Baltic - History, Models and Owners' Reviews

Founded in 2017 by Étienne Malec and his partners, Baltic is a French watch brand that quickly established itself on the international scene thanks to its neo-vintage inspired watches. Combining classic design and modern know-how, Baltic offers timepieces that appeal to both novices and experienced collectors.

Origins and Foundation

The history of Baltic finds its roots in Étienne Malec's passion for watchmaking, inherited from her father, photographer and watch collector. After the latter's premature death, Étienne discovers a suitcase containing a hundred watches as well as a journal detailing each piece of his father's collection. This discovery awakened in him a deep interest in mechanical watches and encouraged him to create his own brand. The name "Baltic" pays homage to his family's Polish origins, evoking the Baltic Sea.

Launch and Initial Success

In 2017, Baltic launched on the Kickstarter crowdfunding platform with two flagship models: the Baltic HMS 001, a three-hand watch, and the Baltic Bicompax 001, a chronograph with two counters. These watches, inspired by designs from the 1940s, are distinguished by their refined aesthetic and contemporary dimensions. The campaign was a resounding success, allowing the young brand to make a place for itself in the world of watchmaking.

Philosophy and Design

Baltic takes a "neo-vintage" approach, combining classic aesthetic elements with modern manufacturing techniques. The watches are designed in Paris and assembled in Besançon, the cradle of French watchmaking. The brand focuses on transparency regarding the origin of its components: the pieces are mainly made in Hong Kong, while the bracelets come from Italy. This organization allows Baltic to offer high quality watches at affordable prices.

Main Collections

Notable Baltic collections include:

Baltic Aquascape: Launched in 2018, this diver's watch is inspired by models from the 1960s. Water-resistant up to 200 meters, it combines robustness and elegance, with details such as a unidirectional bezel and a double-domed sapphire crystal.

Baltic MR01: Presented in 2021, the MR01 is a manual-winding watch with a micro-rotor movement. Its refined design, with a grained dial and applied Breguet numerals, gives it a sophisticated look. This model quickly won over the public and found itself out of stock shortly after its launch.

Baltic Prismic: This collection is distinguished by its semi-precious stone dials, offering unique variations to each piece. The models feature stones such as green jade, red agate or blue lapis lazuli, paying homage to big cities like New York, London and Paris.

Baltic Hermetic: Launching in 2023, this versatile watch is ideal for everyday wear. Its 37mm diameter case is made of 316L stainless steel with water resistance up to 150m. Its integrated crown offers comfort and style, allowing the watch to be worn on the left or right wrist, as desired. The diversity of dial colors makes this collection attractive to the greatest number of people.

Engagement et Perspectives

Baltic is committed to offering quality watches, combining vintage aesthetics and contemporary watchmaking techniques. The brand favors direct distribution via its website and showrooms, particularly in Paris, London and New York, allowing a privileged relationship with its customers. This approach allows it to offer timepieces with attractive value for money, while remaining attentive to the feedback and expectations of watch enthusiasts.

In less than a decade, Baltic has forged a strong identity in the watchmaking landscape, seducing with its authentic creations and its respect for watchmaking traditions, while integrating modern innovations. The brand continues to expand its range, exploring new designs and complications, while remaining true to its neo-vintage DNA.

Baltic is part of the ranking of the most popular French watch brands.

Get inspired by Dialicious owners reviews to choose the Baltic watch that suits you and find out why watch enthusiasts choose Baltic?

(Updated March 2025)