Vaer Watch Review

Final Thoughts

Independent brands like Vaer are able to provide substantial value and a modest price for watchbuyers by carefully sourcing the key components. Vaer Automatic’s line of watches is an example of such a method of making watches. Kickstarter backers will now be able choose from 3 automatic movements or multiple dial designs.

Miyota 9015 – Offered in four dial options including date and no-date variants. All of these will be handmade in Los Angeles. Early Bird Special: $299 (retail price $449)

ETA 2824 – Also offered in four dial options including date and no-date. They will be Swiss Made. $599 Retail for $449 Early Bird

ETA2895 – This Vaer Heritage “Dirty Dozen”, which has small seconds, is called the Vaer Heritage “Dirty Dozen”. These Swiss Made models will have one dial. $599 Early Bird (649 retail)

Notice: This list may change depending on how the Kickstarter campaign goes. The dial choices “Design Light” (and “Design Dark”) are stylish and complement each other with syringe-hands. As a bonus, these versions have a really well integrated date window.

Vaer is a company I’ve been following since a few month ago. But, Vaer has two more things that have impressed me. Vaer is attempting to source the majority of its labor and parts from the USA, and it would not surprise me if this becomes a stronger brand. I felt that the owners were extremely helpful and available to answer my questions even before I reviewed their wristwatch. I think that’s an excellent hallmark.

Mark retired in 2018 following 37 years of service in the financial industry. After seeing a Steinhart OVM1 photograph in an online car forum, he “discovered watchmaking” in 2015. He has now filled up two watches boxes, and is currently trying decide between purchasing a third or thinning the collection. Other pastimes are hiking, car repair, and exploring abandoned military bases.

Vaer c3: Full review

“Why don’t you ride a Harley?” Good question. My preference is for American bikes, but I prefer Japanese. My short answer is “Because Harleys aren’t my style.” While I support my countrymen and I do want their best, I am also a fan of what I have. Which brings us to the American Vaer C3 36mm watch . . .

Fine Timepiece Solutions Ameriquartz movement movements were something I had read about after reading about American Waldan. Being a quartz fan, I looked into the company’s client list. This was where I found the Harley problem. Vaer was my favorite watch, but the watches weren’t appealing to me.

Vaer is not one of the most American names. It’s often capitalized so that it looks more like an acronym. The website fails to explain the name’s meaning. So, I had to ask. Vaer, which is a nordic term that a founder Vaer uses to refer to a microbrand has several meanings. We feel deeply connected with “To Be”, ‘We’ and Weather, because it is important to spend time outdoors together. We also simply love the sound and look of the word.

That should read V r. To avoid being too pedantic it could be V s – which might confuse search engines or annoy reviewers. Vaer’s models names, which are similar to German sport sedans, have short alphanumerics. C3 means “Custom USA quartz (36mm).” Custom does not mean that you will be able get a regular full Arabic dial. It’s not my favorite dial, but I prefer the Standard dials. They have at least half of the numbered indices and two-color printing. Domestic provenance is sacrificed.

Only the Tradition black dial gets three numeral indices. A flat Rolex Explorer pastiche is all that’s needed. All others are inwardly pointing arrowheads. The website shows them as the familiar pale lemon-lime lume paint color.

I still can’t decide if the tester is tan on black or if the paint has a salmon tint to it. To be honest, the colorist in me would prefer white even if it gives off an old-radium glow.

Super-LumiNova C1 makes the watch not glow brightly like radium. The C3 was worn under shirts, just like other chintzier, dinkier watches. It never charged naturally.

Vaer Watches: Review: This Field Watch Is Any Good?

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. VAER gave us compensation and provided a product as courtesy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are our own.

The US made, sapphire and military-inspired aesthetics: that’s what the problem is. Young brands tend to have their own problems, but they are still young.

