Watch Review: TCM Tazzoli

September 16th, 2024

We interrupt your Monday for a special alert and second Monday post! Allow me to introduce the @terracielomare Tazzoli! For those of you who are unfamiliar with TCM:

“An Italian brand created in 1999 and reborn in 2021.
The history of Terra Cielo Mare begins with the dream of honouring the past and re-imagining it through the essence of time, focusing on innovation, research into materials and attention to detail.”

I was interested in TCM years ago with their pilot watch and then their watch made famous by Brad Pitt’s character in World War Z. They were a brand that always made its way onto my list but was always pushed aside for something else. I am sure that a large percentage of you can totally relate to that. When I saw that the brand was “reborn” I began to take notice of their new models. The Tazzoli immediately stood out over all the other models. I love when a watch speaks to me and then becomes a mini obsession. Starts to overtake my thoughts. I keep studying pictures of it until I can’t take it anymore, I have to experience it in person! The watch arrived is a cool wooden crate box that reminded me of the box they put the Ark into in the first Indiana Jones movie.

This watch was inspired by the Italian submarine “Enrico Tazzoli” which was built in the 1930’s. This 44mm watch is equipped with a Swiss Made STP 1-11 automatic movement. What drew me to this piece?!? Those of you who know me well, will have instantly shouted “the oversized crown!!!” Those of you who shouted that, well you are absolutely correct. I am attracted to oversized crowns. They to me are magical works of horological art. The design of this crown is perfect. I love how the dark grey contrasts with the stainless steel case. The crown not only looks good, but is also functionally sound.

Each Tazoi model has a blue dial that was inspired by the submarine’s pressure gauge which I must admit looks absolutely beautiful in person. I will go further into detail about this dial.

September 23rd, 2024

I am enjoying some quality time with the @terracielomare Tazzoli, their submarine inspired watch. As I spend more time exploring this watch, I will update you on my thoughts and findings. I can tell you that two things right off the bat that in my opinion would improve the experience with this watch. The first being that if this case was made of bronze, it would allow some nice aging to occur to the case itself which would add more depth and detail. The other recommendation is to increase the water resistance especially since this is a watch that is inspired by a submarine. 5 atm of water resistance is not what I consider ideal, especially like I mentioned above, a submarine inspired watch should have 1000 meters or more.

That being said, there are some details that I think work remarkably well on this watch. You all know already that the oversized crown is a detail that TCM got exactly right. I think the sandwich style dial is another detail that the design is spot on. The deep blue dial is quite a beautiful shade of blue. The brass layer of the dial works remarkably well with the blue top layer of this dial. Brass and blue work so well together. I’ve had this strap from @varioeveryday for awhile now and I have find the perfect watch for it. The blue strap matches the dial perfectly and the brass keepers match the hands & the brass bottom layer of this dial.

The hands on this watch are a perfect match for this dial. The brushed finish looks incredible especially when the hands catch & play off of the lighting. The cutout on the hour hand is definitely a highlight detail on this watch. After the oversized crown drew me in the case, then it was the hour hand with the white military numeral hours underneath are what drew me in this dial. The way it perfectly circles the numerals like a magnifying glass. It would be cool if the hour hand had a little magnifying lens in it.

September 30th, 2024

Monday Battles have begun and it’s another affair of the crown. This is one of those instances where an unsigned crown works so incredibly well. There’s no need for the crown to be signed because it’s beautifully designed already. I like how TCM decided to let the details and size of the crown to be the focal points, nothing more was needed. The position of the crown will make those people happy who have issues with oversized crowns digging into the dorsal side of the hand. Obviously the crown is easy to grip and operate because of the size and design of the crown. The crown functions smoothly as well, whether it’s being screwed/unscrewed or if it is being used to manually winding the movement or setting the time. The crown is definitely a highlight of this case. Located just under the crown is a small, engraved plate that features a picture of the “Enrico Tazzoli” submarine that was used as the source of inspiration for this watch.

