If you’re interested in truly unique watch brands who create distinctive designs, you came to the right place, as we’re always looking to shine some well deserved spotlight on these often overlooked gems. This brings us to Echo/Neutra’s Cortina 1956 3H.
Echo/Neutra: The Brand
Echo/Neutra is an Italian brand founded by Nicola Callegaro, a designer and communication consultant, along with Cristiano Quaglia, an aerospace engineer with expertise in propulsion systems. Originating from a successful Kickstarter campaign for the Averau Collection from a few years ago, Echo/Neutra recently introduced a second collection to commemorate the 1956 Winter Olympics hosted in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. This event was notable for having the highest number of participating countries at the time, with 32 nations, and it was the first Winter Olympics broadcast to an international audience. The newly launched vintage-inspired collection pays homage to 1950s sports watches, blending Italian design flair with Swiss craftsmanship. The collection features a three-hander and a limited edition chronograph, both exemplifying sophistication and value, asserting Echo/Neutra’s lasting presence in the microbrand sector by offering unique contributions.
Echo/Neutra Cortina 1956 3H: Overview
The Echo/Neutra Cortina 1956 3H is a modern classic. Its 40 mm case width, and 46 mm lug-to-lug distance is perfect for most wrist sizes. The ultra-domed Sapphire glass crystal is a tasteful retro element that brings a sense of nostalgia. These vintage elements are beautifully combined with an overall modern look that’s elegant and sporty at the same time.
The Italian design is paired with Swiss automatic movement, the Sellita SW200-1 caliber in the elaboré grade.
The watch comes with two different straps, making it a great everyday timepiece.
Specs:
- Movement: Automatic
- Caliber: Sellita SW200-1
- Battery Life: 44 hours
- Case Width: 40 mm
- Lug-to-Lug Distance: 46 mm
- Water Resistance: 100 meters
- Price: Around $750
Dial
The dial of theCortina 1956 3H comes in five different color options. Burgundy Red, Ivory, Blue, Black, and Khaki. All these colors are classy options, and the homogeneous look due to the glossy finishing of the dial provides a streamlined, elegant appearance, while ensuring that our attention is evenly distributed across the entirety of the watch, instead of just one focus point.
The dial itself is very balanced, with larger Arabic numerals displayed at the 3, 9, and 12 o’clock positions. At the 6 o’clock position the 1956 logo feels almost like a stamped certification, cementing the wonderfully nostalgic and sporty overall look.
The hour hand has a thicker arrow hand design, while the minute hand is using a thicker baton style, both equipped with Old Radium lume. The tip of the second hand is colored with a red-white-red stripes, providing subtle visual dynamism to the watch.
Bezel
The Cortina 1956 3H has a fixed bezel with Old Radium lume. The same two colors are used for the bezel itself and for the dial, visually connecting the two elements, and extending the dial. At the 60 minute mark we see a mountain with 3 peaks, symbolizing the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, one of the best-known mountain groups in the Dolomites, in the vicinity of the aforementioned town of Cortina.
Case
The brushed stainless steel case is great for most wrist sizes, as it has a 40 mm width and a 46 mm lug-to-lug distance. The thickness is at a comfortable 11.9 mm, which is a little bit slimmer than most outdoor watches, therefore it has a bit more elegant look and feel. This additional versatility is something we absolutely love. The case overall is relatively simple, no decorative elements, and no crown guards. The screw-down crown itself has the three mountain peaks (Tri Cime) as well, a unique touch.
The Cortina 1956 mounts a closed caseback, meaningfully engraved: the year 1956 centered, surrounded by “Cortina – Dolomiti D’ampezzo”, “Designed in Italy”, “Swiss Made”, “316L Steel”, and “WR 100 Bar” – as the watch is water resistant up to 100 meres.
Movement
The Sellita SW 200-1 is a Swiss made automatic three-hand movement that comes with a date function and has a 44-hour power reserve. Sellita provides very reliable Swiss made movements for companies that are not manufacturing their own in-house movements.
The Cortina 1956 3H is equipped with the elaboré grade, and its accuracy range is within +/- 7 seconds per day under normal conditions.
Bracelet
The Cortina 1956 3H comes with two straps of your choice. The default strap is a tropical retro strap that has a color that pairs beautifully with any of the dial colors. The 2nd option can either be leather, suede, or if you prefer a stainless steel bracelet, you can choose from a classic oyster link, or a very elegant Milanese mesh bracelet.
Pros and Cons
Let’s take a look at the summary of pros and cons, in our humble opinion:
Pros
- Unique brand with a beautifully thought out design.
- Excellent value and great quality.
- Versatile look, can be dressed up and down easily.
Cons
- The 100 meters water resistance can be underwhelming for some, but since we’re not looking at a tool watch for diving, we think it’s perfectly sufficient.
- Echo/Neutra is a new brand, therefore it doesn’t yet come with overwhelming brand recognition.
Summary: Takeaway and Final Thoughts About Echo/Neutra Cortina 1956 3H
The Echo/Neutra Cortina 1956 3H is a vintage-style timepiece inspired by the 50’s sport watches. The sporty brushed stainless steel case with the ceramic fixed bezel, paired with the Old Radium lume and the glossy finishing of the dial provides an elegant appearance, and creates a unique look that is very versatile. The Cortina 1956 3H can be worn dressed up or down for a wide array of occasions. Great features, great design, all for a reasonable price from an Italian brand. We can only recommend it, and are looking forward to witnessing their growth in the future.
Specs:
- Movement: Automatic
- Caliber: Sellita SW200-1
- Battery Life: 44 hours
- Case Width: 40 mm
- Lug-to-Lug Distance: 46 mm
- Water Resistance: 100 meters
- Price: Around $750
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