There is always room in my collection for a nice dress watch, and this Corniche fits that description perfectly.
When Corniche contacted me about reviewing one of their timepieces, of course I was excited. I’ve seen this watch on other websites and have always thought it looked stunning. I’m happy to say my first-hand experience with it very much lives up to the image it projects.
With truly humble origins, Corniche is a brand that showcases what it’s like to pursue your dreams and create something that you love. The story of the Heritage 40 is an interesting one – perhaps equally as interesting as the watch itself – and is something that lends a personality to what is an undeniably gorgeous watch.
Corniche Men’s Heritage 40 Technical Specifications
- Model Number: Heritage 40 (Rose Gold/Cream White)
- MSRP: $365
- Case Diameter: 40mm
- Alternate Models: View the entire collection here
- Movement: Miyota 2025 quartz
- Complications: None
- Power Reserve: Estimated 2-4 years
- Water Resistance: 5 atm / 50m / 165ft
- Crystal Material: Sapphire
Corniche Heritage 40 Aesthetics & Design
The presentation of the Heritage 40 is excellent- it’s obvious to see the time and attention that went into the materials, design, and display of the watch.
The box you receive it in has a piano-black finish and is high grade. My Longines Master Collection Moonphase came in a box not dissimilar, and Corniche very-much matches the quality in both feel and design. Opening the box showcases the gorgeous rose gold and cream dial; the blue hands jump off of the face and are brilliant against such a polished backdrop.
Speaking of polish, the Heritage 40 has that in spades. The bezel and caseback are highly polished, reflecting light smoothly as it wraps around the case. The polish extends to the deployment clasp, which is engraved with Corniche lettering. The sides of the case and lugs are brushed, creating a subtle but appreciated contrast.
With an aesthetic that easily looks twice or thrice its MSRP, I feel the Heritage 40 really showcases just how good something born of care and diligence can look. The two-handed dial is a departure from most, and that small but significant distinction creates a look unique among watches of this price and caliber.
It’s thin, too, tucking away neatly under shirt cuffs. It’s side profile is handsome and discreet, with its engraved crown once again reminding you of the detail poured into the Heritage 40.
On the wrist, the Heritage 40 fits nicely. It’s comfortable to wear, too, thanks to its thin profile and light-but-not-too-light weight. It spent hours on my wrist and caused no stress or fatigue- an excellent daily wearer, no doubt
Corniche Heritage 40 Build Quality
It’s not uncommon for me to notice small imperfections in a watch when under zoom, and the Heritage 40 shows a few of its own on the blue hands- they appear as two small white specs on the minute hand. You can’t and won’t see them without using a zoom lens, however, so I can’t say I’d let their presence deter me from owning it.
Crystal, Case, & Dial
Sapphire is the material of choice for Corniche, and I am enthused with their decision. There was a time when finding a sapphire crystal on a sub-$500 watch was rare; today you can find sapphire on affordables, such as the Hastings & Co. Heritage Edition, the Castle Corbel, and here on the Heritage 40.
The cream-white dial is built well, with all the markers aligned properly and free of defects. The branding, model information, and outer rim are printed on the dial and are of high quality. Aside from two small white specs visible on the minute hand (and only when using a high-powered camera), the dial is free of workmanship problems or quality errors.
So, too, is the case which, again, is well made and well presented. Rose gold can be finicky in its finish, though no such concerns are found here. The polished and brushed components of the case look excellent.
Strap & Clasp
Brown crocodile-grain leather is the strap of choice for this model, and paired with it Corniche has chosen to use a rose gold deployment clasp. I’m a big fan of deployment clasps because of how they preserve the leather, and given that the strap Corniche has included is certainly not low-rent, I’m glad Corniche chose to include one here.
The strap is comfortable and plush, albeit a little stiff at first; it took only an hour or two of wear before the strap loosened up and relaxed around my wrist. It feels luxurious on its underside, and that feeling of luxury translates into hours of comfortable wear.
Deployment clasps can sometimes be finicky (the one included with the Jazzmaster Auto Chrono likes to pop open randomly and infrequently), but this one is solid. Secure when closed, and strong enough to resist most tests it may encounter, the deployment clasp matches the quality and aesthetic of the rest of the watch.
About the Miyota 2025 Quartz Movement
Quartz movements are common among affordables. In this case, Corniche has chosen to use the Miyota 2025. This quartz movement features two hands – hour and minute only – and is rated for a battery life of around 3 years.
Miyota rates the movement’s accuracy at +/- 20 seconds per month, and when tested using toolwatch.io, I’m seeing deviation of +3 seconds every 10 days. Extrapolating on that, +9 seconds per month is well within spec (and outshines just about any automatic watch made today).
The Heritage is the first watch I’ve reviewed that uses the Miyota 2025, so I can’t say from peresonal experience how reliable it will or won’t be. It’s been great in the three weeks I’ve had the Heritage, and Miyota quartz movements are generally regarded as reliable and accurate overall; I expect the movement inside to hold up well assuming basic care of the watch.
How to Set the Heritage 40
- To set the time, pull the crown to its furthest position (position 2). Turn the crown to set the time.
Where to Buy
Corniche Has Done an Excellent Job With the Heritage 40
When I look at the value a watch offers, I assess a few things: the materials used, its price point, the overall fit and finish, and how it compares in those areas to its competition. $365 USD is not inexpensive for a quartz watch, but it’s also not outside of what’s realistic for a watch of this caliber.
With each new watch I review I learn more about what makes a watch special. The little things that separate the Heritage 40 from others, like the slight tapering at the ends of the dauphine hands or the polished tree against the brushed caseback, are numerous and done well. Attention to detail matters, and in every measurable respect Corniche has done an excellent job on the details here.
I feel the Heritage 40 offers good value as both a quartz wristwatch and as a unique timepiece that is an uncommon but appreciated addition to a collection- I know that it is for mine.
Corniche Heritage 40 Photo Gallery
I realise that this review has been written some two-and-a-half years ago. Still an enjoyable and informative read. Many thanks.
I own a Heritage 40 myself and I am very pleased with it (apart perhaps from the strap, which is rather short in my opinion, and I do not have excessive thick wrists).
I cannot help noticing that the design is very, very much the same as the Stührling Orginal Vanguard 779 Quartz 42mm Classic. Yes, this time piece is 42mm (instead of the 40mm of the Corniche), has a different crown, Krysterna crystal glass (which, I believe, is a mineral with a proprietary coating as used by many other manufacturers under different names, such has Seiko’s Hardlex) instead of sapphire as used by Corniche, has no strap with a butterfly clasp, but all else it appears to be the same. It even includes the same movement – a Miyota 2025 Quartz – The Stührling sells for $265 USD less (!).
It beggs the question which company was first with this design.
That IS a good question. I’ve also seen several other microbrands that are nearly identical to the Heritage 40, though they’ve all come after Corniche made waves with their design.