As you can see on the caseback, the inspiration is made clear not only by the engraving but also by the inclinometer. A cool and gimmicky detail. It adds a bit of fun to the watch. I like the engraved submarine on the caseback and the detail that is added by the screws that help hold the caseback in place. I like the overall shape of this 45mm case. The short curved lugs are aesthetically pleasing to the eye while allowing the watch to wear slightly smaller than the dimensions imply. I want you to look at the design of the case where the engraved submarine plague is, I really like how TCM designed the case to slightly angle out away from the case near the bottom right lug and then rounds upwards towards the crown as it tappers back into the case. It’s a nice little detail that can be overlooked at the first few glances but once you notice it, it adds some really nice depth of detail to the case. The fixed bezel is a detail that I have grown to appreciate over the years. I used to prefer a rotating bezel and I never cared about fixed bezels. That has been gradually changing……

October 7th, 2024

This watch is a nice offering from the rebranded @terracielomare which comes in at just under $710 USD. It’s something different in a saturated market of the same old watches. I like that this piece has a dressier vibe to it. The watches I traditionally feature here like to get dirty so they are the grunt workers of the crew, this watch here is something that maybe the captain of the crew would be wearing. A captain who only gets his hands slightly dirty. If this watch had a deeper depth rating of water resistance, then it would definitely be on the wrist of the captain who is right there with his crew getting knuckles bloody.

I used to compare watches all the same but as I experienced more and more watches over almost 3 decades, I realized that there’s a tool for different jobs. If you were trying to break a rock you wouldn’t use a tack nail and hammer, you would use a sledgehammer and a spud bar or a jackhammer. So to relate this to watches, if I knew I was going to be going in the water and potentially beating up my watch against rocks, I wouldn’t take this watch, I would choose a tool that could handle the job. I definitely grab this watch to go hiking, to work, out for the weekend. I grab it for work because of the military time. I grab it to go hiking because the dial is legible and the crown is super accessible. I grab it for my weekend chores because it’s built well enough to handle it. It’s also dressy enough to go with me on a casual dinner out.

It’s a good grab and go option. Yes it has its limitations but all watches have their limitations, you just need to understand the job before choosing the tool for the occasion. I like the new catalog for the rebranding of TCM. They retain the design DNA from the roots of the brand. I think with more experience over time, TCM can design watches that can be used for a more expansive job list! The Tazzoli is a very nice offering and my suggestions aren’t dealbreakers for me because like I mentioned before, it’s a unique and beautiful piece that is well done. Though it might not be my choice for certain jobs, it performs exactly how I want it too for the jobs I have taken it for!

October 14th, 2024

The rebranding of TCM shows some real promise. The first releases have some great designs, lovely details and good quality. I believe with some tweaking to improve some things, their watches will be next level. They aren’t dealbreakers if you take into account what I said of choosing the right tool for the right job. I think their initial line up is a solid choice of options for people looking for watches that differ well from the flooded market of the same old crap we’ve seen done a million times before. If I have to be force fed another off the shelf bracelet I will legitimately vomit in my mouth.

The Tazzoli has a lot of details that I thoroughly enjoy. For starters, it has fantastic wrist presence. I think the oversized crown is absolutely brilliant. I love the contrast of darkened stainless steel against the anodized steel of the case. The crown is already a focal point and the color just adds to its eye grabbing effect.

The movement inside of the Tazzoli has been quite reliable at -14 seconds per day. The STP1-11 is a doppelgänger of an ETA 2824-2 and a Sellita SW200-1. Its vibrations per hour beat at 28,800 BPH, 4Hz. The movement is shock protection comes from Incabloc. It’s a great workhorse of a movement.

The song choice today was inspired by the first shot. It reminded me of the scene from the 1977 Star Wars movie when Luke is looking into the horizon and the two suns were in the sky. He was facing a life changing choice of staying on his Uncle Owen’s farm or helping old Ben.

