Watch Review: Boldr Field Medic

Purpose driven gear is something that always accompanies me whenever I am on an outdoor adventure. My gear always includes a knife, small hand saw, flint, water, flashlight, screwdriver, small notebook, pen, compass and a few other key items that may or may not be used. I always like to be over prepared than not but all the gear I carry is purpose driven. One of the most important pieces that I carry is a watch. Timing is absolutely everything in my opinion. This time of the year it is extremely important when relying on the remaining daylight when the hours of light per day is shortened dramatically. I rely on time even more so when I am on an unfamiliar trail, when there is only one way in and out. I’ve been relying on the Boldr Field Medic for my timing needs on my hikes this month.

If I’m going on a longer mile count hike I try to only travel with essential and purpose driven gear. I don’t want to expel energy unnecessarily by carrying unneeded gear. Energy conservation and pacing techniques are as important as what I carry with me. The Field Medic watch in very lightweight and very compact. It comes in at 38mm x12.2mm with a titanium case which means the FM is compact and lightweight. The watch easily gets lost on the wrist with prolonged wearing. What I mean by lost is that this watch is so lightweight and comfortable that you lose track of it until you actually need to rely on it. That is a great detail for a watch to have especially when you are in an environment when the temperatures are extreme. When you are layered up to protect yourself from the cold, a lightweight, compact watch is definitely your friend. I typically will wear my watch around the outside of my jacket to limit exposing any skin to the bitter cold. The FM comes on a nato style strap and is long enough to strap it on the outside of a jacket. The flip side of the cold coin is heat and wearing a oversized, heavy watch isn’t ideal. Again, the weight and size of the FM makes it an ideal watch no matter what the temperature is.

One of the days I was wearing the Field Medic on a hike the weather dramatically changed from partly sunny to cloudy with 70mph wind gusts, with pea sized hail changing over to rain, thunder and lightning. Though I was phased by this because I had to take evasive action to avoid the falling trees and tree limbs, the Field Medic handled itself un-phased. The lugless case design allows the watch to hug the wrist without any overhang whatsoever. This detail also allows the FM to wear slightly smaller than what the dimensions state. The screw down crown and the button pushers don’t interfere with wrist range of motion nor do they dig into the posterior side of the hand. Comfort is important but function is even more important and the crown and pushers function with precision. The size and the design of the crown allows the wearer easy grip/operation for unscrewing/screwing, and for setting the time. I find it frustrating and an inconvenience when a crown is designed undersized. You should never have to struggle to grip/operate a crown or a bezel, no matter where you are using your watch or in whatever conditions.

So is the model name just a name or is there a reason Boldr called this a field medic? The obvious detail is that it’s a field watch, a valuable tool that is relied upon by the wearer for basic survival purposes. Yes that is on the extreme side, but certainly a possibility. Yes that’s the field side of the watch in a nutshell but what about the medic side? If you breakdown the details on the dial from familiar details Vs. unfamiliar details. I want to tackle the unfamiliar details first. I am referring pulsations/respirations. What does this mean in terms of function of this watch? I will explain this simply as Boldr explained it to me. You can count off heart and respiratory rates quickly by using the precise graduated scales on this dial. So going back to my extreme statement of survival, using this scale can save valuable time as opposed to taking these vital signs the traditional way. Traditionally, taking a pulse rate is done by counting each beat within 60 seconds. You can do this by counting the beats in a 15 seconds and then multiplying that number of beats by 4. Which is a quick way to get the number of beats per minute but it’s not the most accurate way. The field medic watch uses a 30 seconds count that gives the wearer a more accurate reading.

To use the function of taking vital signs you activate the chronograph(top pusher) and count the specified number of beats, stop the chronograph (top pusher) document the numbers where the central hand is pointing which will be pointing to the required measurements in counts per minute. The function of the watch is precise when starting the central second hand, stopping it and resetting it which can be done by the bottom pusher. The dial is small, proportioned to the size of the case, more important that proportion is legibility. Thankfully the Field Medic dial is legible this is because of well thought out design details. The brushed finished hour and minute hands are coated with lume allowing for reading even when conditions are less than optimal. With a matte black dial backdrop the orange central second hand, the 24 hr sub dial and the hand on the 60 minute sub dial, are all easily read because the orange color. The orange stands out against the black dial. I found this helpful when glancing at the dial from an arms length distance when my hand was occupied. This is especially important because when you are in a situation when you are taking vital signs in the field often enough both your hands are occupied and you aren’t able to have your wrist close to your eyes. The date window located at the 6 o’clock position is also quite visible with it’s white wheel and black printed numerals.

The Field Medic is a well executed piece that is an example of a quintessential tool watch. A watch that can be relied upon in the field, whether you are a first responder, a nurse, a respiratory therapist or a person interested in tracking your vital signs during exercise. It’s a handy tool to have strapped to your wrist. The Field Medic is a well designed and thought out watch that functions without flaw and wears without physical obstruction. It retains a relatively compact size at 38mm x 12.2mm teamed with the lightweight titanium allowing the watch to be worn with comfort in all environments and weather conditions. The 44mm lug to lug measurement allows the watch to hug the wrist without overhang. This can be seen quite apparently by the lug design alone due to the “under-mount” style. It handled itself perfectly during a thunderstorm with pea sized hail and massive wind gusts and it also handled itself in doors when taking vital signs on a patient. I know that it would increase the price of this piece but I would love to see a mechanical version of this watch someday. The Field Medic is a nice value at $299 usd. This would make a good gift option for the healthcare worker in your life especially with Christmas/holidays approaching.

The Field Medic is a comfortable and fun watch to wear. I found myself playing a lot with the chronograph functions. It’s great for fidgety person like myself who also has a great love of gadgets and EDC. I definitely recommend this watch my fellow healthcare workers. It’s been an unprecedented year in healthcare, the toughest year that I have ever experienced in both working in healthcare and in my personal life, as it had been for everyone throughout the world. This isn’t just an isolated thing that a few people in a certain location is dealing with, the entire globe is affected by this pandemic. We are all in this together and I want to thank you all for escaping with me for this review. Thanks for reading, thanks for the support and thanks for the friendship. Be safe my friends.

Thank you for the entire amazing team at Boldr. 🤝❤️🤝

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Case: 38mm Titanium Case
• Movement: Japanese SII VK64
• Water Resistance: 200m (660ft) / 20ATM
• Crown: Screw-down crown with custom embossed BOLDR logo
• Dial: Printed matte dial with Japan Superlume
• Hands: Custom hands with Japan Superlume
• Lens: Flat sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
• Strap: Nylon NATO strap with custom titanium buckles
• Case Thickness: 12.2mm
• Lug size: 20mm
• Lug to lug: 44mm
• Case Back: Screw-down caseback with embossed limited edition designer artwork
• Drilled lugs

Watch Review: Venturo Imperfect Skindiver

Grab and go. 2020 is exhausting enough so when I l leave the house I want to be able to grab my gear and go without a second thought. There is enough shit to worry about this year that having reliable is a must have in my opinion. I’m an avid hiker and outdoors enthusiast, so I definitely rely on my gear/EDC. My watch is always a part of that carry and is relied upon just as much as my knife, flashlight, multi-tool, etc….. The Venturo Imperfect Skindiver is a watch designed to be a grab and go kind of watch. I was anxious to put it to the test and I wanted to see how it was going to handle itself. Before I get into the watch I want to talk about Venturo a little bit for those of you who haven’t heard about the brand.

