Creux Automatiq (Automatic) is one of the rare modern emerging watch brands offering products in the price range starting from $3,000. This does happen, but the overwhelming majority of modern "microbrands" (I prefer to call them "enthusiast-driven brands") release watches in the sub-$1,000 range. It's not that they don't want to charge more, they simply lack the confidence or capability to invest in watches that can be sold in a higher price bracket. The price of these Ghost V3 Mono watches is slightly over $3,000, released in a limited edition of 80 pieces by Creux Automatiq. These are surprisingly competent watches - and even quite cool. I truly believe the community should support such products from brands like Creux Automatiq.
I first spoke with Creux Automatiq's founder, Dane Rumble, back in 2020. He's not just a watch enthusiast - he's also involved in jewelry retail and design. His company, Culet Jewellery, operates in Australia and New Zealand. Experience in the jewelry business provides a great foundation for understanding watch design and what sells. Creux Automatiq began with a case Rumble crafted from sterling silver in Australia before transitioning to producing his watches in Switzerland. This sets Creux apart from most modern enthusiast-driven brands, which primarily focus on affordable Asian manufacturing. With Swiss production, you typically get better quality parts and more attention to detail.
The Ghost V3 Mono model (translated from English as "monochrome") is part of the brand's already rich collection of limited models (in addition to the main collectible pieces) and perfectly represents what Creux Automatiq is capable of. The design is quite modern and sporty, emphasizing technical materials and a bold display of a skeletonized automatic movement. Considerable effort has been made to make the design stylish and comfortable on the wrist. This is where expertise in jewelry design comes into play. Creux is clearly inspired by modern sports watches from brands like Hublot and Audemars Piguet, yet it doesn't feel like Creux is visually copying anyone. The Ghost design is very distinctive - and this originality should appeal to collectors.
The watch case is 45 mm wide by 50 mm from lug to lug and 12.9 mm thick. The case is also water-resistant to 100 meters, and I must add, despite the large proportions, it is quite comfortable to wear. This limited edition Ghost features a titanium case with a sandblasted finish and a forged carbon bezel. The bezel has several steel fastening screws, and the dial mimics the same shades of gray, explaining the model's name, Ghost V3 Monochromatic. Above the dial is a flat sapphire crystal. Text (such as the brand logo) is applied to the underside of the crystal, which is an interesting detail, but I wish it also had AR coating. This isn't too important, and it's one of my few complaints about these watches.
The case features a strap locking system that requires a small tool to release each of the two connection points of the strap. Creux Automatiq offers several straps, and the included strap is made of natural gray rubber (which I still prefer almost always over silicone or other materials).
Inside the watch is a rather cool movement, and I applaud Creux for the willingness to use something unusual. The company that makes the CA S24-SK8 caliber for the Ghost V3 Mono is called Swisstech, and the Swiss Made movement is a skeletonized version of the S24 series automatic movements. The S24-SK8 configuration is a skeletonized automatic movement with an auxiliary seconds counter located at the "9 o'clock" window and a date window at the "6 o'clock" window. The movement is 5.95 mm thick, operates at 4 Hz, and has a power reserve of about 36 hours. The latter low number is a drawback of the movement, since the power reserve time is less than many other watches, meaning more frequent winding if you don't wear the watch continuously.
Nevertheless, I can understand why Creux Automatiq was attracted to this movement. For a price that wouldn't force the brand to significantly increase the cost of its watches, it could get a pretty attractive skeletonized movement in a thin profile with an unusual auxiliary seconds hand placement. Note how Creux replaced the usual seconds hand with a disc, providing a very modern look for the running seconds display. The mechanism looks especially beautiful through the case back, where you can see the Creux Automatiq rotor.
While the Creux Automatiq Ghost V3 Mono cannot be called an inexpensive wristwatch, it offers excellent value for money considering the materials, overall build quality, and design. These are not watches for everyone, but they have much broader appeal than many other original enthusiast watch brands. The watch case is bold, masculine, yet sophisticated, with many elegant touches. The watches clearly touch on contemporary high-end watch design, yet they don't seem to directly imitate anything. Overall, I believe Creux Automatiq produces quite good products, and the Ghost V3 Mono is just one of them. Furthermore, here you get the advantage of true exclusivity - from a brand that is trendy and little-known outside certain regions of the world. The price for the already sold-out limited series of 80 pieces of the Creux Automatiq Ghost V3 Mono is $3,200 USD. More details on the Creux Automatiq website here.
Essential Data
>Brand: Creux Automatiq
>Model: Ghost V3 Mono limited edition
>Price: $3,200 USD
>Dimensions: 45 mm in width, 12.9 mm in thickness, and 50 mm lug-to-lug.
>When the reader might wear it personally: Excellent modern luxury watch with a sporty character for urban adventures.
>Friend we’d recommend it to first: Urban dweller seeking a fresh brand to wear as a lifestyle luxury watch.
>Best characteristic of the watch: Attractive overall design and wrist comfort. Good value for money. Interesting skeletonized movement and a legible dial. Sits comfortably on the wrist.
>Worst characteristic of the watch: Crystal could use more anti-reflective coating. Movement characteristics may be overshadowed by visual appeal, but they still lag behind most other movements found in this price category.