[Review] LIV Watches GX1-A in Sky Blue

The LIV GX1-A is Objectively the Best Microbrand Automatic Watch I’ve Reviewed to Date.

Words/Photography: Me. LIV Watches provided this GX-1A at no-charge for the purposes of this review.

The change in the affordable watch space has been incredible. When I first really got into watches in 2013 (when I founded WYCA), there wasn’t much out there in terms of quality medium or high-grade automatic watches at an affordable price point. Today, thanks to crowdfunding and the entrepreneurial spirit, there are numerous quality microbrand watch companies out there making good stuff.

But LIV Watches has created a stand-out piece that is my new benchmark for automatic microbrand watches.

There are a lot of reasons why I feel this way, and before you go there, I am acutely aware of some of the criticisms that LIV Watches have received from other reviews (including major players like aBlogtoWatch). Regardless, having set out to provide an objective and unbiased perspective on this American-based micro, I can’t help but walk away impressed by what I received.

This review is the first of three LIV Watches products I’m checking out. Following this will be the rectangular Rebel and then their single watch winder.

Ready to see what I’m on about? Let’s dive in.

LIV GX1-A “Sky Blue” Specifications

• Model Number: GX1-A Sky Blue
• MSRP: $590
• Case Diameter: 42mm
• Alternate Models: Four versions + chrono versions
• Movement: Automatic, Sellita SW200-1
• Complications: Date display
• Power Reserve: Est. 38 hours
• Water Resistance: 100 m / 330 ft
• Crystal Material: Sapphire

View price on Amazon.

A Bold Sport Watch With Surprising Depth

The first thing I noticed when I unboxed the GX1-A is how deep the dial feels. Unlike most watches at this price point, the GX1-A has what is commonly referred to as a “sandwich” dial. It features multiple layers stacked on top of each other, each with its own texture and accents, and these layers give the dial a sense of depth that most watches at this price simply lack.

That alone is a differentiator, but it’s not the only differentiator.

The screw-down crown, crown guards, and knurled bezel (with “screws” that coincide with odd-hours) give the GX1-A an almost dive watch look; this is amplified by the hour markers, which feature bold cyberpunkish Arabic numerals at even increments and Super-LumiNova BGW9 topped markers at odd increments. While the GX1-A only has 100 m of water resistance, it’s more than sufficient for day to day wear and is plenty capable of getting wet (just don’t swim in it).

Meet Your New Daily

The steel crown, also knurled, feels rugged and tough. It looks the part as well, and when taken in with the sportiness of the dial, the GX1-A stands out as something meant to be on your wrist instead of inside a watch box. It’s suitable for day to day wear, and thanks to a sky blue accented crocodile grain leather strap, it’s quite easy to dress up when desired.

The crown and stainless steel buckle feature orange branding and match the 12 o’clock logo and seconds hand perfectly. The resulting combination of textures, blacks, blues, and oranges makes for a notable and eye-catching piece. While styling is subjective, this look is something that my collection (at 58 pieces!!) is missing and is a welcome addition.

Swiss Made & Swiss Powered

In 2002, the most renowned Swiss movement manufacturer, ETA (part of the Swatch Group), announced that they were no longer going to continue to provide partial watch movements to companies external of the Swatch Group. This was big news when it was announced, and ETA has indeed gradually wound-down (ha) the supply available to non-Swatch Group watch brands.

While the Swiss Competition Commission ruled that ETA must continue to supply movements to external brands in some capacity, this ruling is not indefinite and by 2023 ETA’s external supplies will be a facsimile of what they used to be.

This is relevant because, as a result of ETA’s decision, we’re seeing more brands using alternative movements. Sellita is one such company, and the SW200-1 inside the GX1-A is effectively an ETA 2824 clone… and in that regard, it’s a good one. Sellita also happens to be Swiss, which is important if you want a Swiss movement inside your watch (as well as a Swiss Made designation).