The first things that were undeniably noticeable initially on the Skindiver was the weight and the size. This is exactly what the design cues were of the dive watches in the 1950’s through the 1970’s were going for. The slimmer, smaller, and more lightweight divers that had a dressier appearance became known as Skindivers. The Venturo SD has a slimmer appearance than what the dimensions state. The 316L stainless steel, gunmetal plated case has a diameter of 40mm with lug-to-lug measurement of 48.5mm and with a case height of 12mm. I am definitely used to wearing big, heavy watches at work, hiking, swimming, even when I workout and I always sleep with a watch on. So I’m not easily bothered by the size or weight of a watch, but I definitely can notice when I put on a watch that is as lightweight and slim as the Venturo is. I did an occasional wrist check when I was first hiking with the Venturo just to make sure it was still with me. The watch is pure comfort on the wrist and won’t be a hindrance whatsoever during any activity.

I can’t deny the fact that the Venturo fits nicely on my 7 1/4” wrist because of it’s size. I used to be more obsessed with case size, which stayed in the 44mm-48mm area. Over the years I became less interested in case size and more appropriately interested in overall design and quality. If a watch is well designed and made with good quality, size isn’t even a concern, becoming an irrelevant detail in my opinion. Functionally the Venturo SD definitely gets all the check marks. It earns those check marks because everything functions without fail as it should.

Now I would have preferred to have a screw down crown instead of a push/pull operation but that is a personal preference check mark as opposed to being in the how it functions column. A crown should be easy to grip and operate in normal conditions, but when a crown is just as easy to grip and operate in less than optimal conditions then it definitely exceeds my expectations. Even though the crown isn’t a screw down crown, I can tell you that functionally it is quality through and through. There isn’t any of that extra wobble feel like the crown is going to break off the stem that some watches have. In my opinion, bezel operation is just as important to me as crown function and Venturo gets another positive check mark. I should say, they get a few check marks on the bezel for a few reasons. Not only does the bezel operate smoothly but it is also legible. That legibility isn’t limited to just daylight either, the markers are coated with lume allowing for easy reading in lowlight/dark environments. I was pleasantly surprised how precise the bezel rotation was on this watch. There isn’t a single amount of extra play whatsoever. I say it’s surprising because this watch is under $175 usd. The Panerai 719 and 389 cannot even say that their bezels don’t have any extra play. A watch under $200 with better bezel function than watches that cost thousands is what I classify as surprising. What’s even better is that bezel markers line up perfectly with the dial, unfortunately the SD43 and DSSD that I owned couldn’t even say that.

Speaking of legibility, the dial on the Venturo contains just that, legibility. It’s through teamwork that the SD obtains great legibility. The large rectangular markers that are teamed with the well proportioned hands allow for reading this dial easy at quick glances. Again, the lume treatment that is on the Venturo SD gives the wearer legibility during daytime and nighttime. The hands and the markers on the dial received a generous coating of lume and are set against the matte black dial allowing the white to really standout. In my experience matte dials are more legible than glossy dials just because of glare/reflection. When a watch has a glossy dial and polished hands, the legibility decreases especially when you are out in natural light. The Skindiver not only has the matte black dial but the hands have a brushed finish. The crystal on a watch plays a big role with how legible a dial is which seems obvious but sometimes isn’t thought about. Venturo uses a K1 hardened mineral crystal that is double domed and has an anti-reflective treatment.

As an artist I really appreciate the artistic details on this watch. I like the two symbols on the dial that are located at the 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock positions. The uniformity of the symbols create a nice zen balance on the dial that is also carried over by the small amount of text on this dial. I would say that the Skindiver’s dial is clean and precise with great balance. I love the case back on the Skindiver. Why? Because a solid case back is the perfect canvas for a company to extend the personality of the watch even further and that’s exactly what Venturo did here with the case back on the Skindiver. The picture on the case back “canvas” is a combination of the Gruppo Gamma skull and the artist designed logo for Venturo. The result of this combination is quite stunning as you can see in the picture below.

Naoki from Gruppo Gamma Watches has created an ideal grab and go watch for these hectic times. An affordable watch that gives you a lot of bang for your dollar. A watch that you can abuse through the rigor of your every day. No one wants to second guess their gear, especially when you are out in the field and your gear is all that stands between survival or failure. In the extreme context failure can mean death. Before I jump too far into the dramatics, I will just say that the Skindiver is an affordable but reliable piece of gear. It held up well throughout some rigorous outdoor activities and ever changing weather conditions including rain and hail. I thoroughly enjoyed wearing this watch on my outdoor adventures. There were times that I forgot it was even on my wrist…….that’s a good thing. I like the case design as it has some nice details that check some personal preference boxes on my list. Some of those details include the shape of the case, the lug design(shape & drilled) and the finish on the case. Even the strap on the Skindiver is nicely designed and executed. The black leather is pliable straight out of the box that doesn’t require any breaking in to make it soft or wrist conforming. If you are looking for a comfortable grab and go watch, the Venturo Imperfect Skindiver Limited Edition quartz watch is an affordable option to consider.

Venturo x IMPERFECT Skindiver
Case: 316L stainless steel, gunmetal plated, diameter 40mm, lug-to-lug 48.5mm, lug width 22mm, height 12mm, push-pull crown
Bezel: 316L stainless steel, gunmetal/ black plated, diameter 41mm, 120-click unidirectional, markers filled with white lume
Crystal: K1 hardened mineral, double domed, anti-reflective
Water resistance: 100m/ 330ft
Movement: Miyota 2035, quartz 3 years battery life, +\- 20 seconds per year.
Dial: Matte black, multi-layer, markers filled with white lume
Hands: Gunmetal color, filled with white lume
Strap:Black leather, length 125/75mm

Venturo x IMPERFECT Special Edition

Watch Review: Boldr Globetrotter prototype watch & production watch.

I like that companies are keeping their ears close to the tracks and collaborating with watch groups/watch enthusiasts. It adds to the vision of the watch by infusing what watch fans want to see on their wrists. I believe that the collaborations usually produce an interesting and inspired watch. Usually. (For reference, the Globetrotter with the DWFG logo on the dial is the prototype, the production piece doesn’t have the logo 👏👏👏)

The Boldr Globetrotter comes in from collaboration with the DFBG as we are reminded of this on the dial with that logo. Which in my opinion would look far better on the case back of the watch, but at least the logo is small enough to look past. (Thankfully the production piece removed the logo from the dial) The bezel on this travel inspired dive style watch is not so easy to look past though, nor do I want to look past it. It is a thing of beauty which is decorated with city names from around the globe hence the name Globetrotter. The dial is armed with a GMT hand and the inner chapter ring is armed with 24hrs of second time zone goodness. The bezel, teamed with these two details really do allow the Globetrotter to live up to it’s name. Thankfully function is just as beautiful as looks as the orange arrow tip GMT hand/function works well both when setting it and when it functions. The same can be said for the bezel, the blue insert is beautiful, the white/orange filling on the city names are done well and the bezel rotates with tight precision.

