Baltany S4105 39mm Watch Review: Features & Design

For the last couple of years, everyone has been releasing a GADA watch. Big brands, independent brands, Microbrands - you name it—sometimes even competing with themselves. And Baltany? They kind of stayed quiet in that GADA space. But this—this feels like the moment they finally stepped in and said: “Alright… hold my beer.”

Because this smoky dial series doesn’t try to shout, doesn’t chase trends, and doesn’t overcomplicate things. It just calmly ticks pretty much every box you’d want from a proper go-anywhere, do-anything watch.

And here’s the thing—the product photos, at least for me personally, don’t tell the full story.

When you see this dial in person, it pops. Subtle, textured, dynamic in the light—but never loud.

So the question is: Did Baltany actually nail the GADA formula by waiting everyone else out? Well, we have it here - let’s find out!

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Design

Starting with the design, this is where Baltany’s thinking really comes together. Yes, this is a GADA watch—but visually, it feels like a carefully balanced amalgamation of familiar high-end design cues, all filtered through Baltany’s own, increasingly confident design language.

We can spot hints of Omega Aqua Terra in some dial elements. There’s also a touch of Grand Seiko-style restraint in how the various surfaces on the dial and on the case interact with light—subtle transitions, controlled geometry, and a clear emphasis on balance rather than flash. And then there’s, definitely, a broader nod to Rolex’s everyday dress watches. Not in any single detail, but in the overall philosophy. This is a watch designed to sit comfortably in that middle ground—sporty enough, dressy enough, and never out of place. Crucially, none of this feels like what we would call a clomage. These influences act more like reference points than templates. The result is a design that feels cohesive, understated, and genuinely very wearable.

The case plays a big role here. Proportions are well judged, the bezel stays slim, and the mix of brushed and polished surfaces feels deliberate rather than decorative. Nothing is overdone, and nothing is trying to steal the spotlight, ok maybe the dial a bit but I really like it!

That sense of restraint really defines the watch. At first glance, it’s simple—but once you start moving it around in the light, you realise there’s more going on. It pops, just not in a loud or obvious way.

Material-wise, everything you’d expect from a modern Baltany GADA piece is here: solid stainless steel construction, sapphire crystal up top, and clean finishing throughout. There is one design choice that slightly steps off the beaten path—and we’ll come back to that properly when we dive into the dial.

As a complete design package, though, this feels calm, confident, and quietly premium.

And just to round out the design discussion, Baltany has actually covered all the bases when it comes to colour options here.

This model is offered in six different colourways in total. You’ve got four fumé, smoky dial colours, all sharing that same subtle gradient effect. And if you want something a bit more eye-catching, the red and green dials are also available in a two-tone configuration, paired with gold-tone accents.

Those two-tone versions use a gold-toned PVD coating, which gives them a slightly dressier feel. As you’d expect, they do come in a bit higher on price—roughly $25 to $30 more than the full stainless steel versions—but the jump is relatively modest and still keeps everything firmly in the GADA value space.

So whether you want something understated, slightly elevated, or just a touch more expressive, Baltany’s pretty much got every angle covered here.

Dimensions

And now going through the dimensions—and, yes, this is another area where Baltany really got things right.

The case measures 39 millimetres in diameter, which for a GADA watch is pretty much spot on. Lug-to-lug comes in at 47.5 millimetres, so it stays nicely compact and wearable, even on wrists under 6 inches.

Case thickness is 12.5 millimetres, and that does include the slightly raised Sapphire crystal. Lug width is 20 millimetres, which keeps strap options wide open. And on the bracelet, the total weight is around 146 grams, giving it a solid, reassuring feel

Case

Moving on to the case, and this is a classic sport-style execution. The overall shape leans into familiar territory, very much in line with the architecture of classic Rolex sports watches. We’ve got nicely curved case flanks, fully high-polished, which give the watch an elegant, slightly dressy edge without compromising everyday versatility. The lugs curve down smoothly to follow the wrist, helping the watch sit naturally and comfortably. On top of the lugs, Baltany has used a soft satin brushing, which contrasts nicely with the polished flanks and adds visual interest.

Up top, there’s a high-polished fixed bezel, acting as a clean transition between the sapphire crystal and the main body of the case. It keeps everything visually tight and cohesive.

The crown is well shaped and is signed with the Baltany logo. There are no crown guards, reinforcing that refined GADA aesthetic. And it is a screw-down crown, which is reassuring and helps deliver solid 200m of water resistance.

Now, flipping the watch over, and things here stay clean and understated. The screw-on caseback features circular brushing with a subtle sunburst effect.

Crystal

Up top, we’ve got a sapphire crystal, and this is an area where Baltany has built a pretty solid reputation—and this watch follows that trend nicely. The crystal is ever so slightly curved, and I’d classify it as a box sapphire, with just a subtle rise above the bezel. And it adds a touch of vintage character.

