Introducing The Lorca Model No. 2 Chronograph (Live Pics)

Remember Lorca? In early 2023, the new brand, founded by Canadian-Swiss-New Yorker Jesse Marchant, pleasantly surprised with its Model No. 1. That watch was a 36mm GMT so good that author Gary Shteyngart waxed poetically about it. Now, Lorca is back with the Model No. 2, which takes the proportions and mid-century inspiration of its first release and applies them to the chronograph. 

What Lorca's Model No. 1 GMT had going for it was surprise (36mm? GMT? Vintage inspiration? Sign me – and Gary – up!). The Model No. 2 Chronograph has something else: Refinement. While it picks up on many of the cues of the Model No. 1, it's decidedly different. As with the GMT, it's hard to pinpoint any specific mid-century or vintage inspiration, even though it's everywhere. To me, this is what makes for a successful "heritage" design, especially for an upstart brand like Lorca with no heritage to call its own.

It starts with the size: the Model No. 2's 316L stainless steel case measures 37 x 14.1mm. It's 46mm lug-to-lug, 38mm at the bezel, and much of that thickness is due to the domed sapphire crystal – the case itself is 11.6mm. The case has a mix of polished and brushed surfaces, but the real standout is the bezel. It has a grooved pattern that feels very of the 1950s, think the Rolex Datejust "Thunderbird" or my grandma's fancy silverware. On the functionality side, it's a bi-directional, 120-click, rotating bezel with 12-hour markers in Lorca's own font (love a good open "6"). It's an atypical choice for a chronograph – more on that in a moment.

The Model No. 2 is delivered on a nine-row bracelet similar to that seen on its GMT. It's thin (2.6mm), supple, and tapers nicely from 20mm at the lugs to 16mm at the clasp. It's also worth commending Lorca for that clasp. It's milled, thin, and well-executed, a noticeable improvement over what larger brands are prone to stamping out at this price point. It also has a no-tool micro-adjust in the clasp, an improvement over the Model No 1's bracelet.

Lorca is offering the Model No. 2 with three dial options: silver, black, or a warm grey with silver subdials. I was able to get hands-on with a prototype of the latter, and I like the effect of the grey subdial with warm undertones. All three dials share Lorca's own font, along with polished indices that are filled with Super-LumiNova, as are the large dauphine hands.

Inside the Model No. 2 is the manual-wind Sellita 510M. It's a cam-operated chronograph caliber with 63-hour power reserve beating at 4 Hz. Lorca has opted for what Sellita calls its special or elaboré standard, meaning it's regulated a bit more tightly than its standard (special is the second of four grades Sellita offers).

The Lorca Model No. 2 opens for pre-order on October 1 at 10 AM ET. While it'll join Lorca's permanent collection, the first production run, to be delivered in May 2025, is limited to 300 units.

The Lorca Model No. 2 is a strong follow-up effort from the young brand. While the Model No. 1 gave us something we hadn't really seen at the time – a 36mm GMT – the Model No. 2 joins a small but growing list of mid-century-styled mechanical chronographs with wearable proportions.

As with the Model No. 1, there are a lot of elements at play, but it makes for a cohesive design. Nothing feels extraneous. It starts with the dial, adorned with just a cursive "Lorca," and "Model No. 2" above the six o'clock subdial. The three subdials feel completely familiar for a chronograph, but the bezel is totally out there, especially for a chrono.

For that reason, the bezel is also the easiest thing to critique – or praise – about the Model No. 2. After all, it would've been easy enough to order up a polished bezel with a tachymeter scale and call it a day. So I applaud them for doing something different. That said: I kinda wish I knew what this watch would've looked like with that bezel? I'm sure the renders are out there somewhere and I'm sure it's less interesting than the final Model No. 2. I'd imagine that whether or not you like the Model No. 2 comes down, more or less, to where you stand on that textured bezel.

Personally, I came to like it. After all, there are enough tachymeter scales, many from larger brands, for timing your laps or hard-boiled eggs or whatever else. A new brand like Lorca needs to do things differently, and this bezel sets it apart, both in concept and in execution. 

When I mention the competition I'm thinking of recent chronograph releases from Furlan Marri, Oak & Oscar, and others. But the Lorca stands out by reaching 100 meters of water resistance, a spec I'm not sure we've seen in a chronograph this thin (please let me know if you can think of others).

And here, I appreciate Lorca's commitment to certain specs. It's not an abstract exercise in manifesting some mid-century design that never was, but also an effort to build a manual-wind mechanical chronograph fit for modern life, as much as that very string of words isn't a prima facie contradiction in terms.

For those who like it, I'm sure they'll enjoy swimming – and timing – laps with their new Lorca Model No. 2. I know I would.

Brand: Lorca
Model: Model No. 2 Chronograph
Reference Number: Ref. 8501

Diameter: 37mm (38mm at bezel; 46mm lug-to-lug)
Thickness: 14.1mm (11.6mm case)
Case Material: 316L stainless steel
Dial Color: Satin black, silver sunray, or warm grey sunray with silver subdials
Indexes: Applied
Lume: BGW9 Super-LumiNova in indices and hands
Water Resistance: 100 meters
Strap/Bracelet: 316L stainless steel 9-row bracelet with double-push button clasp, tapers from 20mm to 16mm

Caliber: Sellita SW510M
Functions: Chronograph
Diameter: 30mm
Thickness: 7mm
Power Reserve: 63 hours
Winding: Manual
Frequency: 4 h
Jewels: 23
Additional Details: Soigine/elabore Sellita, rated to +/- 5 seconds per day

Price: $2,650
Availability: Pre-order open October 1 at 10 AM ET
Limited Edition: The first production run is limited to 300 pieces (to be delivered May 2025); the Model No. 2 will join Lorca's permanent collection

For more, visit Lorca Watches.