The bezel insert on the prototype is my preferred insert, but the 24hr “Batman” insert on the production piece is appealing and functional. The production Globetrotter has a blue GMT hand which compliments the bezel insert beautifully.

Another nice similarity can be found between the hour/minute/second hands, the date wheel/window and the signed screw down crown. All of these details look great, adding to the overall aesthetics of the Globetrotter but they all function with precision as well. Without both function and aesthetics coming together like this, you end up with disappointment. As you can see in the picture above, the edges of the bezel allow for extremely easy gripping when rotating this bezel. This functional detail is carried over to the the crown. I also want to mention that I love how flush the bezel sits against the uniquely shaped stainless steel case. Not gaps whatsoever, and no extra play either. A sound bezel through and through.

For those of you who enjoy using your watches outside of the office, for physical adventures, the details I mentioned above become a much more crucial detail. A huge inconvenience that is a pet peeve for me is having to take my watch off during a hike to either rotate the bezel or to adjust the crown because of inadequate functional design. BOLDR prides itself as a company that designs products for the modern day adventurer and the design of the bezel & the crown is a direct example of BOLDR’s commitment to providing solid functionality of their products.

Speaking of soundness, checkout the lugs in the picture above. I absolutely love the geometric shape that these lugs have. The profile on the Globetrotter lends to it’s commanding wrist presence. The lugs give way to a rubber dive strap that must be cut to size to your wrist. I have never been a fan of this style of strap. Thankfully Boldr includes a micro adjustment and dive extension found within the deployment style buckle to allows you to get a more accurate fit to the wrist. The rubber is pliable and conforms to the wrist for the most part. It is rather thick, so you won’t get that tight wrist hug if you prefer that kind of fit. I have to mention that the rubber strap is extremely difficult to line up to allow the spring bars to lock into place. I actually gave up trying to attach the rubber strap on the production piece. Thankfully BOLDR is addressing this issue. A company that actually listens to complaints and addresses them is an excellent example of a company that truly cares about the customer experience.

The case back is a work of art, literally. I love Boldr’s case backs, they are always a true extension of the watch’s personality. It adds a wonderful complete feel to the watch. It’s definitely one of my favorite design details on the Globetrotter. The blue sunburst dial is also a beautiful work of art. It really captures the changing color of the ocean itself. I found it extremely mesmerizing. The oversized rectangular shaped applied hour markers allow for optimal legibility both in daylight settings and dark settings(as you can see by the lume shot below) Of course allowing a nice view of the dial is thanks to the double domed AR treated sapphire crystal. The hands are an ideal size both in width and in length, the added touch of orange is a welcome design choice which pulls together the bezel/case in with the dial. Cohesiveness horological style.

The Globetrotter is finished off with a true, trialed and tested movement, the ETA 2893-2 Elabore-grade automatic movement with independent adjustable GMT-hands. The Globetrotter GMT watch is made with a wonderful recipe, that recipe being a combination of passion, quality, enthusiasm which has been delivered in fine execution. If you jump in on the pre order, you get yourself one heck of a watch which in my opinion is total bang for your buck. The two things that I would change that would make this watch even more appealing to me is, move the logo from the dial onto the caseback and execute the strap differently where you don’t have to cut it. The 44mm case is the perfect size for this style/design in my opinion. I want a easy to read dial, a tough/rugged case that I don’t have to worry about when traveling, especially on those adventure type travels. I never baby my watches, so it has to be able to keep pace with me or it becomes a hindrance as opposed to a travel companion.

The production piece is exactly what I wanted this watch to be. Aside from my issues with the strap that I mentioned earlier, the production piece is damn near perfect. It is more fine tuned than the prototype. Sometimes a company takes the easy route which also maybe a more cost effective route. They leave the prototype to production untouched. BOLDR has gone further and tuned the production piece into a step above the prototype. The dial is a huge improvement in my opinion. Losing the logo from above the 6 o’clock position increased the fluidity and flow of this dial.

Beyond the dial, beyond the case, and beyond the watch, is the company. BOLDR is a young and passionate company. Leon Leong is dedicated to his products, the Boldr team is just as dedicated and their combined dedication is what is truly important. Why is dedication important? Because it’s that dedication, that passion that drives Boldr to deliver a solid and quality product. When a company shares the same passion for watches that it’s potential customers share, this typically generates a great product. When Boldr had to recently redesign itself from the ground up, it was a difficult transition that could have had a number of different outcomes. Having the opportunity to experience a product before this change and after this change has definitely been an educational experience for me. In my opinion Boldr is a much stronger company that is delivering a stronger product as evidenced by the Globetrotter that I received a month ago. It’s quality and execution is an apparent step above than it’s prototype counterpart.

I have huge respect for Boldr because things could have gone a completely different with a completely different outcome. I highly, highly recommend Boldr to any fan of microbrand watches or to any watch fan for that matter. I am excited to watch Boldr grow stronger with each release moving forward!

Specifications

• Case: 44mm 316L Stainless Steel Case
  Movement: Swiss ETA 2893-2 Elabore-grade automatic movement with independent adjustable GMT-hands
• Water Resistance: 300m (990ft) / 30ATM
• Crown: Screw-down crown with custom embossed BOLDR logo
• Ceramic Bezel: Rotating cities bezel, engraved with the names of major cities
• Dial: Sunburst dial with applied indexes with Swiss Superluminova BGW9
• Hands: Customs hands with Swiss Superluminova BGW9
• Lens: Double dome sapphire crystal with Anti-Reflective coating
• Strap: Custom moulded natural rubber strap with custom dive-extension buckle
• Case Thickness: 14mm
• Lug size: 22mm
• Lug to lug: 50mm
• Case Back: Screw-down stainless steel caseback with embossed limited edition designer artwork

Shark Mesh Add on: US$59 (SG$79)

FULL MSRP US$799 (SG$1099)

https://www.boldrsupply.co/collections/boldr-globetrotter-gmt

Thank you to Leon and the Boldr Team

Thanks to all of you for allowing me to share watch loving obsessions with you all.

Watch Review: Pontvs Marino

One of my favorite parts of doing these reviews is watching a company progress from the starting line and improve with each release. Pontvs is exactly one of those brands. Each one of their watches that I have reviewed has improved since the previous release. It sounds easy, but it really isn’t. Keeping a company alive and well is a feat in and of itself. Finding a balance of watch designs that appease potential customers is a real struggle. Going too unique and you will lose potential customers and the flip side of that is going towards the homage route can also be a potentially unwise move. Pontvs has done a good job of maintaining a balance in their releases. Their latest watch, the Marino is a beautiful bronze beast.

