Ralf Tech
academie automatique veteran bronze - Full-Set

“Some watches borrow from the past a way of reading time. Others retain above all its discipline: remaining simple, solid and immediately understandable when landscape, weather or mission leave no room for the unnecessary.”

RALF TECH Académie Automatic Bronze “Veteran” reference ACY-1305, limited edition of 100 pieces, 41 mm satin-finished CuAl8 bronze case, deep matte-black no-date dial, large Arabic numerals and outer minute track inspired by British military watches of the Second World War, bronze hands and Old Radium Super-LumiNova hour markers, 2.5 mm domed anti-reflective Glassbox sapphire crystal, screw-down crown, numbered screw-down caseback, 22 mm lug width, 200-metre water resistance, hand-stitched black leather strap with bronze pin buckle, second original black Tropic silicone strap, grey travel pouch and documents, RALF TECH calibre RTA003 self-winding mechanical movement operating at 21,600 vibrations per hour, approximately 40-hour power reserve after full winding, 24 jewels, watch made in France, sold as a 2026 Full Set in near-mint pre-owned condition, fully inspected, authenticated and covered by a 3-year Mostra warranty.  

The RALF TECH Académie Automatic Bronze Veteran ACY-1305 belongs to that second family. Its black dial, Arabic numerals, domed crystal and dark strap first evoke a British military watch of the 1940s. Then the bronze case, screw-down crown, thick sapphire and 200-metre water resistance place the piece firmly in the present. It preserves the calm elegance of an old watch while offering the resistance expected from a modern sports and outdoor model. The 41 mm CuAl8 bronze case gives every example a personal evolution. Bronze does not remain frozen in its first-day brilliance: air, humidity, skin and travel progressively change its surface. A more matte, warmer or darker patina appears without compromising the function of the watch. For the owner, this transformation becomes an emotional advantage: the watch does not merely accompany the years, it preserves a visible trace of them.

This material is particularly coherent with RALF TECH. Bronze naturally recalls marine equipment, onboard instruments and metal components selected for exposed environments. On the Académie it never creates visual heaviness. Satin finishing controls the light, the smooth bezel preserves restraint and the proportions remain those of a classical watch. The piece can accompany a jacket or shirt, then leave the city for a weekend, sailing or hiking without changing language.The matte-black Veteran dial favours reading before effect. Large Arabic numerals, clear references and the outer minute track recall the visual discipline of British military watches from the Second World War. Collectors readily connect this language with the “Dirty Dozen” W.W.W. watches associated with the British Army. RALF TECH does not literally reproduce one of those twelve references: the Maison officially presents ACY-1305 as a tribute to veterans and to watches worn by Royal Air Force pilots. The Académie preserves the same demand for clarity without turning history into costume.  

Old Radium Super-LumiNova extends that reading as light fades. Its warm colour visually recalls early luminous compounds without their radioactivity or fragility. By day it softens the contrast between the black dial and bronze. At night it returns the hands and markers to their first purpose: making the time immediately readable before dawn, at a bivouac, during night sailing or on a late journey home. The 2.5 mm domed Glassbox sapphire crystal strengthens the charm of the 1950s and 1960s. Seen from the side, it recalls old acrylic crystals and slightly distorts the edge of the dial. Its scratch resistance and anti-reflective treatment, however, belong to contemporary construction. The owner therefore recovers the visual warmth of a vintage watch without accepting the daily vulnerability of an old crystal.

With its screw-down crown and 200-metre water resistance, this Académie offers unusual freedom for such a classical-looking watch. It is not a diver in the strict sense because it has no timing bezel, yet it can withstand water, rain, travel, nautical activity and sudden changes of plan far better than a traditional dress watch, subject to the recommended pressure test before immersion. This is one of its strongest benefits: city aesthetics without a cautious life.The hand-stitched black leather strap reveals the model’s most elegant side. It extends the dial, leaves the bronze free to express its warmth and naturally accompanies smart-casual clothing, a work jacket or an overcoat. The second black Tropic strap changes the watch within minutes: more suited to water and heat, it fits travel, summer, the sea and outdoor use. The Full Set therefore offers two genuine ways of wearing the same watch rather than a simple spare strap.

The automatic RALF TECH RTA003 calibre follows the same philosophy of robust simplicity. It operates at 21,600 vibrations per hour, uses 24 jewels and offers approximately 40 hours of power reserve. Automatic winding maintains energy on the wrist, manual winding makes restarting easy and hacking seconds allows accurate setting. The choice favours a familiar, reliable and sustainably serviceable mechanism, coherent with a watch created to be worn rather than displayed behind a transparent back.   RALF TECH’s military reputation gives this construction legitimacy beyond storytelling. Through its professional division, the Maison develops specific models and limited series for special forces, elite units and underwater engineering companies. It states that it has equipped the components of French Special Forces together with elite police and gendarmerie units, using their feedback to improve strength, legibility, autonomy and water resistance. This civilian Académie is not an issued watch, but it benefits from the same culture of real-world use.

For a collector, the limited edition of 100 pieces has clear interest. It combines an immediately recognisable configuration, bronze, the Veteran dial, a reference to British military watches and water resistance rarely associated with this style. Its attraction does not rest only on an engraved number: it comes from the coherence between the history it evokes, a living material and genuine usability. The 2026 Full Set, with both straps, pouch and documents, preserves that coherence and strengthens traceability. For its owner, the principal advantage lies in the absence of compromise. The Académie Veteran can be worn as a classical watch, develop a personal patina, accompany an active life and withstand conditions that would require removing a genuine vintage piece. It suits someone who loves the language of old military watches but wants sapphire, modern automatic mechanics, serious water resistance and the option of moving from leather to rubber according to the day. This example is offered as a 2026 RALF TECH Académie Automatic Bronze Veteran ACY-1305 Full Set, limited to 100 pieces, with its black leather strap, black Tropic strap, original pouch and documents, in near-mint pre-owned condition. The watch has been carefully inspected to provide a transparent reading of its movement, individual number, bronze case, straps and completeness.

Choosing a RALF TECH Académie from Mostra provides particular reassurance. Since 2025, the Mostra workshop in Aix-en-Provence has been officially recognised as the first Certified RALF TECH Technical Centre dedicated to pre-owned watches. Diagnosis, movement inspection, water-resistance testing, genuine parts and final control follow the Maison’s requirements. This ACY-1305 comes with a certificate of authenticity, a 3-year Mostra warranty and priority after-sales support.   A watch such as this is chosen for the evolving warmth of bronze, the legibility of its military dial, its subtle reference to British wartime watches and the freedom offered by two straps. Above all, it is chosen for one rare quality: carrying the visual soul of an old watch while remaining resistant enough for the life that begins beyond the display case.