand’s core philosophy of vintage-inspired design but is tailored to meet the needs of different users and activities.
Szanto Watch Movements
Szanto watches are equipped with highly accurate Japanese quartz or 21 jewel automatic movements. Both of these movements are provided by Miyota.
Miyota is a very trusted and reliable Japanese automatic movement owned by the Citizen Group.
Szanto Brand Reputation
Szanto has positioned itself in the affordable segment of the watch market. The brand has been well-received by watch enthusiasts who appreciate vintage aesthetics without the high price tag of luxury vintage watches.
Is Szanto a Good Brand?
Szanto positions itself in the affordable price range, making vintage-inspired designs accessible to a broader audience. The brand aims to offer good value for money, combining style, quality, and affordability. The brand emphasizes durability and functionality, aiming to produce watches that are not just stylish but also built to last.
Collaborating with research and development teams in Hong Kong and China, they craft watches adhering to stringent quality standards, followed by comprehensive testing. Szanto is known for providing extensive details about their watchmaking process.
Takeaway: Are Szanto Watches Good Watches? Are They Worth the Money?
Szanto has re-imagined watch designs from the early 20th century up to the 1970s, and gone well beyond military designs.
Szanto has carved a niche for itself in the affordable watch market, appealing to those who appreciate vintage aesthetics and reliable timekeeping without breaking the bank. While it may not have the same heritage as some of the older, established watch brands, Szanto has successfully brought a touch of the past to modern watchmaking.
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Buyer’s Guide: Szanto Watch Collections
6200 Series: Officer’s Coin Cushion Automatic
Specs:
- Ref # 6202
- Movement: Automatic
- Caliber: Japanese Miyota
- Power Reserve: 42 hours
- Case Width: 42.5 mm
The 6200 Series, aka the Officer’s Coin Cushion, is equipped with a 21-jewel automatic Miyota movement from Japan. The watches feature two subdials, including a 24-hour and a small seconds display. Its distinctive design elements are particularly striking: a unique cushion-shaped case, a guilloché dial with a wavy pattern, elegant cathedral hands, and an onion crown. Though not every watch can successfully incorporate an onion crown, it complements this model beautifully.
6300 Series: Officer’s Classic Round Automatic
Specs:
- Ref # 6303
- Movement: Automatic
- Caliber: Japanese Miyota
- Power Reserve: 42 hours
- Case Width: 43 mm
If you appreciate all the features of the 6200 series except for the cushion case, the 6300 series, also known as the Officer’s Classic Round, would be an ideal choice for you. This series stands out particularly for its simpler dial, which only includes the small seconds subdial, creating a less cluttered look.
4500 Series: Desert Sands
Specs:
- Ref # 4553
- Movement: Quartz
- Caliber: Miyota 6S21
- Case Width: 41 mm
- Water Resistance: 100 m
The Desert Sands is quartz powered chronograph with large Arabic numerals. The two subdials are positioned across the horizontal axis, which is counterbalanced by the larger 6 and 12 numerals across the vertical axis. The diameter of the case is 41 mm, therefore it’s a comfortable size for smaller wrists as well.
2700 Series: Heritage Aviator
Specs:
- Ref # 2754
- Movement: Quartz
- Caliber: Miyota 1L45
- Case Width: 41 mm
- Water Resistance: 100 m
The Heritage Aviator is a traditional pilot watch design that’s available in different color combinations. The case width is 41 mm, a good size for all wrists. The outer rim of the dial has the minute markers, and the inner circle marks the hours in smaller arabic numerals. The classic pencil hour and minute hands are combined with a subdial for the seconds.
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