The bronze case is large but refined because it’s Italian inspired cushion style case. I really can’t say enough good things about this case and before I get into the positives, I want to get the negative out of the way first. The drilled lugs are a preferred style as opposed to solid lugs where the spring bar lock into place on the inside of each lug. To improve upon what Pontvs did with their drilled lugs/bar choice is instead of using a spring style bar, they should opt in on using screw in style lug bars. I had a difficult time getting the spring bars to pop out into the holes in the lug. Using a screw in style would easily solve that issue. I am like most watch enthusiasts, we like to “change the shoes” on our watches. The easier that is, the better and with ease comes the less likelihood is of scratching the lugs/watch.

I now want to point out what I really like about the Marino’s case starting with the bezel. The 120 click, unidirectional bezel on the Marino is easy to grip and each click is smooth. It scratches my nitpicking itch because not only does it line up perfectly with the dial, but it also each click is precise without any extra play. Depending upon how a watch design is overall, a sterile bezel can work well and the same can be said about a bezel that has detail. Pontvs designed the bezel of the Marino with some great detail that starts with the oversized lumed pip and continues to the raised markers.

We all know that stainless steel and titanium are great materials to make cases out of but they both have an Achilles heel. A lot of watch lovers out there definitely get upset when the get that first ding or dent on their watch. What I like about bronze is that the scratches, dents, patina just add to the details of the watch. Take a look at the area around the raised markers on the bezel. Do you notice how the patina accentuates the raised markers? The patina on the bezel actually allows the markers to become more legible instead of the bronze just blur/blend against one another. I want you to also take notice of the oversized crown. The space in between the grip on the crown is forming some nice patina which adds depth allowing the for a more distinguishable detailing. At this point I am sure that you have noticed Pontvs himself on the crown. What appears to be an engraving with formed patina within the crevices, but in actuality the crevices of the engraving are filled with lume. Check out the pic below to see it’s glowing action in full force. The oversized crown is very easy to grip as one would except considering it’s size and design, more importantly it’s smooth function when winding/setting the time is flawless. I didn’t notice any extra wiggle that plagues a lot of crowns.

I’ve said it a hundred times before that a dial can make or break a watch purchase for me. Whether it’s poorly proportioned hands, or markers that don’t quite make sense with the overall design aesthetics, the dial is undeniably the focal point of the watch from a strictly functional point of view. Unless it’s marketed as a unique/unusual way of displaying time, a dial has to be legible otherwise you are just wearing an overpriced bracelet. There’s not a single question of doubt about the legibility of the dial on the Marino. The large applied markers, along with the properly proportional hands, make this dial one of the most legible dials I have experienced. I’m not just referring to daytime legibility either, because the generous application of lume allows for the same amount of legibility in lowlight/dark environments. With minimal text and no date window, this dial is simple and clean, adding to the overall legibility.

I don’t usually write in depth about the movement inside of a watch because what can I write about a movement that hasn’t been written about in exhaustion already. The reason I want to bring up the movement in the Marino is because it’s the first watch I have reviewed that contains the PT5000. It’s basically a clone of the ETA 2824-2. It’s made by Chinese manufacturer H.K. Precision Technology. The 28,800 VPH allows the second hand to glide extremely smooth around the dial. The Marino is keeping an average of +4 seconds per day. I was quite impressed by the PT5000. I am looking forward to seeing how this movement holds up overtime. I will definitely keep you all updated.

Like I mentioned earlier, it’s not as easy as one may think to keep progressing in a forward motion, especially in a finicky and highly opinionated community. I’m not saying that those things are a bad thing, unless you are a watch snob, if that’s the case you can kindly fuck off. For those of us who enjoy a variety of watches from a variety of brands, we know that there are going to be watches we love and others that we won’t. We are going to go out on a bashing spree, we either will buy it, ignore it or offer our opinion for why we don’t like it. Watch companies have the hard task of trying to offer a product that people are going to purchase, progress to reach new customers but also keeping their previous customers. It’s a grueling and exhausting balancing act which is why I am impressed by Pontvs latest release.

The cushion case pulled me in, the bezel and oversized crown grabbed ahold of my attention closer and then the dial surprised me. I never preferred a glossy dial nor a sunray style dial like this Marino dial. Green isn’t my first choice of dial colors either. That is why I was surprised by how much I like this dial and that is why I am impressed by Pontvs progression. They added details that as a previous customer I like, infused it with details that I typically wouldn’t go for, but merged them into a well thought out overall design that absolutely works. It’s a combination that is enough that made me want to add another bronze watch to my collection. That is a great and applaudable accomplishment. I highly recommend the Marino to bronze watch owners and to people who want to add their first bronze watch. The Marino has phenomenal wrist presence, wears comfortably despite it’s size and is beautifully executed.

Thank you all for reading. Thank you Pontvs.

The Marino is available at for an affordable $450 usd.

Pontvs Marino

SPECIFICATIONS

Movement Automatic Caliber PT5000

Hand winding Yes

Automatic Yes

Glass Single Domed

Date No

Width (without crown) 47mm

Lugs 26mm

Lug to lug 57mm

Water resistance 200m

Dial Applied indexes with BGW9

Case material German Bronze CuSn8

Band material Leather*

Buckle Material German Bronze CuSn8

Watch Review: Achtung Metal

2020 has definitely been a stressful, mess of a year. You turn on the TV and it’s nothing but depressing news. If you go anywhere, you are constantly reminded of the current state of life in 2020. If you are like me, you find yourself grasping onto those little things that bring even the most minuscule amount of happiness. That’s one of the reasons why Achtung watches bring a smile to my face. A company that releases small batches of unique watches that are designed to bring a smile to the wearer’s face. The kind of brand that makes the angry watch snob’s cringe, which is another reason why I enjoy reviewing the type of watches that I review. Reviewing watches is a fun release for me and is something that I do not construct in the confines of a stringent uptight format. I believe that Achtung uses the same carefree model when approaching their watches.

The Metal is one of the more recent releases in 2020 from Achtung. “Achtung [ahck-tohng] or [ahck-toong] is a Deutsche (German) word used to command attention, also implying “warning” or “alert”.” The Metal’s design is not a small by any means, it’s 53mm width is huge especially by today’s current trend of 40mm and under. Achtung watches are more of your Tokyo street style fashion and definitely not your stuffy-office type. When I first opened up the box for this watch, the initial thoughts were that it was like a G-Shock was on steroids which was cross bred with a 70’s super alloy mecha-robot. The case uses a mix of materials to make up the unique look of the Metal watch. A first for me on any watch, is the Metal’s fixed rubber bezel. A unique idea as you won’t have to worry about scratching this bezel. The rubber bezel acts like a shock absorber against those accidental “door knob hits” and other bumps that you come across during your watch wearing day.

