Behind the Scene: The Continental Automatic Collection

After the overwhelming success of the Continental collection, we decided to develop a luxury automatic watch that would keep the aesthetics and affordability of the Rossling & Co. brand.
An automatic or self-winding watch stores the energy from the motions of your arm and uses it to power itself. It does not require a battery. It can be picked up after years of storage and start working right away.
 
In a world of disposable watches, we wanted to make a watch that would be worn for many years and passed down to the next generation - a watch fit to be an heirloom, in the tradition of the finest watchmakers.

Designing the watch

It was important for us to keep a minimalist design that blends classic and contemporary styles. We were inspired by classic European designs of the 1920’s and 1930’s as well as the Bauhaus style. The result is a very clean, uncluttered look featuring Rossling & Co.’s signature blue hands.
For the watch to be stylish but also convenient to wear and easily fit under shirt cuffs, we wanted to achieve an ultra-thin design – something that is very rare and very expensive in the world of automatic watches. Through careful engineering, we were able to keep the case thickness at 9mm or 0.35”.

For versatility, we opted for a 40mm case size. It makes for a watch that can be worn casually as well as in a more formal setting. The size is great for both men and women.
We innovated with a unique strap made of genuine suede giving the watch a rugged yet luxurious feel and look. We decided to also include a leather strap for a more traditional look.

Quality Materials, Exceptional Movement

Coming in to our second Rossling & Co. watch, we knew exactly what we wanted in terms of materials and movement. We used solid stainless steel for the case for its durability and strength. We used a sapphire crystal for added scratch resistance.
We tested different materials for the watch strap and decided to include 2 interchangeable straps with each watch. We opted for a genuine suede strap. Suede is a noble material that is luxurious, durable and beautiful. It can also be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.
We also included a leather strap for a more classical and traditional look.
Last but not least, we needed to decide on a self-winding mechanical movement for the watch. After a lot of research, testing, studying specifications and technical drawings, we selected the Miyota Calibre 9015 movement.
Miyota is a Japanese manufacturer with a reputation for quality, reliability and precision. The Calibre 9015 is an exceptional self-winding movement featuring a 42-hour reserve. It is a 3-hand movement with date complication that has been favorably compared to the ETA2824 movement used in luxury watches such as Baume & Mercier, Bell & Ross and Tudor. The Calibre 9015 is ideally suited for the heirloom quality automatic watch we wanted to create.
Credit: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
Credit: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
Specifications
  • Case Diameter: 40 mm
  • Case Thickness: 9 mm
  • Lug/Strap Width: 20mm
  • Drilled Lugs (easy strap changes)
  • Sapphire Crystal (scratch resistant)
  • Solid Stainless Steel 316L Case and Caseback
  • Japanese Miyota Cal. 9015 Automatic Movement
  • 20 mm Genuine Suede Strap with Leather Backing
  • Extra 20 mm Genuine Leather Strap
  • 5 ATM (50 m) Water Resistance
  • Lacquered wood presentation box

Making Prototypes

After we completed the design and finalized the technical drawings, we partnered with manufacturers to create prototypes of the Rossling & Co. automatic watch and its unique suede strap. We had established great relationships with reliable suppliers, which helped us greatly in communicating exactly what we wanted.
The different parts of the watch were produced through a variety of processes such as molding, polishing, machining and then carefully assembled. After several weeks, we received our first prototypes. We were blown away. The Rossling & Co. automatic watch looked great, worked great and felt great on our wrists.