The SW200-1 is minimally, but tastefully, decorated and looks fantastic through the sapphire exhibition caseback. LIV livery is featured on the rotor, along with some text denoting its limited-edition status and jewel count.

What was surprising to me is that, according to my testing via Toolwatch.io, it’s also accurate to about -14 seconds per day. This isn’t exceptional accuracy by any means, but it is quite good considering the price and is well within Sellita’s claimed specs of +/- 30 seconds/day.

The power reserve also came true at a hair over 38.5 hours (tested 3 times). I don’t normally get into the granular when testing well-known and well-regarded watch movements, but considering my limited hands-on experience with Sellita’s SW200, I thought this was a good opportunity.

The SW200-1 is actually an upgrade of the SW200 (this took place in 2008), with the primary goal of the upgrade being to improve the robustness and reliability of the movement when faced with strong shocks. Read more about the differences between the SW200 and SW200-1 here.

How Well is the GX1-A Made?

Build quality matters. Every day I am reading about how polluted the world is becoming, and our culture of disposability is directly responsible. While it isn’t possible (or palatable even) to revert to the days of the horse and buggy, we can make a meaningful dent in this trend by choosing to purchase fewer but higher-quality items.

Two years ago I made the conscious decision to deny cheaply made watches any visibility on WYCA, be it the website or social media channels. I do think it’s important that consumers be made aware of poor quality products, which is why I am happy to review popular watches that are junk (and freely disclose as such), but in my mind, it’s better not to give garbage a platform to gain visibility (good or bad).

The above is why I am especially impressed with the quality demonstrated in the GX1-A, which is on-par with some of my favorites (such as the SARB065 Cocktail Time, SARB017 Alpinist, Hamilton Jazzmaster, and so on). In some ways, LIV has done a better job given that they lack the enormous infrastructure or storied history of the above-mentioned brands. That the GX1-A is almost entirely devoid of imperfections – even when viewed under significant magnification – is impressive.

Telltale signs of quality construction include the smallest of details, such as the hands and applied markers, lacking material defects, the dial lacking dust or small blemishes in its finish, and the correct alignment of the seconds hand as it makes its way around the dial.

Flip the watch over and the same is true of the movement: the finishing on the standard-grade SW200-1 is acceptable, and again, there is no dust under the crystal or scratches on the movement.

The strap is also good quality, feeling comfortable right out of the gate. LIV ships the GX1-A clasped around the pillow in the watch box (which, refreshingly, isn’t anything fancy), so the leather is mostly broken in by the time you get it. I don’t have much to report here- the strap passed the “scratch test” just fine and the stainless steel buckle is a standard unit.

While the above signs are not definitive in their indication of quality construction, they are strong signs that demonstrate the care and attentiveness that went into its construction. These watches are handmade, and these details matter.

You’ll Love the GX1-A on Your Wrist

The 42mm case is the ideal size for most guys, even those that have wimpy wrist syndrome (like me). It’s made tough, made well, and made with the right stuff to keep it ticking for years to come.

It’s currently priced at $590, but you can easily get a 10% off coupon on your first purchase by signing up for LIV’s mailing list. That brings the price to a hair under $540, and that’s a great price for a watch like this. It’s price comparable to a Hamilton Khaki Field, for example, but arguably made with more care and complexity.

The Sellita movement and solid construction give me confidence that the GX1-A is the opposite of disposable. Treat this watch right and it will last a long time. LIV also offers a 90-day return policy and a five-year warranty. This is great coverage and well beyond the typical 1-year offered by most brands.

I know I’m late the LIV watch party (other watch sites have reviewed LIV watches as far back as mid-2018), but I’m glad that I finally showed up. The GX1-A is an excellent example of what LIV can do, and I’m looking forward to spending more time with the rectangular Rebel.

Finally, I’d like to thank Kickstarter for making brands like LIV a reality. What a great time to be a watch enthusiast.

LIV GX1-A Photo Gallery

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Summary

Reviewed By

Cameron Martel

Review Date

2019-12-07

Reviewed Item

LIV GX1-A Sky Blue

Rating

5