A Tribute to the Railway Revolution: Hands-On with the Hvilina L&MR Mechanical Lion

In 1830, the launch of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway (L&MR) marked an important moment in history, as it can effectively be seen as the beginning of the railway revolution. Due to the Industrial Revolution, technology advanced rapidly, as did the need to transport cargo from one place to another in a more efficient manner. Railroads were the future, and Polish watch brand Hvilina pays tribute to that with an unusually fun watch.

You can take that quite literally and even separately, as the L&MR is both unusual and fun. This begins with a slightly oversized case that appears to hang between two bars that curl around it. Especially with the pink gold plating, it makes for quite an eyecatcher. Hvilina wasn't just done yet, as the actual dial of the watch is surrounded by an outer part featuring a deep guilloche pattern. This creates a beautiful play of light, enhanced by the green color that Hvilina added.

The dial itself is full of details. Of course, it features a railroad track to mark the minutes, while the hour markers alternate between Roman numerals and faux screws. They are placed on a cream colored background that is slightly recessed. Hvilina kept the dial nice and clean, with the exception of a plate above the six o'clock position that says 'Beware of the trains.' A novel nod to a time when trains were still considered scary beasts, with farmers being afraid that their cows would stop giving milk if they saw one, and people who were not used that such powerful machines would cross roads. For its time, the speed of the L&MR trains was an impressive 27km/h, which Hvilina highlighted with the 27th minute marker.  

While I love the symmetry of the crown placed at twelve o'clock, it is not the easiest to operate, as you have to remove the top part of the strap to access it. That is not much of an issue, as Hvilina fitted it with a quick-release spring bar, plus they even make you want to do it yourself. Hvilina supplies the L&MR with a key that fits in the crown so that you can easily wind it. Do you need the crown to wind it? No, your fingers will do the trick as well, and it is still an automatic movement, but is it fun? Yes!

When taking into account the €467,- retail price, the L&MR is remarkably well finished. We have already seen this at the front of the watch, but the back shows the same. The caseback itself is secured by four large screws and engraved with the individual number of this limited edition. The sapphire crystal insert is surrounded by a decorative ring with a great design, while the movement itself has a surprisingly pleasant finish of Geneva Stripes. It features a Miyota 9029, which is equipped with automatic winding and a 42-hour power reserve. The oscillating weight is printed with a picture of the L&MR train the model is named after, including the date when the railway opened, as a fitting finishing touch. 

Hvilina matches the color of the watch with a strap in the same hue. For that, they use a very supple type of leather and match it with a solid buckle to secure it. When green is not your thing, Hvilina also offers the L&MR with black or blue details in a gold-plated case, or in black with a stainless steel case, each bearing the name of a specific locomotive. The price for each model is €467,- and all are limited to 300 pieces each.

For more info, visit Hvilina, here.