Another American Brand Emerges

Meet VERO, from my one-time hometown - Portland!

Courtesy of Vero

VERO is the latest brand to throw their hat into the every expanding ring of American based watch companies. 

Courtesy of Vero

Based in Stumptown (that's Portland to you), they are offering four variations of what might best be described as field watches.  This first series is known as the Verus.

Courtesy of Vero

The cases are stainless steel with a solid (not display) case back.  They measure 42 mm in diameter (I believe.  The spec sheet is a wee bit confusing).  

Courtesy of Vero

It is time only with a small second display at 9 o'clock.
The movement is the Eterna Caliber 39.  There are two DLC versions and two standard stainless.  

It is a nice watch and a fine first effort.  When we get to the price point, it might be apt to put a few people off, as it weighs in at  $2,900 for the stainless, and a robust $3,400 for the DLC version.

My understanding is that the cases are made in the US, and the dials are made "in house".  So, in fairness, if you are subcontracting someone out there to make cases for you, this can be a wee bit cost prohibitive.  And Eterna, as many US based watch brands can relate, has not yet grasped the concept of price elasticity, so it is safe to say that this choice of movement ensures a certain premium in terms of pricing.

Rather than getting into the right or wrong of the pricing strategy, I think it is fair to say that this is a watch that will have both its fans and detractors out there.  

And as with all new offerings, it is safe to say that the jury is not in yet.  So I will keep an eye out and an ear open, and say welcome to the game VERO!

Perhaps You Can Buy Time

Many watch fans are familiar with Corum's Dollar Watch, but the folks behind the Bitcoin Watch wanted to offer something different:

Courtesy of Bitcoin Watch

The above model is the Gold version.  It is available either with a Ronda quartz movement, or with an Eterna movement (Calibre 39).  

Here are the pertinents:
Case: Stainless Steel
Diameter: 40mm
Height: 7.4mm
Case Color: Gold or Silver
Dials: Gold, Black, Blue or Silver
Crystal: Sapphire Crystal
Strap: 20mm / Leather Black - Straps are exchangeable
Movements: SWISS MADE RONDA Quartz Movement or SWISS MADE Eterna Caliber 39 Automatic Movement 29 Jewels
Water resistant: 3ATM
All of the other versions offer the same two movement variations -

Courtesy of Bitcoin Watch

The Gold Series V2 -

Courtesy of Bitcoin Watch

And a blue version, among others -

Courtesy of Bitcoin Watch

You can check out all of the Bitcoin Watch offerings on their Kickstarter page -

Bitcoin Watch Kickstarter

The Bubble 47 Skeleton

From Corum -

L082/03165

Courtesy of Corum

This is the newest member of Bubble collection and is a wonderfully colorful take on a skeletonized movement.  And I really, really dig it!


47 mm in diameter, under the hood beats the Eterna Calibe 39. Eterna is a sister company in the City Champ group and this is good news as the demand for Eterna movements, or perhaps more specifically the ability to sell them, has not been realized as well as it might be. Interesting to relate, in the spec sheet it is referenced as the CO 082 – Automatic


The case itself is made of stainless steel and is available in either a standard or black pvd finish. It is available in three different versions. The  L082/03165 (above) features green hands, accents and a pvd treated case.

The L082/03162 (below) is perhaps the most subdued of the three with more traditional white hands and a more subtle background.

L082/03162 
Courtesy of Corum

The third is boldly shaded in purple.  It also comes in a black pvd case.

L082/03166 
Courtesy of Corum

Here are the pertinents -

MOVEMENT
CO 082 – Automatic
42 hours power-reserve
Functions: Hour, minute, second
Frequency: 4 Hz, 28,800 vph
Dimension: 11 1⁄2 ’’’
Distinctive features: Plates painted in blue, green or purple 

CASE
Dimension: 47.00 mm Thickness: 18.50 mm
Material: Stainless steel or stainless steel with black PVD treatment
Domed anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Sapphire case back
Water-resistance: 100 meters / 10 ATM 

DIAL
Material: Brass, open-worked
Hands: rhodium-plated or black varnish; white, green or purple Superluminova 

STRAP / BRACELET
Material: Vulcanized rubber
Pin buckle in stainless steel or stainless steel with black PVD treatment

All Hail the Royal KonTiki Two Time Zones!

Courtesy of Eterna

Now I don't want to mislead anyone, but with the announcement of this newest member of the KonTiki family I almost senses that the team in Grenchen had made a new watch just for me!