Vaer D7 Atlantic Hands On Watch Review

Watch Review Vaer Watches Vaer Watches Vaer Watches Vaer A7 Atlantic

Like most of us these days, you are probably on Instagram and Facebook often, and as a watch enthusiast and blogger/YouTuber/watch journalist, I am on these platforms a lot. This was how I met Vaer and the Vaer D7 Atlantic. Their sponsored ads on these sites seem very expensive, and they may have used multiple ads. Vaer might be a new brand to you if these ads have not been seen. American Assembled field watches would cost that much. How affordable? They start at $199, with quartz movements, and sapphire crystals. These watches look amazing, from what I can see. Vaer was created in 2017 by two watch lovers and is quite successful with its field watch collection. They had ads for the dive watches series last year and I was excited. I expected a high-quality dive watch at a reasonable price that is made in America. This watch has been produced. But this watch is not what you want. The one I am reviewing is the D7, which is the Swiss Made version. This has an ETA 2824 movement and is marked Swiss Made. What are the other differences you ask? Well, none. There is none. So today, I am going to review this retro-inspired dive watch and answer the question “Is it worth the Swiss Made?”

Prices as shown $899

https://www.vaerwatches.com/pages/dive-watches Let’s dive right into the pricing. Vaer Dive’s watch line is broken into two distinct versions: D5 and D7. American made, the D5 is similar to their field watches. The Swiss Made Series D7 watches are the D7. Both have the same dials, straps, case backs, etc. Apart from the price difference, the only thing different is how you choose to use your movement. Each comes standard with a tropic leather strap. They can be ordered with date, no-date or broadsword versions. For $100, you can get a stainless steel oyster-style bracelet. The American version (assembled, not manufactured) uses a Miyota 9015 and starts at $499 and this Swiss Version starts at $799. Available on the website is a spinning wheel discount, which you can get up to 15% of the price, at least at the time of publishing this article and can save you a little cash on these pieces. There are no dial options other than the D5, but there is one dial that you cannot get. It all sounds a bit confusing and difficult. Although it does seem confusing, I agree. But these brands either want to provide a lot more options or the customers are looking for what they offer. While I’m not certain which group you belong to, I would prefer that things be simpler.

The watch is now complete. Vaer D7 Atlantic watches have the date window, pencil hands, and time window at 6: o’clock. You have probably seen this case design before. This watch has similar lyre and Omega lugs. The dial is reminiscent of Rolex Milsubs. The broadsword hands version looks even more like a Rolex Milsub, and again, this is all intentional. We’ve seen them from numerous microbrands. Yes. What is the point? This depends on how your views are regarding vintage-inspired pieces or homages from microbrands. Vaer’s diving watches are sturdy and well made. This is only if all of us are not robots with internal clocks within 20 years. You don’t know what these days. The entire case’s finish is brushed, and there’s not a single bit of polish visible. It is unusual for this watch style but I like it. Many watches attempt to make the watch stand out by adding a bezel edge or crown to the top. I don’t like high-polishing watches or watches that are meant to show off. But, for dive watches such as this one, the satin finish is my preference. This steel looks great and is smooth. I didn’t find any rough edges. It is sturdy, simple to use and screws into a cut-out case so that the crown does not stick out too much. It measures 39mm in diameter with a 40mm dial. This is a smaller watch than the original vintage pieces. Also, the watch’s lyre lugs give it a larger appearance so that it does not look too small on my 7 1/2″ wrist. It is also comfortable to wear every day, without getting in the way, and can be used for any activity.

See also Hypervolt Go Review

It is exactly what you would expect for a watch of this quality. Vaer D7 Atlantic does not have any erroneous information, but the dial and hands are easily visible. If you get close enough, you will see that the watch is meticulous when it comes down to filing minute and hour hands. However, the bezel, and more specifically, the ceramic insert of the bezel, is having issues. You may have trouble seeing whether the lines of the bezel insert and the dial are aligned when the watch features a double-domed sapphire. It is necessary to adjust the angle of your watch to ensure that they align correctly. The short version of the story is here. My example does not show the 30 and triangle aligned. Although it seems that this was intentional, the 30 marker and triangle are not aligned at the edges. The 120 click coins edge bezel is functional and easy to use.

