Company: GPW Arctos Elite
Website: http://arctoswatches.myshopify.com/collections/gpw-military/products/gpwfldbundbr
GPW Field Model Specifications:
2-Year Manufacturer Warranty
Titanium Case (62 grams without strap)
Sapphire Crystal
200M (600ft) water-resistant.
Automatic movement (24 Jewels) Seiko NH35
Non-Radioactive Military Luminous for readability in the dark
22mm lug width
42mm case width
48mm lug to lug
Screw-in locked crown
Screwed in case back
Sometimes a watch can have so many features that it’s true essence can get lost. Take for instance, the “smart” watches that have been coming out over the past few years. Some argue that they aren’t even watches, but whatever your thoughts on these watches I believe that something is lost with them. Today I will be looking at a watch that reconnected me to the simpler times. Forgetting about all the bells and whistles and technology, the GPW Field Watch allows me to reconnect to the more important and traditional things that made me fall in love with watches in the first place. If you get a chance, please follow this link and read this history behind Arctos Watches. http://arctoswatches.myshopify.com/pages/about-us
The GPW Field Watch is a no nonsense watch, that is based on watches that are made for use in the field by actual Infantryman of the German Crisis Reaction Forces. In other words, this watch is designed to take some abuse when it’s on your wrist. The solid titanium case comes in at 42mm width without the crown, 13mm thick, 22 mm lug width and can handle a WR depth of 660ft. The titanium gives the case a matte grey appearance that just adds to the tool/adventure watch feel. The case features a fixed sterile bezel that creates a simple, yet beautiful frame for the domed sapphire crystal. A good material for the crystal since it has been proven to be reliably rugged.
The unsigned screw down is so easy to grip and operate thanks to large cogs that wrap completely around the edges of the crown. The solid lugs are nice and short preventing any unnecessary wrist over hang. This watch wears pretty true to the 42mm case size. The screw down case back is simple, with nothing that is not needed, containing info on the watches specifications is all that you will find back here.
The matte black dial is nothing short of awesome and classic. Going off of a purely functional approach, the dial is extremely easy to read. Thanks to the non radioactive lume, this dial is also easy to read in the dark as well. Charging this watch under a light source makes it glow like a flashlight and it lasts a good amount of time as well. The numbers, the indices, and the hands all recieved the hot lume treatment. The FW has a date window located at the 3 o’clock position which does come in handy, but as purest will say, date windows disrupt the zen flow of a dial. Surely it doesn’t take away from how nice this dial looks, but the elimination of the number 3 does take something away from its appearance. I really like the contrast that is created by the color choices for the hands here. The hour and minute hand are polished black while the second is matte white. This looks really good in person.
Ticking away inside the GPW Fieldwatch is the automatic beats of the Seiko NH35. This movement broken down as follows:
Jewels 24
Vibrations Per Hour: 21,600 bph
Shock System
Power Reserve: 41 hours
Winding Direction: Bi-directional, Hacking
Diameter: 27.40mm (outside) / 29.36mm (casing)
Height: 5.32mm
Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds, date calendar
Timing of the GPW Fieldwatch came in at gaining approximately 10 seconds per day.
wrist is 7 1/2″ for reference
The FW comes on a simple yet comfortable brown bund strap. The bund strap completely changes the look of this watch. That’s the awesome thing about straps, just a simple strap change can breathe new life into a watch. Just so you know, the FW looks amazing on a NATO style strap as well. Because of the titanium case the watch is very comfortable and extremely light.
It’s refreshing to see a watch that ditches all the “bells and whistles” to take us back to the basics. A watch that you can easily grab and go with. The FW went through some everyday chores with me and was the perfect companion. It held up chopping wood, moving dirt, sledge hammering some old concrete…… Then it went with me on my weekend activities, making a seemless transition. It’s that kind of watch.
You get some bang for your buck here. The solid titanium case is tough as nails that looks great too. The classic dial and lume treatment will keep you looking past the time. What I mean by looking past the time is that you will find yourself gazing at how nice the dial looks that you won’t even notice the time. The simplicity of this watch adds to its charm. I would have no problem recommending this watch to anyone looking for that “daily beater”. The GPW can surely handle that challenge and look great doing it. I really enjoyed being taken back to the basics with the GPW Field Watch.
I want to personally thank GPW for allowing me the honor of doing this review.
Thanks for reading.
Time to Blog Watches 