Svarntai Cordova Rose Gold Review

Rose Gold is All the Rage, and It’s Not Hard to See Why

This Svarntai hit my desk at a great time- wifey was looking for a larger rose gold piece to wear on the daily. Something that would keep looking good week after week, wear after wear. This ivory and rose gold beauty, equipped with sapphire (of course), fits the bill nicely.

With a Swiss quartz movement inside, the Cordova ticks all the right boxes: sapphire, a nice movement (likely a Ronda quartz, but that’s unconfirmed), and gorgeous looks. As of the time of this writing you can snag yourself this rosy Cordova for just $125 ($199 regular). So, it’s priced right, too…

Svarntai Cordova Technical Specifications

Model Number: Cordova Rose Gold
MSRP: $199
Case Diameter: 40mm
Alternate Models: Plenty of combinations
Movement: Swiss Quartz (likely a Ronda)
Complications: Date display
Battery Life: Estimated 4 years
Water Resistance: 50m /165ft
Crystal Material: Sapphire

Okay, So Technically the Cordova is a “Men’s” Watch

Yet watches tend to continue to size up. What was once oversized (40mm+) is now fairly standard, and a 40mm is considered by many to be small on a man’s wrist. As someone with a wrist diameter just shy of 7″, 40mm suits me just fine. For my wife, it’s large but not too large. Hence, on her wrist it goes.

Not that I wouldn’t wear it. Like her Bonvier, this is one that I find myself stealing when the occasion is right. It’s a great looking piece, and it’s made of all the right stuff to keep it looking that way for a long time.

The Rose Gold is Loud, But That’s Not a Bad Thing

I’ve reviewed a lot of rose gold watches over the past 4 years. Heck, the watch that started it all (the Fossil Twist given to me by my wife) came in a nice rose gold/grey two-tone. Since then I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying rose gold on everything from my Jazzmaster Regulator and Auto Chrono to other great micro’s like the Tusenö First 42.

Sometime’s the rose is a bit much, but such is not the case today. This Cordova looks excellent, thanks in no small part to the matte ivory dial and anti-reflective sapphire crystal. Dare I say it, but snapping photos of this beauty was a sinch.

On the wifey’s wrist it’s a little large, yes, but she wanted a statement piece and the Cordova does a good job of being a statement.

Simple is Sexy, Thanks Svarntai!

The mesh bracelet is a real gem, as is the interlocking clasp (that’s a snap – literally – to adjust). The entire piece is quality, with plenty of weight to it. Securely fashioned to the case, the bracelet and clasp feel tough while looking excellent.

The same is true of the rose gold indices. There have been a few different micro’s I’ve tested where the gaps in quality become apparent on the dial, hands, and indices. Such is not the case here: the dauphine hands are finished well, and the indices are free from defects (as far as I and my trusty 90mm lens were able to tell). It made shooting the dial a real treat, since post-production was fairly minimal (always welcome).

Movement

Unfortunately I don’t know with certainty which Swiss quartz is underneath the hood, but I suspect it’s a Ronda. Either way, Swiss quartz’s have been good to me and I doubt the trend will change here.

Note: since I was feeling lazy, I didn’t check accuracy. It’s a quartz, so expect somewhere within 10-15 seconds per month of deviation.

Operation

To adjust the time, pull the crown to the farthest position (position 3). Turn the crown clockwise to adjust the time. Note that the date display will automatically rollover at midnight.
To adjust the date, pull the crown to its middle position (position 2). Turn the crown clockwise to adjust the date.

For Under $200 You Really Can’t Go Wrong With the Cordova

What a glorious age of watchmaking we live in. 10 years ago you wouldn’t have found a $200 rose gold piece with a Swiss movement and sapphire crystal. Today, it’s a common price-point that micro’s are able to hit with relative ease.

However, not all micro’s are the same. Some are hits – like this Svarntai is – and some are misses. Thankfully, the Cordova is a solid run that you can feel good about owning. It’s a great looking piece, and it’s backed by a two year warranty. If you like the style, and you’ve got the room on your credit card, I don’t see any reason not to pull the trigger.