You don’t get a choice of straps with the D7, instead, it comes standard with a tropic style rubber and you can add other straps such as a single pass nato or two-piece nylon strap for no extra charge, or a Horween leather strap ($50) and this oyster bracelet for $100. Here is where the problems start. Swiss made versions use a Swiss ETA2824 Swiss movement. They also have the Swiss Made stamp. It costs $899 for the bracelet, and I’m not sure it is worthwhile. Although bracelets are a popular choice, the price tag of $900 was too high. It’s a regular bracelet with standard clasp. There is no diving extension. The friction pins are used instead of screws. This is the same bracelet you would get if you purchase the Miyota version and add a bracelet, but you would be paying a lot less money for that version. The price is $300.

Vaer D7 Atlantic has a nice look, makes use of all quality microbrand materials, and the X1C1 Superluminova, which does a great job at keeping the watch light in the darkness, looks excellent. Yes, this watch comes with the Swiss ETA movements. However, I think you’re supporting an American company. This is something that I like. It is normal for manufacturing to continue elsewhere these days. This is not the fault of current microbrands. The infrastructure to actually design and manufacture watches in the USA is just not here these days, and who knows if it will ever return unless some large company wants to dump billions into revitalizing the American watch industry. Digging deeper into that, even if that did happen, would consumers want to pay for USA-made watches? The premium American products currently command is well-known. However, watch collectors value microbrands primarily for their affordability.

It’s true. It feels like I’m trying to make this watch work. Maybe so, but I do my best to consider these watches from the point of view of the consumer. The reality is, everything is exactly the same on the D5 and D7, except the movement. You can claim that the D7 was in Switzerland and assembled there. You can claim that the D7 was assembled in Switzerland if you want. That doesn’t mean much to me these days. I prefer the Swiss movement option. This would still have increased the cost above the Miyota but would not have been as expensive as having the watches assembled abroad. To be honest, I do not remember ever seeing a watch that is identical but is assembled in two different locations like this Vaer dive series. At the beginning of this review, I put forth the question- Is the Swiss Made version worth it? It is, at least in my view. However, that’s just one person’s opinion. With the D5, you can get the same high-quality watch as with the ETA 2824, but the Miyota 9015 movements feel superior. To some, Swiss is still everything, so if you must have a Swiss Made watch, the D7 is surely the way to go, if you are shopping for a Vaer.

If you do not have one, it is possible to save quite a bit of money by purchasing the D5.

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www.OceanicaWatches.com VAER Watch Review – American Assembled Quality Everyday Watches under $200 Click for VAER Webpage The Vaer field and classic variations both contain the same materials and dimensions just to lay that on the table before I resume here. Vaer makes some very cool watches, which actually surprised me when I first tried them. They are made of solid 316L and have a beautiful, brushed finish. They measure 40mm by 9.5MM in height and width. It is a size that I believe can accommodate those who have average wrists, such as mine. Their timepieces are made in America, California. Vaer is from Venice Beach. It has a screw down crown, caseback, and 100 Meters of water resistant. This is second to none. The perfect watch for every day, regardless of what temperature you are in.

Hamilton Khaki – Half Price

Although it is bold to say that the Vaer Field could be considered a Hamilton Khaki Quartz half-price, Jody Smith’s review of the Vaer Field reflects exactly this. You can find the full review below. This comparison will not be criticized. Hamilton is an iconic watch brand. It’s regrettable that Hamilton has moved to Pennsylvania. Their historical history provided inspiration for our first “adventure watches”.

“The finishing on the Vaer Field is consistently better than the equivalent Hamilton Khaki quartz.” Jody Musgrove of Just Another Watch. Beyond being a tribute to American watchmaking traditions, the release of our Field model is a significant step towards distinguishing Vaer as brand. While we are proud of our Vaer Classic watches, other than their durability, they don’t really help to distinguish us as a company. You can find a vast array of inexpensive watches but few high-quality field watches.

The Vaer Classic looks cool, but it’s not something you would want to use for surfing. However the Vaer Field instantly communicates our outdoor capabilities and aligns us with military timekeeping.

.Vaer Watch Review