October 21st, 2024

There are several details on this watch that TCM got absolutely perfect, and one of those details is this dial. From the shade of blue, to the matte finish and the numerals. The sandwich style numerals and the military numerals are both done well and with precision. That precision is quite evident with how the semi-skeletonized hour hand perfectly lines up with the white printed numerals. I have to say that I am a huge fan of the finish on these hands too. TCM made the right choice by not choosing a polished finish. These hands still catch and play with the light ever so brilliantly. The hands are also perfectly proportional for this dial.

The case design is also something that TCM got right with the Tazzoli. The crown is the most obvious detail that they nailed. A crown that is not easy to access is a dealbreaker for me. If it’s too small to grip, too slippery due lack of proper machining or if the crown guards inhibits proper functioning, all of those examples are what would be a dealbreaker for me. You all know that my gig is shooting outdoors in every season, in every type of weather, in every temperature. You also know I like to shoot my pics with the time set to 10:10. I am probably accessing the crown on these watches more so than anyone will do so in everyday wearing situations. Consider me like the guy in the Maytag commercials. I am out here putting crowns to some rigorous field testing. If I say a crown operates without issue, you can rest assure that means it did so in every sort of weather condition imaginable. I’m not saying that to sound like an arrogant know it all, I am saying that because I enjoy being in the elements and I enjoy being able to pass on my personal experiences to give you all a clearer picture of how these watches handle themselves.

October 28th, 2024

The anodized stainless steel case has a formidable presence on the wrist with a classy flair. Like I mentioned before, this is more of a watch the Captain would wear. The cap isn’t afraid to get dirty but he keeps it classy for the most part.

The Tazzoli comes in at just under $700 USD which is a nice value. I think it would be an excellent value if it had my suggestions, ie bronze case, deeper water resistance and drilled lugs. Not dealbreakers, but suggestions that would make a this watch have a greater impact.

I have to admit that this is the first blue dial that I actually like. I think the hands, the printed numerals and the sandwich style numerals make this blue dial truly work for me. I am glad that TCM designed this dial with a matte finish instead of a polished finish. I am not compatible with gloss dial, especially a gloss blue dial.

November 4th, 2024

I also appreciate how the brass layer of the dial also catches the light. This dial is quite beautiful. I am actually impressed with just how beautiful this dial is in person. The brass and the blue work together in such harmony. There’s an underlying feeling of warmth that this dial possesses that I never thought was possible with a blue dial. Traditionally I am not a fan of blue dials, but this is definitely the first one I actually am attracted too. It just works so damn well.

This is one of those dials that I catch myself getting lost in. I am either admiring the hour hand, the white printed military numerals or the font of the main numerals. TCM definitely did a fantastic job with the design of this dial and the design of this case. That cohesiveness between case and dial is extremely strong between these two on the Tazzoli. The more time I spend with the watch the more I am appreciating the stainless steel case. Obviously bronze would be my go to, but there’s something nostalgic about stainless steel for me. My first “real” dive watch was stainless steel.

I like the rebranding of @terracielomare . They are showing a lot of potential and I anticipate that they will be releasing some great pieces in the future! It will be a fun journey to watch unfold.

November 18th, 2024

Though this watch doesn’t have the deepest depth rating, it handled the rain just fine, which for 99% of watch buyers would suffice just fine. What are your feelings/thoughts on depth rating? I do take my watches into the sea, lakes, rivers, etc. so water resistance is important to me. I also view it an added strength of a watch. If you put the water resistance into a conversion of how much pressure it can withstand, it shows you how strong the case and crystal truly are. So when people say to me, it’s not humanly possible for you to test your 6,000 meter rated watch. Well yes, that is true, but the fact that my watch is also strong enough to handle the amount of pressure at that depth just makes the watch that much stronger in every day use. You can also view it as the watch can take a hit from a sledgehammer. So yeah, I’m not traveling 6,000 meters deep but the fact my watch can handle a hit from a sledgehammer, that’s fucking awesome and impressive.