The strap is attached to the case in a rather usual fashion. As you can see in the pictures the case was designed without lugs. It’s definitely a different approach on attaching a strap to a case but forget about any strap changes on this watch. You will be limited to the supplied silicon watch strap. Thankfully it is very comfortable and it is also color coordinated with the bezel. If you are interested in need of tracking time in multiple time zones then Achtung has got you covered. Located on the non crown side of the Metal’s case are two independently quartz controlled mini dials. A detail that I find uniquely cool but also quite useful. Being located in the US, I often find myself wondering what time it is in various countries that my friends and family are spread throughout the world. Instead of guessing, I just set each “sub dial” to the time zone that those I would be communicating with most that week. There are multiple scenarios when having close access to 3 different times can become quite handy. A unique but useful detail that I enjoyed playing around with. I was surprised how easy the tiny crowns were to use when setting the time on the “sub dials”.

As unique as the case is on the watch, it’s the dial that really pushes the unique. You definitely get a clear view of the dial through the large sapphire crystal. The dial is where my super alloy comment comes into play. The dial reminds me of the armor on those classic robots but the exposed gears remind me of the inner mechanics that are responsible for the movements of the mecha robot. I love the colors and the textures found throughout this dial. What I like about what Achtung did with this dial is the consistency throughout the chaos. There are large, very noticeable details on the dial such as the colored metal plates, some are plain and flat, while other have a bit more detail. Found on separate individual met plates is the type of movement, the water resistance, and the name of the brand. A very unique way to display this information upon the dial. Each metal plate is held securely in place by screws which doesn’t sound like anything out of the ordinary. The gear style border around the date window was a clever way to keep the consistency flowing. Often times a date window on a dial can disrupt the overall flow of a dial. There’s another detail I want to mention that Achtung has done to help that consistent flow continue throughout this dial. It’s quirky yet I find it quite charming. I appreciate that each screw is a different color but what I appreciate more in the commitment to detail is each screw has a different head. It’s an example of how a company put thorough thought into their design on their watch.

There is no denying that large 53mm watch is packed full of unique personality. It’s a limited edition watch that targets a limited demographic. Beneath the unique exterior of the Metal is the function of this watch. There wasn’t any sacrifices made in terms of function for the overall uniqueness of this watch. Winding this watch manually via the oversized crown is done with smoothness and with ease. Despite the busy and the textured dial, telling time on the Metal is done without obstruction. The large semi-skeletonized hands are easy to see for telling the time despite the lack of numerals on the dial. Even at 53mm, this watch is actually comfortable to wear. No lugs means less wrist overhang for those with smaller wrists. The silicon strap conforms to the wrist with it’s pliable soft nature. The Metal watch is priced at $664 USD. Only 28 were made of each color variation. It’s a fun and unique watch to wear while making a bold statement on the wrist. You can purchase the Metal via https://achtungtime.com/collections/all/products/achtung-metal-orange

Thank you so much for reading. Thank you Achtung.

Watch Review Aevum Advance

Aevum Advance Specs

• Case– Ion plated for hardness and brushed stainless steel 42×48 mm with 22mm lugs
• Dial– Clean no-date sandwich dial with lumed hour markers
• Crown– Screw down double gasket with cam gear design
• Movement – NH35 automatic with 40 hour power reserve
• Case back– Exhibition style to view engraved rotor
• Lume– Swiss Superluminova BGW9 (blue at night)
• Crystal – Anti-reflection coated sapphire
• Water Resistance– 20 ATM or 200 Meters
• Strap– 22mm genuine leather strap handmade by us in-house

https://www.aevumtime.ca/home.html

“We are petrolheads. We design and build our watches with passion, including automotive aesthetics in a way that includes all types of enthusiasts.” That is definitely the feeling that you get when unboxing the Aevum Advance watch. It’s a watch that is for watch and car fans alike but it doesn’t give that over the top gimmicky feeling. I initially took notice of the Ion plated brushed finish on the stainless steel. The Ion plating adds hardness to the case as a extra form of protection against scratches from every day use. The Advance watch is a moderately sized 42×48 mm with 22mm lugs which you can see wears well on my 7 1/4” wrist. The Advance case has a distinctive Italian cushion style shape which in my experience not only wear comfortable but also have good wrist presence. This holds true with the Advance and with the curved lugs, the watch hugs the wrist well.

The Advance is fitted with an exhibition case back that allows you to take a peek into the “engine” of the watch. The “engine” inside this watch is the NH35 automatic that when it’s tank is full has a 40 hour power reserve. The movement under the hood looks like your standard NH35 movement but Aevum added a touch of detail by engraving the movement’s rotor with their signature logo. Aevum is a Canadian based company and they show their Canadian pride on the case back with the cool engraved maple leaf 🍁

If/when you find yourself needing/wanting to manually wind the Advance via the screw down crown there’s a few things worth noting here. The screw down crown is protected by a double gasket system that helps protect the Advance by ensuring a water tight seal.(200m) Though the crown isn’t oversized, the design allows the wearer to easily grip and operate when screwing/unscrewing/winding. If you are like me, a crown should have an engraved detail and Aevum didn’t leave this box unchecked. Not only did they laser engrave the crown to look like an adjustable camshaft gear but they also cut the crown grip into half moon flat top teeth to mimic the look of a belt drive cam gear. When a design can seamlessly combine both function and detail, the end result typically is a winner. This is exactly what Aevum has achieved with the design of the Advance’s crown.

Aevum is consistent with including those “petrolhead” details without crossing the gimmicky line and they continue this as you move from the case closer to the dial. The chapter ring on the Advance is marked by a series of numbers which Aevum cleverly designed it to include cam timing degrees and crank positions. If you are wondering what TDC and BDC represent, I will explain what those abbreviations stand for. TDC is the abbreviation for Top Dead Center and BDC located above the 6 O’clock position represents Bottom Dead Center. In between these abbreviations along the circumference of the chapter ring are marked with numerical degrees. For those non-petrolheads, TDC is the point when the piston of the number one cylinder in an engine is at its highest point, and on the compression stroke of the engine’s four-stroke cycle. Bottom dead center is the point at which the piston of an engine is nearest to the axis of the crankshaft. On a vertical engine, this is the lowest point that the piston reaches. When the piston reaches BDC, it starts to move upwards.

The dial can definitely be the making or breaking point for watch. We have all experienced this whether it’s hands that aren’t proportional to the dial or a date window that is oddly placed or hour markers that are not cohesive to the rest of the dial design. Sometimes even the smallest of poorly designed/thought out details can’t be overlooked. Fortunately for Aevum and the Advance watch, the dial was well thought out and executed without any of those “deal breakers”. The sandwich style dial is a great starting point for creating an appealing to the eye kind of dial. The bottom layer is the layer that fueled by Swiss Superluminova BGW9 which in daylight is ivory in color and at night glows a beautiful blue. No matter what lighting environment that you find yourself in.

The large numeral markers that are perfectly paired with the proportional hands make the dial a pleasing to the eye focal point whether if you are looking at the time or just admiring your wrist candy. The text on this dial is kept to a minimum with just the Aevum name, logo, model name and type of movement. The color combinations used on the Advance assist in the overall pleasing aesthetics on this dial (black, white and a touch of red).

