Any love for Wolbrook?
I'd been wanting a skin diver for a while, got a great deal on this one second hand and I'm really enjoying it.
The reviews I could find on it were so so, many saying it wasn't comfortable to wear, the bracelet and crown dug into the wearers' wrist, etc. My experience has been nothing of the like though. The bracket is comfy, it wears a treat, and the design is incredibly faithful to the original Wolbrooks of the 60s (apart from an increase in case diameter).
Anyone else have experience with Wolbrook watches?
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Ryan
Husband, soldier, wristwatch enthusiast. Located in central Florida, U.S.
Lakeland, FL
Member since
Last active: 8 months ago
I love my Wolbrook Skindiver with the Seiko VH31 movement.
Haven't had the chance to try one of these on wrist just yet... but the more I see them, the more I want to. I'm a sucker for a skin diver case!!
I reviewed the “hand wind*” version last year. I thought it fit very well and loved the design. The inverse cyclops in particular was just awesome.
*by hand wind, they meant a Miyota 8000 series with the rotor removed. Didn’t bother me but it’s worth mentioning.
I have an Outrider, and it's quickly become my every day watch. One day I'll post a full review here but, yes, I could understand how some would think it was uncomfortable. I don't have that issue, but I noticed that the edges are very sharp and the bracelet had a few stiff links in it when brand new. The bracelet loosened up with some wear. The edges still feel sharp, like everything needed a quick chamfer or deburring, but I've never felt it was uncomfortable.
My biggest beef with the Douglas/Wolbrook is they say on their web page that orders ship a couple days after they receive them as they put together the watches as they are ordered and it takes a couple of days to regulate them to their +/-15 seconds per day standard. I received a shipping notice within hours of ordering mine suggesting it was boxed and shipped pretty much as soon as it was ordered, and mine was gaining over 45 seconds per day when I got it. This kind of inaccuracy was unacceptable in my books. Being stubborn, and cheap, I opened up the case back and with a couple of trial and error adjustments of the regulator I got it to +3.2 seconds per day over a 20 day day test period.
All that to say, I love the watch. It's quickly become a favourite. I would buy another one if mine was lost or stolen and then use the experience as a reason to justify the purchase of a timegrapher.
I have an Outrider, and it's quickly become my every day watch. One day I'll post a full review here but, yes, I could understand how some would think it was uncomfortable. I don't have that issue, but I noticed that the edges are very sharp and the bracelet had a few stiff links in it when brand new. The bracelet loosened up with some wear. The edges still feel sharp, like everything needed a quick chamfer or deburring, but I've never felt it was uncomfortable.
My biggest beef with the Douglas/Wolbrook is they say on their web page that orders ship a couple days after they receive them as they put together the watches as they are ordered and it takes a couple of days to regulate them to their +/-15 seconds per day standard. I received a shipping notice within hours of ordering mine suggesting it was boxed and shipped pretty much as soon as it was ordered, and mine was gaining over 45 seconds per day when I got it. This kind of inaccuracy was unacceptable in my books. Being stubborn, and cheap, I opened up the case back and with a couple of trial and error adjustments of the regulator I got it to +3.2 seconds per day over a 20 day day test period.
All that to say, I love the watch. It's quickly become a favourite. I would buy another one if mine was lost or stolen and then use the experience as a reason to justify the purchase of a timegrapher.
You don't say! I bought mine secondhand so I didn't know about the regulation point, I'd definitely be bothered by that inaccuracy as well. Even with a seiko, anything more than +/- 30 annoys me. Mine is running +11/day so it seems I got a good one. Cheers!
Haven't had the chance to try one of these on wrist just yet... but the more I see them, the more I want to. I'm a sucker for a skin diver case!!
Same brother.
Love mine. No complaints.
I have this. Love the meca quartz.
Just received my Skindiver WT mecaquartz. I'm a fan of tool watches and love the sort of pilot/diver vibe. Been on my wrist a few hours now and seems to wear fine to me.