It’s not often that this writer, who is Australian, gets to spend time with a watch from an Australian watch brand. But when my managing editor, Nacho, tasked me with a hands-on review of the Bausele Elemental, it was an opportunity to learn more about what allows this brand to straddle two worlds.
Australian-based Bausele focuses on sports watches. But it straddles two worlds insofar as it is very European — the founder is French, and Bausele’s timepieces house Swiss-made Sellita calibers — while the designs try to inject an Australian flavor. And I’m all for this.
The Bausele Elemental offers decent value
Today, we’re looking at the Elemental, which is Bausele’s answer to the integrated-bracelet sports watch. Handling it, I was pleasantly surprised at the fit and finish. This is a brand that pays attention to the small details. The watch retails for A$1,200, or US$750 / €650 / £590 (ex. taxes) according to the brand’s website at the time of writing. That gets you a well-made timepiece with a Swiss-made Sellita SW200 movement, a 200m depth rating, a screw-down crown at 4 o’clock (we will come back to the crown), and plenty of distinct design features.
A wonderful bezel with dual use
First, there are the two separate bezel rings, which sit together inside a single frame. The outer ring, which indicates elapsed minutes, has a matte black finish, and the inner ring, which displays a 12-hour scale, has a metallic gray finish. This is a nice nod to utilizing two functions within one bezel. Serica has also done something similar with great success.
There’s sand in my crown!
Then, there is the crown I mentioned earlier, which actually has local sand inside it. I had to do a double-take when I first saw this up close, as it’s such an unusual design decision. The company’s founder, Christophe Hoppé, told me he wanted something that would point towards the watch’s connection to Australia through something other than the dial. Eventually, he had an idea to do this with the crown instead. It’s very cool, I must say. The sand comes from Manly Beach, an iconic surfing beach in Sydney.
The Bausele Elemental
Now, I must admit I wasn’t first drawn to the overall design of the Elemental; it’s rather bold. Over time, though, I grew to appreciate it more and more. The different elements, whether it’s the sandy look of the textured dial that creates a beautiful wave pattern under sunlight, the two colors on the bezel, or the unusual handset design, don’t compete with each other. Overall, we have a watch design that is reasonably original and not too derivative, which is no small feat in the integrated-bracelet category.
An unusual competitor in the integrated-bracelet market
For that reason, I would much rather acquire a watch like the Elemental than a Tissot PRX, for example. Others may disagree, and that’s the great thing about this hobby. There is something for everyone.
The other thing I thoroughly enjoy about the Elemental is the fit and finish. This is a watch that feels solidly made, with subtle but important decisions really adding to the tactile experience when handling the watch. Take, for example, the bezel. It slightly overhangs the case, which makes it very easy to grip and use, much like a modern Rolex dive watch. It’s easier to grip than the coin-edge bezel on my Tudor Black Bay 58, which sits very close to the case (less overhang equals less material to grip).
A well-built watch
I’m always happy to be impressed while handling a watch with this asking price. It is not just that this watch is from an Australian watch brand, although I must admit it pleases me, as an Australian watch writer, that it is. It’s also the fact that this just happens to be a solidly built and distinct take on the integrated-bracelet sports watch with a good price to match.
Some key specifications of the Bausele Elemental
Now, let’s get to the specifications. The Bausele Elemental has a 40mm case with a compact 46mm length and 12.2mm thickness. However, integrated-bracelet watches always wear larger than the specifications suggest, and I would say this one feels more like a 42mm watch on the wrist.
Admittedly, I would prefer if the Elemental had a 38mm case. I would say the same about the 40mm IWC Ingenieur. Both feel just a bit too big for me, but I have smaller-than-average wrists and would say this would fit any wrist larger than 16.5 centimeters (6.5 inches) rather well.
A fascinating mix of design languages
The case has an interesting design, with the mid-case having a nice polished finish and the case back covered with a texture that reminds me of elephant skin or the roughened sand you see at the edge of a beach. Bausele calls it an “underwater sand” texture. Inside the case is an antimagnetic Faraday cage, a useful feature in a world full of devices with magnetic components.
The bracelet is nicely put together, and none of its elements pulled my arm hairs or anything like that during my time with the watch (about two weeks). The center links look like the portholes of a ship and nicely offset the more traditional band design. The bracelet starts quite wide with 26mm links at the case, but it tapers to 18mm links at the clasp. That clasp is a nicely made number with a folding push-button clasp. There’s also a toolless micro-adjustment mechanism built into it.
A flagship watch for a relatively young brand
The Elemental is touted as Bausele’s flagship watch. The brand has released other watches in the past, including a collaboration with the Royal Australian Air Force (which I may explore in another article). This Elemental, however, feels surprisingly confident for an offering from a relatively young brand located on the far side of the world (as far as watchmaking and watch culture are concerned). I mean that in the best possible way. There’s a nice “underdog” feeling to getting a watch from a brand like Bausele.
If I were in the market for a sub-€2,500 integrated-bracelet sports watch, there would be a few contenders to consider. One would be the Ollech & Wajs ref. 8001 (although it’s more than double the price), another the Tissot PRX, and finally, perhaps a Christopher Ward Twelve or Nivada Grenchen F77. But honestly, if I were in the market for this kind of watch, I would choose the Bausele Elemental. It feels bespoke in a way that so many of those other designs simply don’t. Yes, it’s quirky, but it is the quirkiness that grew on me and made the watch endearing.
Concluding thoughts
The Elemental is currently available on a made-to-order basis in this Coorong Mist colorway and the turquoise and black Oceanic Blue. Recently, there was also an orange edition made for the Bathurst 12-hour race. The one I got my hands on is my favorite, though, with a nice, earthy, sandy color. I’m glad I could spend some time with this watch and let the design wriggle its way into my heart.
What do you think, Fratelli? Would you consider one of these? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. I look forward to reading them. My thanks to the good people at Bausele for lending me this watch.
Henry Black
2026-04-15 13:00:00