I am not a petrolhead by any means. Most of the time I hate driving all together but that doesn’t affect my opinion of this driving themed watch. Like I mentioned before, the “Easter eggs” found throughout this watch are not done in a gimmicky fashion. They are done very subtly and they are done with beautiful execution. The Advance is a watch that anyone can wear and if you are a petrolhead then you will just appreciate those details a little bit more. The only detail suggestion that I have is that the second hand needs some sort of lume treatment like the hour and minute hands. The second hand is not major in terms of disappointment but something that can just make the dial that much better.

The Aevum Advance is a watch that is extremely comfortable to wear. For those size conscious people the 42×48 mm falls in between the “happy spot” 40mm to 44mm. The design of the case and dial are tastefully executed. I personally would like the case back more if it was an engraved solid case back. That’s just a personal preference of mine that doesn’t affect the function nor the overall aesthetics of this watch whatsoever. The Advance comes in at a very affordable $280 usd price tag which allows the buyer to get a lot of nice details at a great price. With Christmas fastly approaching this would be a fantastic gift for that car and watch lover.

Thank you for reading and thank you to Aevum for allowing me to review this watch.

A year with the SeL Omnidiver

What a year this has been, a phrase that every single one of us can relate to. Each month that passes by it seems harder to find something positive to hold onto. Even if it’s the smallest, seemingly insignificant thing, recognizing it as something positive does help from becoming completely overwhelmed. I have turned to hiking, exercising, cooking and watches to help keep my mind focused on something other than the depressing current events.

I have spent the past year with the SeL Omnidiver and I wanted to do a short update on how the watch is holding up. I also wanted to give my impressions of the watch after spending a substantial amount of time with it in every environment/situation of my daily life.

There was only one area that I needed to contact SeL about in terms of service. I noticed that one of the bracelet screws was loose. Occasionally I would half-ass tighten it because I always was in a situation where I didn’t have proper tools with me at the time I noticed it was loose. Unfortunately I did end up losing that screw because I didn’t properly tighten it nor did I put loctite on it. I contacted SeL about it and a couple days later the replacement screws arrived to me, with extras just in case. I replaced the screw and I haven’t had an issue since. The customer service experience was absolutely flawless. This was just an example when brand history, advertising budgets, gimmicks, smoke & mirrors are outdone by actual care for your customers. I had a similar experience with a “big name” of the watch industry and they wanted to charge me $100+ for a replacement screw and another $50+ for shipping.

The Omnidiver was my companion this summer when I went to the beach for some much needed time away from reality. As I expected it handled itself without fail. I put the crown seals to the test by going into the water with the crown unscrewed. SeL tests the water resistance of their watches with the crown in the open position so the wearer can have peace of mind in case of the accidental exposure to water with an open crown. I wasn’t shocked that my Omnidiver held up in the water given the extreme testing/R&D that SeL puts their watches through. Seeing what Andrew puts the watch through to reach that fail point gives me complete peace of mind because I know that my Omnidiver isn’t going to fail me during my “every day life tests”.

The grit, dirt, sand that built up on the bracelet was so easy to clean out and it never compromised the wearability of the Omnidiver. The only issue that I came across was when I took off the watch at the beach. An minuscule issue came into play when attempting to put the watch when some small pebbles prevented me from closing the wavelock clasp. The small pebbles and sand were no match for a quick bath in the water and just like that my clasp was closed tightly as it should be.

I am actually surprised how few scratches I have acquired on the case, bracelet and clasp. Scratches don’t bother me whatsoever as watches are made to be worn not to be babied. The clasp is especially shocking to me because I have worn watches for far less time, in less harsh environments and the bracelet clasp looks like it was put through the garbage disposal. I attribute the Omnidiver’s condition to SeL’s use of superior quality materials. (Ti-6AL-4V) “Titanium is not all the same. We use a domestic (US) produced lab certified alloy. The lab certification adds expense in itself BUT the requirement that the raw materials are certified before melting, along with the entire process to guarantee the alloy composition is very expensive. Buying uncertified material from overseas is a gamble. Sometimes it’s what it should be, sometimes not. The result is that our titanium is almost twice as expensive as non-certified alloy. We will not represent an alloy to our customer as Ti-6AL-4V unless we’re absolutely certain it actually is.”-Andrew McLean CEO SeL Instruments

Andrew, SEL’s CEO was on a mission to make a watch that wouldn’t fail even under the most harsh circumstances/conditions and I firmly believe that he succeeded. I said it before and now I am saying it with 100% confidence that the bracelet on the Omnidiver is the best in the business in terms of durability , quality and design. The case is of equal durability and I don’t think that there’s anything that my daily abuse could damage it. There is zero fear of door frames or door knobs when the watch is on my wrist. Let me elaborate a bit further on what I mean about zero fear. There has been situations with almost every watch that I have owned when I have either hit it against something with enough force to cause me to oh fuck immediately looking at my wrist to access the damage. The Omnidiver is the first watch that doesn’t cause me to immediately look at my wrist because I know that it’s pretty much bombproof so whatever shit I am going to put it through the watch is going to handle it.

The Omnidiver is one of the toughest watches I have experienced to date. During my time with the Omnidiver it gave me a greater appreciation for what this watch truly is and a greater appreciation for the amount of R&D that went into making the Omnidiver a reality. After a year of abuse, everything on this watch is functioning just as it did the first day I received it. The silicon nitride balls within the bezel has kept the rotation smooth and importantly without any of that annoying extra wiggle/play. I am also extremely pleased that the Omnidiver’s bezel has zero separation between the case/bezel, something not even the bezel on my Rolex DSSD or SD43 could accomplish over time of use.

After major daily use of the Omnidiver, there are some areas that can be improved upon which would make an already great watch even greater. Those areas are a small mix of my personal preferences and of areas that can improve function. One example of an area of improvement on function is the crown. The crown is well protected within the end link of the bracelet and case, but protection has disrupted ease of grip. If the crown was made larger with different machined edges then I believe this would solve that issue. What I think is damn near perfect on the Omnidiver is the case size, the bracelet, the bezel, the hands, the lume, and the crystal. The Omnidiver is my ideal tool/dive watch which has delivered what so many of the popular “big names” of the watch industry could not deliver. I am certainly not bashing those brands by any means but unfortunately those brands has shifted focus to fashion accessories/status symbols/ luxury item and have moved away from designing an actual tool.

With that being said, I will be sending in the Omnidiver for an update soon. It’s going in for a bit of a makeover to make it more to my personal preferences. That process will be well documented here and on my social media outlets. I am also looking forward to some snow and ice pictures/exposure. This winter is reportedly going to be colder and snowier than average according to the farmers almanac! 🤞🤞🤞

Thank you all for reading!

Bezel and bracelet operation after a year of use

Watch Review: Achtung Turbo3

Achtung [ahck-tohng] or [ahck-toong] is a Deutsche (German) word used to command attention, also implying “warning” or “alert”. Angular silhouettes on every Achtung timepiece. Love at first sight is certainly possible, and be game for a second look.

I have reviewed a few different models of Achtung watches and there is one consistent detail about all of them. They all share that “street style” culture/attitude and the Turbo3 is no exception to this detail. Achtung is not a company that takes themselves too seriously in that stuffy attitude kind of way. They make fun watches that are an extension of the wearers unique style and personality. Achtung watches are released in very small limited edition numbers and are marketed for those who like that “outside of the box” individualized style.

