Just hearing the brand Elka brings back nostalgic memories of my trip to Neuchatel back in 2019, a picture perfect Swiss town bordering a very large lake. It’s often known as the “land of watchmakers” and hosts the headquarters for some of the most renowned Swiss watch brands, including Elka Watches.
Elka has launched a watch and whiskey collaboration with the limited release of 25 S series watches, each to be paired with their own unique bottle of golden hued Single Malt Whiskey. Many watch collectors, including myself, take pleasure in the opportunity to enjoy an evening dram of fine Scotch or Bourbon while gazing into the dials of our most prized watches. Oftentimes you can find us comparing notes from the liquor that complement the vibe of the watch, or even superficial aesthetic cues such as the color of the whiskey matching various earthy colors found on the watch – such is the case with this limited pairing from Elka.
The Whiskey that comes with this new limited edition watch from Elka is not a Scotch, nor a Bourbon – but rather a single malt by the name of Loch Lat that has been distilled in Neuchatel and aged in Cognac casks. Whiskey that has not been distilled in Scotland lawfully cannot bear the official name of a Scotch (the same goes for Bourbon which needs to be made within the USA) and that’s the case here with this Swiss single malt not bearing either label.
This new S series release from Elka is very elegant and dressy in appearance, but it retains a touch of sporty vintage inspiration within its design. The dial, which is quite obviously geared towards the color of whiskey with its sunburst amber hue, is very broad and features no markings besides the Elka signature at 12 o’clock and the word “automatic” directly under it. The hands are long and slender, nearly taking up the entire span of the dial. The lugs taper gracefully but retain a squared off modern appearance that leads into the beads of rice metal bracelet.
Powering the watch is the automatic G100 La Joux-Perret with 68 hours of power reserve and a VPH of 28,800. The dressier appearance of the watch also follows suit with its water resistance spec of 30 meters, but in return positively enhances the wearability of the watch with a very slender 10.8mm thickness and a short lug to lug of 46.5mm. The diameter coming in at 40.8mm will really give this time-only watch a substantial presence on the wrist, especially considering how slim the bezel is, and the vast negative space on the dial.
For lovers of any variety of whiskey this should be a welcomed release. Watches that pair well with whiskey’s are not always easy to come by, and so here is one that is perfectly tailored for the occasion. If the beads of rice bracelet is a touch too “avant garde” for you, the watch is also available on a brown leather strap to bring out more of a formal appearance.
The retail price of the new Elka S Series LE is $1,820. We’ll also note here that for legal reasons, only purchases made in Switzerland will include the bottle of Loch Lat. Elka
