Centauro Chronograph Blue

Between Milan and Turin, GAW is named after the Arditi, the first assault units of the Italian Army formed in 1917 during World War I. The brand was established as a handcrafted workshop in Alessandria, a region renowned for its historical craftsmanship, particularly in goldsmithing and fine jewelry. Watchmaking has long been part of this tradition, and GAW has developed a diverse range of watches combining hardwearing materials, a bold innovative appearance, and excellent construction mechanics. Like the Swiss industry, GAW partners with experts in precision engineering, design, and micro-mechanics, sharing a passion for creating professional timepieces with superior technical and quality standards.

Gruppo Ardito Centauro Chronograph Blue

Proudly made in Italy, GAW watches use Swiss mechanical movements, designed to meet the highest standards of craftsmanship. Some components are made in their own workshop, overseen by expert craftsmen. The brand has developed a range of elite professional watches, heavily influenced by military and diver specifications, built to withstand heavy-duty use and maintain their value over time. Today, GAW is excited to introduce their 2000m water-resistant timepiece series, starting with the Centauro Chronograph Blue, a new chapter in their journey of precision and durability.

The Centauro is the new chronograph from Gruppo Ardito, a prestigious collection known for its rugged durability, military-inspired design, and professional-grade features. Named after the mythical centaur from Greek mythology, a creature known for its dual nature—part human and part horse—symbolizing both strength and agility, the Gruppo Ardito Centauro series embodies these same qualities. While celebrated for its tough construction, many models in the Centauro range also feature chronograph functions, adding versatility to their already robust design. These chronographs are specifically built to meet the demands of professionals who require both precision and toughness, making them ideal for military, diving, and outdoor adventures, where reliability and functionality are essential.

Even the dial is handmade and customised to Gnomon's specifications

Starting with the case, the 42mm matte wide body is fixed by 10 Allen screws (five on the solid case back and five on the bezel). And with a height of 16.8mm and lug-to-lug distance of only 48mm, this 2000m water-resistance sports watch could be worn on most wrists, befitting today's unisex-sized trend. The impressive water resistance of the domed sapphire crystal at the top is guaranteed by one sub-glass O-Ring and an L-shaped ring that works on the perimeter, while the bezel has the task of packing the glass against the case. And since the watch is individually taken care of by the brand, each one of them is pressure tested to 2000m. How many indie brands could actually testify that?

Speaking of bezel, GAW and us have gave our customers more customised characteristic by allowing wearers to have the ability to swap a submarine’s porthole bezel made out of CuSn12 bronze, or other materials in different colourways. Swapping the bezels allow the wearer to not only indulge a two-tone makeover, but also get to enjoy the patina or refreshing outlook on its bezel which is uniquely created by the journey of its wearer.

The handmade screwdown crown feels solid and easy to grip

The “GAW” screw-down crown continues using its customised grade 5 titanium material and is placed at 3 o'clock. Flanking the crown are the chronograph push buttons, which are also screw-down with a red unscrewed button indicator, signaling when the buttons are not sealed and may allow water entry. Additionally, the watch is equipped with a helium escape valve, designed to release built-up helium during deep dives, ensuring the watch's integrity under extreme pressure.

Before I go any further, when GAW mentioned their watches at this almost ridiculous depth that thrashes most conventional modern dive watches today, the watches are tested one by one in their water-pressure testing machine, developed and built internally with their engineering expertise. One additional detail that GAW nailed is the inclusion of a drilled-lug hole on each side, allowing its wearer to swap out the strap with ease.

Each of the bezel and caseback are secured with 5 screws

Onto the dial, it is where we decided to infuse as much Italian military dive watch charm that we seek and love. The Gruppo Ardito Centauro Chronograph Blue features a sunburst blue dial. The radiant sunburst effect, with brushed lines emanating from the center, giving the watch depth and dynamic visual appeal. The white baton markers contrast beautifully against the blue surface, adding a touch of vibrancy. Paired with the gladius hands, the markers and handset are treated with C3 SuperLuminova, enhancing visibility in low-light conditions while evoking a sense of retro charm. The brand's logo is elegantly placed at the top of the dial, balanced by the bold red "Centauro" text at the bottom, creating a harmonious design.

This watch features a colored and numbered subdial at the 3 o’clock position, serving as the Regatta timer. Originating in competitive sailing, it tracks the crucial 10-minute countdown before a race starts. This subdial is divided into three segments: the first five minutes in blue represents the initial countdown, the next five minutes in red marks the critical phase, and the remaining in white. This color-coding improves clarity, allowing the wearer to quickly track both the countdown and regular time, making it ideal for those who need critical time control in activities like sailing, motorsports, or any precision-based pursuit. The red sword hand on the Regatta subdial and the seconds hand on the main dial highlight the chronograph function, making it easier to read and differentiate from the local time hands. At the 9 o’clock position is the 60-second subdial with a black seconds hand and a white background, tracking the running seconds of local time.

Superluminova applied on the dial and handset

The Centauro Chronograph Blue is powered by the Swiss-made Landeron 72, which has been modified and customized by GAW to meet the brand's exacting standards. This chronograph movement features 17 jewels, a 43-hour power reserve, and operates at 18,000 vibrations per hour (vph), ensuring both reliability and precision. GAW's modifications enhance the movement’s performance, making it perfectly suited to the watch’s rugged design and professional-grade functionality, providing a balance of traditional craftsmanship and modern performance.

Sealing the movement is the well-decorated case-back sealed with 5 Allen screws. What makes this an even more unique handmade watch is the implementation of a centaur archer and essential texts in Italian, engraved into the titanium case-back.

Customised case-back with the man-handled torpedo emblem

This fantastic piece of GAW is beautifully paired with a 22mm blue Kodiak leather strap, which complements the vibrant sunburst blue dial and adds a touch of luxury with its rich texture. The strap is finished with a matching titanium buckle, offering both durability and a modern, lightweight feel for a refined, cohesive look.

Wrapping things up, the Centauro Chronograph Blue truly embodies Gruppo Ardito's ethos of proud Italianness, delivering a solid, reliable, and high-value timepiece. This watch is a no-frills tool chronograph that’s exceptionally well-built for the price, offering Swiss automatic precision and a unique, bold design. With its rugged construction, reliable chronograph functionality, and distinctive dial layout, the Centauro stands out as a watch that combines performance with style. Thanks to its impressive features like a 2000m water resistance, customized Landeron 72 movement, and helium escape valve, it offers tremendous value in a robust, wearable package. We’re proud to partner with Gruppo Ardito and introduce this exceptional timepiece to our collection at Gnomon.

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