The dial of the Turbo3 definitely has that individualized style which I refer to as industrial street style. Staying true to their form Achtung has created something different while not losing their DNA. The metal detailing on the dial reminds me of when you see buildings where it looks like architectural magic. What I mean by “this is the building”, I mean it is the perfect merging of art and industry.

The Turbo3 is definitely not for the faint of wrist, it wears large and looks large. The case is made of 316L stainless steel case is 48mm in diameter (excluding crown), lugs size are 24mm and the thickness is 13mm. Now 48mm isn’t unwearable by any means, but some people are very scared to wear anything over 40mm. I understand finding the right watch that works best for the wearer but I also think that way too much emphasis is placed on the size of a watch.

The Turbo3 case is full of detail, both functional details and decorative details. I prefer the functional details over the decorative ones. The fixed bezel is “held” in place by faux screws. This “cheapens” the experience of the watch for me because the screws are fake, there only for aesthetics not for actual function. These same detail aesthetics are also found on the crown guards and on the faux drilled lugs. These are the areas where the Turbo3 loses points for me. The last place of point loss on the Turbo3 is the plastic movement holder. Overtime plastic loses density and gradually becomes brittle which is why I can’t stand seeing plastic used inside of a watch, especially so close to the moving parts of the automatic mechanical movement.

Thankfully the Turbo3 has plenty of functional details that outweigh any of the aesthetic details. The dial is equipped with a day/night indicator, a tachymeter, a small seconds indicator and a skeletonized minute & hour hand. This is Achtung’s 3 year anniversary so the dial features one numeral. The oversized 3 is the only numeral that is featured on this dial in terms of the 12 hour count. The Turbo3 is a auto themed piece as you probably guessed from the name and the tachymeter, but like I mentioned earlier I get that industrial feel from this piece. So I can say this, I can see the auto theme if I view this piece as a Mad Max post apocalyptic vehicles. Which isn’t a bad thing by any means. The new Tom Hardy version was bloody fantastic.

The Turbo3 is limited to just 28 pieces and that makes perfect sense to me because this is definitely a nitch watch. It’s certainly not designed for the mass market but for those who like that unique street style look. There’s a lot going on with this dial and it works well for this watch. Normally I don’t like an open heart on a dial but this detail definitely is consistent to the overall theme of this watch. The crown protection/locking mechanism is simple yet functional. To wind or to pull the crown into the open position the hinged clasp can be lifted easily out of the way as it’s held in place by a ball bearing. This little functional detail reminds me of a gas cap cover and the crown is the cap itself. When details are functional but also retain design aesthetics, this is when they work best. When the details are fake, they lose that magic for me.

The Turbo3 comes is at just under $600. What do you get for your $590? You get a unique, limited edition watch, a large 316L stainless steel case with 330ft WR, Miyota movement, and art style post apocalyptic design/Akira meets Mad Max. The smooth black case is finished with nice detail teamed with a matte black dial protected by a sapphire crystal. The dial is my favorite part of this watch. Chaotic beauty is what I refer to it as. It’s full of detail, depth and definitely has it’s own unique personality. If you are a fan of cars, post apocalyptic movies and unique designs, then this is a great option for you to consider.

Thank you all for reading and thank you to Achtung for allowing me to review this watch.

EVOX DV2 professional bronze diver

In the vast sea of watches, what is there possibly that a company can do in terms of design that will set it apart from all the others? Well for starters EVOX designed the bronze professional diver with a uniquely shaped case. Thankfully EVOX decided against going with the ever growing, yet extremely mundane sub mariner clone route. The case is large in terms of dimensions 47mm but the under mounted lugs allow the diver to wear on most wrist sizes without that cumbersome overhang. What is also nice for people that like to have their watch under the cuff of a long sleeved shirt is that the DV2 is only 10mm thick. You should be aware of the hefty weight of the DV2. Now it’s not so heavy that it is uncomfortable, but I want to disclose that it’s not titanium light.

In my opinion one of the most important features on a dive watch is the bezel. It’s a make or break the deal kind of feature. Too much play in the bezel is definitely a deal breaker for me. The bezel on the EVOX is middle of the road for me in terms of quality on a microbrand in this price point. It’s easy to grip and to operate, the ratcheting sound is what makes this middle of the road for me. It doesn’t have that solid sound that I prefer, this has the thin piece of metal sound to it. There isn’t much extra play with the EVOX bezel or does it wobble. Another must have that is essential on a dive watch bezel is the addition of some sort of a lume pip or triangle that can be seen in murky water and can be used to mark time with. The aluminum bezel insert on the DV2 is equipped with lume treated faux pearl pip that is within an elongated triangle. Sometimes a dive watch bezel is quite sterile/simple in design with only the triangle/pip, or they feature a scale or numerals. If properly designed, each style can really enhance the overall look of the watch while also retaining the important functionality detail. The DV2 bezel features incriminates of 5 numerals that coincide/line up with the painted markers on the dial.

I’m definitely particular about how a bezel should feel, sound and operate. This is exactly how I feel about the crown on a dive watch. A crown should be easy to grip, operate smoothly and shouldn’t make a sound……..except for the winding sound of the movement when using the crown to manually wind. I prefer oversized crowns on a dive watch because the conditions I use my dive watches in are usually wet, with gloves on and in colder temperatures. Obviously when a crown is oversized it creates more surface area for gripping a hold of in between the index finger and thumb. When the edges of the crown are shaped like a cog/gear (like the shape of the bezel) it catches into the fingers nicely for added ease of operation. The DV2 crown is tucked between two crown guards at the 9 o’clock position to the 11 o’clock position, the crown itself is aligned with the 10 o’clock position. The DV2 crown could have been designed larger in circumference but where it lacks in size, is redeemed by the intricate detail of the engraved EVOX soldier. A dive watch in my opinion should have a screw down crown. Yes I know that a crown can be water resistance without being designed as a screw down but I just appreciate the added protection that a screw down function provides.

It is safe to say how important that the bezel on a dive watch needs to be legible, but it’s even more important that the dial is legible. You want a watch dial to be easily read at the most quick of glances, no matter the angle or no matter what the lighting situation is. Most people don’t use their dive watch for the intended use of actually diving, but for those who actually do, legibility in water is very important. We do live in an age of technology where diving computers are more frequently used, their are some people, myself included that use watches for diving. Some use the watch in conjunction with the diving computer devices and others just use the watch itself. The DV2 is marketed by EVOX as a professional dive watch therefore I would expect it to have those important details that are a must on a professional dive watch. The large, printed lume coated markers are a good start to a legible dial. The addition of the large semi skeletonized hands certainly continues the “good start” of a legible dial. Poorly proportioned hands can be such a disappointing detail that can kill a watch even if all the other design details are on point. Luckily the DV2’s three hands are proportional to the size of the large matte black dial. The hour hand and the lollipop style second hand are both polished gold and have a generous amount of lume. As for the minute hand, it is painted matte orange but also is generously coated with lume. The text on the DV2 maintains a clean look with a 4 line white print. One of my personal favorite features on this dive watch is the sapphire domed crystal. A detail that definitely adds to the legibility of this dial. I would love to have domed sapphire crystals to be synonymous with dive watches just like screw down crowns should be. This is just my personal thoughts on functional details on a dive watch which improves upon the “toughness in the field”. “Toughness in the field” offers the wearer peace of mind that it’s not only going to hold up to what you dish out at it and the details that assist in legibility/function/etc…