There also appears to be a decent amount of anti-reflective coating, which does a good job managing reflections in real-world lighting. It’s not completely glare-free, but it handles reflections well enough and legibility is never an issue.

Dial & Lume

Now on to the dial and it is, without question, the star of the show.

It’s also where Baltany took a slightly different approach compared to a lot of the more exotic dials we’ve been seeing lately. This isn’t a natural stone dial, and at the same time it’s not trying to pretend to be one either.

Visually, the applied hour markers immediately set the tone. There’s a clear blend of influences here, sitting neatly between Omega Aqua Terra styling and Grand Seiko restraint. The indices are clean, faceted, and catch the light nicely without feeling oversized or flashy.

The dial surface itself is where things really come alive. That smoky, fumé finish is genuinely striking. While the pattern isn’t organically formed—this isn’t a gemstone or a naturally occurring texture—it’s very well executed. The texture draws your eye toward the centre of the dial, adds depth, and gives the watch a dynamic presence as the light shifts.

The handset follows the same theme. We’ve got classic sword-style hands—again very much in that Aqua Terra–meets–Grand Seiko space—but with Baltany’s own proportions and finishing. Clean, legible, and nicely balanced.

Typography is handled well too. Branding and text above six are minimal, neatly balanced, and unobtrusive. Nothing clutters the dial or pulls attention away from what really matters here.

As for lume, it’s best described as perfectly adequate. It’s not diver-level, and it’s not trying to be. Low-light legibility is fine and entirely appropriate for a refined GADA watch like this. Overall, the dial feels thoughtful and confident. It may not be natural or exotic in the strict sense, but it’s elegant, distinctive, and genuinely engaging—especially in person.

Bracelet

Moving on to the bracelet—and this will feel familiar if you’ve seen my recent Baltany reviews.

It’s a classic Oyster-style bracelet, executed well. I like the use of inverted end links. They’re solid stainless steel, neatly integrated into the case and sit slightly recessed within the lugs, which adds a level of refinement we usually don’t see on cheaper executions—and it’s something I always appreciate when brands get it right. Finishing is also very decent. The top surfaces are fully brushed, which helps hide everyday wear, while the sides are high-polished for a bit of contrast. There’s also a gentle taper, narrowing down to around 16 millimetres at the clasp, which gives this spot style design a touch of elegance. The bracelet has good flexibility and fluidity on the wrist, and the links are secured with screws, which is always a welcome.

The clasp is Baltany’s familiar milled, double-pusher design, with a solid scissor-style construction. It feels robust and well made, with plenty of micro-adjustment for dialing in the fit. There’s no on-the-fly adjustment, but for a GADA watch like this, while definitely a nice to have, but generally not really an issue. Clasp finishing matches the bracelet, and it’s signed with the Baltany name.

On the wrist, everything comes together nicely. The watch feels well balanced, comfortable, and wears exactly as the dimensions suggest—easy, natural, and very much a daily-wear piece.

Verdict

So, what's my verdict? Well, let’s talk the price first. This comes in at around $260 before tax, give or take. As usual, there are discounts available through AliExpress sales or directly from Baltany, and if you time it right, you can often knock 10–15% off—which is always worth doing. But, even at full price, this is a very complete GADA watch.

Based on my couple of weeks experience with this piece, Baltany has done a genuinely good job here. The watch is eye-catching without being loud, refined without being boring, and versatile without feeling generic. That smoky fumé dial really sums it up - it pops in the light, adds character and depth, softening the look just enough while still delivering strong wrist presence. And that brings me back to the point I made at the start.

While many brands rushed into the GADA space, sometimes even competing with themselves, Baltany clearly waited. And when they finally stepped in, it felt like a calm, confident “hold my beer” moment. Honestly, I think they nailed it. This is easily one of the best GADA type watches I’ve reviewed recently. But I really would like to hear your thoughts on this timepiece - please do share them in the comments. And by the way don't forget to check out my merch store, links are in the description too. Thanks for watching, take care, and I’ll see you in the next one.

Movement

Powering this watch is the Seiko NH38 automatic—and yes, I know some of you might immediately ask: why not something more premium? Personally, I wouldn’t mind seeing a Miyota 9000-series option here. Baltany already uses those movements very well, and they’re excellent. But the reality is, that would add a solid chunk to the price—easily seventy, maybe even closer to a hundred dollars more.

And at this price point, I think the NH38 actually makes a lot of sense. It’s robust, reliable, smooth in operation, and of course —it’s a no-date movement in a no-date watch. So, no ghost crown position, no compromise.

Then the question really becomes: would you be happy to pay noticeably more for a Miyota 9000 option here? Or does the NH38 hit the sweet spot for a GADA watch like this?