I Put On the GEAR’D HARWARE Juggernaut & PROCEEDED TO WALK THROUGH WALLS
50 mm, about a mile high, and made to break through walls. The Juggernaut is some of these things, but not all.
Under $250
On My Wrist: Akerfalk First Season
Akerfalk watches is a fashion-centric microbrand watch company based out of Sweden. The First Season, currently their only model, comes in many flavors and rings in at a reasonable $248 direct from their website.
My time with the First Season has been enjoyable for a number of reasons, in part because of its classic minimalist aesthetic and tasteful size. Another enjoyable part of my experience with the First Season is its personality, which is polished but quirky. Despite being a 40mm dress piece, I noticed that the watch caught the eye of a number of my friends and colleagues when I wore it to the office. It seems to be a hit- let’s check out why.
Hands-On: Nordgreen Philosopher Collection
There’s a place in every wardrobe for items of great design, and I’d posit to you that such a description is fitting for the Philosopher collection by Nordgreen. Styled by notable Scandinavian designer, Jakob Wagner, Nordgreen watches are meant to embody excellent design with an overarching focus on sustainability and social responsibility.
Nordgreen is a young microbrand with three collections: Infinity, Native, and Philosopher. All share a similar design language, though each is subtly unique in their own way. The two Philosophers I have here – sized 36mm and 40mm – are indeed quite attractive. Let’s check them out in more detail.
On the Wrist: Raymond & Pearl Horizon Aventure Green
In a competitive marketplace, upstart brands have a brief opportunity to get consumer attention. Whether it’s through brilliant advertising, word-of-mouth, or just via traditional reputation development, there must be something to make someone interested in you. In comes Raymond and Pearl, and they’re hoping to earn your business via the Horizon, a series where classic design mixes with the bold usage of color.
Let’s explore the Horizon together and see what this watch has to offer.
Review: MQT Horlogère Suisse Essential Four Gent
Priced at $229 USD as of the time of this review, the Essential Four Gent affords its wearer versatility via sapphire glass, a clean and minimal face (surprise!), and a quick-release leather strap. Style is conscious and reserved, boasting a good degree of attractiveness. Also worth noting is the use of the Swiss-made ETA 955.412 quartz movement, which alone allows the Essential to stand out compared to other microbrand watches following a similar formula.
So, while the Essential Four Gent is similar in nature to others, it stands above the majority due to its attainable price, excellent construction, and affordability. Let’s dive in and check it out in more detail.
Taking a Deep Dive With the Spinnaker Overboard
I’ve been checking out a lot of dive watches lately as research for an upcoming dive watch article, so when Spinnaker reached out to us and asked if we wanted to review one, the timing couldn’t have been better. I received the Overboard early August and have given it plenty of wrist time since.
Compared to some of the other divers I’ve been wearing lately (the Scurfa Diver One and Hamilton Navy Sub Auto, for example), the Overboard is bigger and heavier at 46mm. The Overboard boasts 300m of water resistance, a sapphire-coated mineral crystal, and a helium escape valve.
Scurfa Watches Diver One
Several weeks back a reader emailed me asking if I’d ever seen a watch from Scurfa Watches hands-on. Scurfa, a microbrand based out of the UK, is owned by Paul Scurfield. A North Sea pressure diver, Paul created Scurfa in order to build dive watches that gave divers high-end capability… but at an affordable price.
Scurfa is a two-person brand – my favorite kind of company – and so I decided to buy a Diver One Blue and get my feet wet. Let’s dive in.
Timex Waterbury Classic in Rose Gold
The Waterbury collection is Timex’s dressier line of affordables, with timeless styling and a multitude of options in terms of sizes, straps/bracelets, and color schemes. On my wrist here is the is the Classic 36mm in rose gold and brown crocodile-grain leather (model: TW2R72500VQ), which is a unisex dress suitable for most occasions.
With an MSRP just north of $100, the Waterbury Classic is an affordable and upscale looking watch that fits in most circumstances. Thanks to its size, it’s also a unisex watch that is equally comfortable on the wrist of a man or a woman (as Melissa and Don demonstrate here).
Timex Intelligent Quartz Flyback Chronograph
A fine chronograph but could be better, the Intelligent Quartz Flyback Chrono feels crowded and misses the mark in how its complications are displayed. I wanted to wear an IQ for a while and I’m glad I did, but this is one Timex that won’t remain a member of my collection. How about you- is the IQ a good fit for your collection?
Egard Evarii “Vader” Hands-On Review
Check out this modular/interchangeable watch from Egard! On my wrist is the Vader, which is the name of the collection of parts used to build the watch as opposed to that of the watch itself. The dial is named the Dillishaw, and the other components (case, bezel, strap/bracelet) are given no name at all, so Vader it is (rolls off the tongue easier than Dillishaw).
Casio Edifice World Time Review
I’ve wanted to spend more time with some of Casio’s other lines, such as the G-Shock and, yes, Edifice, for a while now. Back in September Don posted a great piece on Casio watches, and since then I’ve been actively looking for a way to get some wrist time with an upscale Casio.
I’ve wanted to spend more time with some of Casio’s other lines, such as the G-Shock and, yes, Edifice, for a while now. Back in September Don posted a great piece on Casio watches, and since then I’ve been actively looking for a way to get some wrist time with an upscale Casio.
Swatch Irony “Body & Soul” YAS100G Hands-On Review
Every watch geek goes through a “skeleton” phase. If you’re there now, the Swatch “Body & Soul” YAS100G is a pretty affordable pick. But is it any good? That’s the question we’re looking to answer today!
The MSRP on the Body and Soul is just north of $175, but astute Amazon shoppers will see it for around $150. For $150, you can get a lot of mechanical or automatic skeletons. So, is the Swatch better, and if so, why?
Svarntai Cordova Rose Gold Review
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.
Dan Henry 1970 Review
The limited edition 1970 by Dan Henry is a surprising piece. While it has some minor quality control items (I must stress that they are minor), the rest of the watch is composed and well executed. I’m a big fan of its looks, and I love how the theme has touched every part of the watch in a subtle, classy way. It’s a stand-out piece, especially when you consider its $250 price tag. This is as great watch that’s worth your consideration.
Hands-On With the Eldon Interchangable Watch
If this is your first encounter with an “interchangeable watch”, it’s pretty simple: you can swap out the face, or case, or straps easy and without having to use tools. Popping out the dial is as simple as unscrewing the bezel and switching it out, and changing straps is easy thanks to the quick-release spring bars. If you’re someone who likes to tinker or customize, this is your watch.