I think the DV2 is a nice follow up to the DV1. I personally think there aren’t any deal breaking details on this watch. That being said there are definitely areas that could be improved upon. As I mentioned above about the crown size, the bezel and one unmentioned detail which is the large date window. Either completely eliminate the date window all together or tuck it away in between the 4 o’clock and 5 o’clock position, use a round window instead of a square shape and use a black date wheel with white numerals. Using these suggestions keeps a universal pleasing aesthetic that doesn’t disrupt or distract the eye. The $576 USD price could become more attractive if the movement was improved from the Automatic NH35 to an upgraded movement. If you are looking for your first bronze microbrand diver, this is definitely a good option. If you don’t like bronze, the DV1 is another good option for a solid, affordable dive watch. Best way to narrow down your choices is create a must have list starting with a must have detail(specs) list, followed by price point that you want to stay in, and finally get input from others who have had experience with the watch and or brand.

Thank you all for reading and thank you EVOX for allowing me to review this watch.

Home

Movement: Automatic NH35

Power ReserveUp to 40 hours

Water Resistant 30 ATM, 300 meters

Limited Edition 20 pieces

Sapphire Crystal

Case Bronze with Unidirectional Rotating Bezel

Dial Superluminova Index and Hands

Diameter 47mmCase

Thickness 10mm

Strap Leather Strap with Complimentary Rubber Strap

Watch Review: Andersmann 1000m Bronze Diver

Andersmann watches are definitely not a stranger to my blog . I have reviewed almost every model that CEO Raymond Chan has released. Each of those models contain well thought out functional details and each model was an example Raymond’s attention to strict quality control. My personal favorite was the 47mm giant, the Deep Ocean diver. When Raymond first shared the pictures of his upcoming 1000m bronze diver I was immediately attracted to it. I’m not going to lie, I was a bit disappointed when I heard that it was 44mm. I really thought that 47mm would do the bronze case more justice. As I spent more time with this watch though, I found myself appreciating the size of the case. There’s no denying the absolute comfort of this watch. The weight (155grams) and the height (16mm) of this watch are not an issue whatsoever. It will fit easily under the cuff of your dress shirt if you are a desk diver at the office.

The case is made from bronze alloy CuSn8, which blends copper and tin in their pure states. Both copper and tin are structurally strong and highly corrosion-resistant. “Bronze, historically associated with ships, diving equipment, and various nautical pursuits, has developed a growing fan base in the watch-collector community for its warm, gold-like tone and its tendency to develop a unique patina from exposure to air, humidity, heat and wear — rendering each watch individual to its owner and his or her experiences.” Like most Andersmann watches, the lugs are relatively straight with very minimal curvature. The lugs are drilled which is definitely a preference of mine because not only do screw bars provide more stability than spring bars, but they also cut down the risk of scratching the lugs during a strap change.

I was surprised by how quickly the natural patina started to appear on this watch. It enhanced the depth of the raised dive scale numerals on the unidirectional bezel actually making them more legible. Like it’s titanium big brother, the bronzo features knurled edge detail on both the bezel and on the screw down crown. The knurl detail is quite beautiful but more importantly the knurl detailing on the crown and bezel add ease of function. Both the bezel and the crown are easy to grip ahold of and operate. The bezel has a tight, precise ratcheting action that has none of that disappointing extra play or wobble. The crown doesn’t disappoint either with it’s easy to grip knurl edges, it’s smooth screwing action and it’s strong crown stem. I like that the crown is signed with Andersmann “A” logo that adds a level of cohesion with the dial.(more about that in a bit)

The two details that I could have down without on this watch are the exhibition case back and the engraved Andersmann on the flank side of the case. Raymond does add some of his own detailing to the ETA Automatic movement to give you something to look at. It’s just a personal preference of mine to have a solid case back that features a detailed engraving. Aesthetically speaking, the engraved Andersmann name of the case disrupts the flow of the case. As patina forms around the engraved letters, this will definitely help enhance the look. These two details are just me trying to make the watch more appealing to my personal taste. There are no details on this watch that disappoint me from a functionality standpoint.

The dial is definitely the show stealer on this watch though. The distressed detail is a prime example of Raymond’s attention to fine details. Each dial is individually scratched making each piece uniquely different. The dial and the scratches appear to magically change depending on the angle and on the lighting that it is viewed under. The large luminous coated hands and numerals allow for optimal reading of the time is all lighting situations. Whether you are driving through a tunnel on the highway or diving in the murky depths of your favorite diving spot, you will have no issues with quickly acclimating to the dial layout to read the time.

The semi-skeletonized hands are perfectly sized to the dial. It’s such a disappointment when a dial is fitted with inadequate sized hands. A detail that has been a deal breaker for me in the past. Each of the three bronze models featured it’s own uniquely colored second hand.(yellow, blue or white) The sandwich style dial gives a nice head nod to the Italian divers that made this detail ever so popular. Allowing you to truly admire the dial on this watch is a thanks in part to the double curved sapphire crystal. The top crystal is 4.4mm thick and is treated with anti-reflecting treatment. The case back sapphire crystal is 2.9mm and is tinted grey.

The bronzo comes on a super soft, comfortable FKM rubber strap (125/85) that features a bronze CuSn8 tongue buckle(engraved). Not only does the soft rubber conform to your wrist comfortably but it’s also extremely easy to keep clean. Working in healthcare nowadays having stuff that is easily cleaned is definitely appreciated. I wash this watch and strap in between seeing each of my patients. Right now personally I wouldn’t wear a leather strap to work because leather acts like a moisture sponge.

The Andersmann 1000m bronze diver is a well executed dive watch that is packed full of those Andersmann functional details that I have come to love and expect from Raymond. Some will complain about the $1800 price tag on this watch. Those who complain about the price will find it extremely difficult to find this type of quality/specs on anything under the 1k price point. There’s a watch for every person’s budget. Instead of complaining about the price of a watch, go and find a watch that works for your personal budget or save up for one.

The watch is definitely one to consider if you thought the Deep Ocean watch was awesome but the 47mm size turned you off. This watch is also a great option for those looking for a quality bronze diver. The watch is extremely accurate and that is thanks to the tried and abused workhorse ETA2892-A2. The watch comes in a nice secured pelican case that is as rugged as the watch inside. This review piece was worn to work, during multiple hiking and climbing trips and survived many trips to the sandy beach. It functioned flawlessly, kept it’s appearance and even developed some beautiful natural patina. I definitely recommend this watch to anyone looking to add a bronze diver to their collection.

Thank you for reading. Thank you Raymond for allowing me to review this watch.

For more information head to https://www.andersmann.com