Like I said before, there is a tool for every job. This watch served as my time telling tool on a rainy hike through mud and wet conditions. It easily accepted and conquered that challenge. If I was going into the sea, I would choose another watch. This doesn’t mean this watch is a failure, it just means there are certain jobs it can do well and certain jobs that require a different tool. You can’t tighten a lug nut with a phillips head screwdriver. When you put it in that perspective, it allows you to view watches as equals while understanding what job each watch is best suited for.

A watch is only a failure if the quality/quality control is a miss. Or if there’s something off about the design such as hands that aren’t proportional to the dial, or a dial that lacks legibility. Or a crown that can’t be properly gripped. You get my point. The Tazzoli has a legible dial, perfectly proportional hands on a balanced dial. A crown that passes all grip tests and a case that is designed well. In my opinion, it isn’t a failure in the least bit.

November 25th, 2024

The unique case shape adds to the already impressive wrist presence of this watch. The anodized stainless steel has definitely grown on me after spending a few months with this watch. I know I said before I wish it was bronze but I have changed my mind about that. I already have several bronze watches in my collection so it’s nice to have some diversity and this case gives my collection a layer of diversity!

The fact that this watch comes in at well under $1k is quite impressive. Another example of a great watch to dollar value. This watch has that custom made vibe. These are limited to 100 pieces. I would classify this watch as a very budget friendly alternative to an Ennebi, Kaventsmann, etc…. If you wanted those brands vibe but don’t have the $4k+ budget, this TCM is a great option in my opinion.

I can’t wait to try this watch on a custom leather strap. I have to find the right one and when I do, you can count on some pics. My review of this watch will go up on my blog on December 10th. I am impressed with this watch. It is making me excited to see the second wave of releases coming from TCM in 2025.

December 2nd, 2024

Such a great piece. It’s currently on sale for $100 off which is a fantastic sale. If you are like me, buying Christmas gifts for yourself is so much more rewarding than buying gifts for others.

I have been enjoying this one for the past few months and it’s one of those watches that continues to grow on you as you spend more time with it. Obvious details become a deeper love, and those unnoticed details deepen the overall appreciation for this watch. This blue dial is definitely a first for me. It’s the first blue dial that I actually love! The blue sandwich dial with the brass layer underneath compliments each other brilliantly. At first I was thinking about how I would have preferred a lume coated layer instead of the brass, but then I got to thinking. Why do I want this watch to have details that I have been there done that?!? It’s refreshing to have watches that have different details. The watch industry as a whole is stuck in a redundant slump where the market is so flooded with the same old overplayed designs. It’s nice when companies like TCM do something different. The hour hand and the printed white military numerals are another example of refreshing details. It would have taken this detail to the next level if the white print was lume coated.

This is a nice little kit of a watch from a company that started in one direction under different ownership but now has been rebranded and has shifted into a new & exciting direction with more reasonable pricing. It’s an achievable piece with some great details and Italian roots. Think of it this way, it Ennebi and U-boat had a love child and that love child was rebellious to say “I am doing this for the art and not to make money” that’s exactly what this watch is!

December 9th, 2024

The Tazzoli is ready for anything. The unique case shape creates a nice aesthetic to the profile of the case. Same can be said for this amazing crown! I like this caseback too. Gives the best of both worlds for both solid caseback fans & exhibition caseback fans alike.

In my opinion, the dial is where this watch truly shines through. The hour hand is the star of the dial show. The matte blue “canvas” is a lovely backdrop for the color of the hands and both sets of numerals.

For those of you who are on a tighter budget but want to experience a watch from brands like Ennebi, Kaventsmann, VDB, the Tazzoli from @terracielomare is a great option. It’s limited to a 100 pieces. Has some nice bespoke vibes throughout the case and dial.