A true Enigma is: who needs this watch?

Continuing our series on the LPT (or Lamentably Preposterous-themed Timepieces TM), today we present to you Enigma C42 Amazon, a luxury adventure watch. Wait, what? I’ll let that words sink in.
Of course, the luxury adventure category is nothing new in the world of high end watches, which doesn’t make the concept any less ridiculous. Granted, there are some really legendary timepieces that belong to that group, from the iconic Rolex Explorer that conquered Mt Everest, to the IWC Ingenieur. However, the difference being, in Rolex’ case at least, it was a genuine watch made for rough conditions and hard weather. Rolex Explorer earned its cred where it counts, out in the field, and it wasn’t until much later it became the luxury object and much-coveted desk jockey item. Sure, there are so many wonderful timepieces that pose as “field instruments”, and to be honest, we, the watch aficionados are more than willing to turn our heads the other way, because they are either excellently made or have beautiful movements or some other outstanding feature.
With Enigma C42 Amazon you get nothing of that. Granted, the press release is a bit light on technical details, but I’m willing to guess it isn’t because it is so awesome. It has a steel case, coated with presumably PVD although DLC would be more preferable, sapphire AR crystal with transparent caseback. And that’s it. Oh wait, it is water resistant up to 100 meters which can “withstand any Amazonian storm” and the luminova-treated hands. No mention of the movement.
Well worth 4,300 CHF (4,550 US dollars) wouldn’t you agree?

M/V Aria, Aqua Expeditions' newest vessel.

Adding insult to injury, this poser watch is made in limited edition of 10 pieces as a celebratory piece for the new ship of Aqua Expeditions, Peru’s first luxury Amazon River cruise. There will certainly be more than enough opportunities for the adventure aboard the M/V Aria, a 16-suite motor yacht, where all suites are equipped with panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, and where there is an on-deck Jacuzzi and lounge as well as fine Peruvian dining. Perhaps the adventure will happen when the raiding party of mosquitoes penetrate your suite and your manservant strains his wrist trying in vain to eliminate the threat, so you’re stuck with having to wind the watch YOURSELF! Depending on the time of  year, a tribe of furious giant sloths can board your vessel. The excitement never ends! Oh the horror!

Sloth: the scourge of the Amazon.

It’s a shame that a brand that invented the watch with Bezel Manual Winder is doing something like this. By the way, Enigma is not a Bulgari sub-brand, as there is misinformation floating around on the interwebs. It was founded by Gianni Bulgari, the eldest of three Bulgari brothers, but doesn’t have any connection between two brands.

Enigma C42 Amazon

The Enigma C42 Amazon will be sold exclusively on board of the M/V Aria and 10% of the sales will go directly to social community efforts in the areas that Aqua Expeditions visit throughout the year. Three-night cruises start at about 2,380 dollars per person, double occupancy, and there are 16 suites at the barge, presumably capable of receiving two persons – that should be 76,000 dollars per three-night cruise. Now, consider this: Aqua Expeditions will donate 4,550 dollars, if all 10 watches are sold, to who knows how many communities on their route.
Have they considered how much impact can that immense influx of currency have on those “primitive” people? Sarcasm off.

M/V Aria interior: This is where the real adventurers sleep!