Vaer C5 Tactical Field Review

This arrived at my door on Aug 5th 2022, I have worn it a fair amount since then.

I received an email announcing the launch of this model, and something clicked, not sure what, but I needed to see it in person. I usually like to take a day or so to think about these purchases before I commit, but like I said something happened and I ordered it within minutes of seeing the email...

Once this arrived I opened it up, and was pleasantly surprised by the look, and the tropic style strap that came on the watch. 

One thing that strikes me with every Vaer that I come across, is how good the crystal is for the money. This example is a nicely domed sapphire, with AR and the coating gives off a subtle blue hue when viewed in certain light.

The dial is matte black with printing, and what looks like applied lume 1-12 numerals. I'm not sure if they are actually applied or not, (Vaer says that its 25 layers of C3) but they do have tall edges, and look like they could be applied. They do have a green hue from the C3, some people may not like that.

Vaer claims this is the most lume they have ever put in a watch, and I believe it. The lume on this watch stands up with some of the best I have ever seen in person.

The hands are nicely painted white and paired with C3 lume as well, they are very legible, and easy to read. I like the shape of the syringe style, and the shape reminds me of the hands on my Hamilton Khaki Auto and Khaki King.

The case is the same C5 case that Vaer uses in other watches, but coated in an even black PVD, it looks good, and has not scratched yet. I haven't been super hard on it yet, but I have been wearing it around the farm, and it looks great so far.

The tropic style strap is nice, the FKM rubber they use is supple and seems fairly durable so far. I have no complaints with the material. I do wish that the buckle was PVD to match the case, but it is a brushed stainless.

I have a few watches with this same movement in them, the Ronda 715, and I can say that it should withstand some hard use, and be accurate as well. This is the same movement that is in my Victorinox INOX, Bertucci AT-2, and an old Luminox, a similar movement is used in the CWC divers as well. The INOX and the AT-2 have been used in some pretty rough scenarios, and run great still. Kudos to Vaer for using a known reliable movement in a watch they claim is built tough.

I don't have many things to complain about on this watch, but here are a few things that I don't love.

A field watch that claims to be "tactical" should probably be smaller, 38mm would be awesome in this model.

Sometimes the green hue of the lume bugs me, in certain light.

This last one doesn't usually bother me too badly, but it could be due to the needle-like tip of the second hand, but this copy of the watch the second hand misses 90% of the marks on the dial. I know its hard to get right, but I have far less expensive watches that hit 100%.

I like this watch, it is legible, seems durable, and is comfortable on the wrist.