Review: Solidity and Style

I love a rugged, outdoor-oriented watch. But the size of my field/military sub-collection is getting unwieldy, even without counting GShocks, or those which are also GMTs. Can I justify adding another?

The Draken Aoraki makes a strong case for itself. And I'm being at least partly literal, as its 12.5mm height is pushing into diver territory, and it's slabby side is broken only by boldly-engraved branding:

But otherwise, the 39mm diameter and 46.5mm lug distance make for a natural fit on my 6.25in wrist. This actually encapsulates my experience with the watch so far: what initially appears merely robust, turns out to be rather carefully refined. In this way it reminds me of the Bertucci A-6A, a field watch that has been stripped of superfluous detail, with each dimension and layout choice tweaked mm by mm to create something that moves beyond being a good tool and into a sort of idealized form. (To put it less verbosely, I wear that Bertucci on grueling shoots and to gallery openings.)

One example of careful design is the proportion of the hands. I went with the Vector variant, as I can't say no to an arrow hand, and both main hands reach precisely where they need to: the minute hand pushes to the middle of the minute markers, while the tip of the hour just meets the ends of its indices. Indeed, all the dial elements are well scaled for instant readability, even down to the small, sectored seconds subdial.

Refinement is also evident in the case finishing, for the most part. I described the bulk of the case as being plain, and I do feel Draken could have done a bit more, there. We've come to expect crisp little details like mirror chamfers from the better microbrands, and while nothing is sloppy [on] this case, those subtle transitions between surfaces are missed. But the top of the bezel and the rehaut offer plenty of satiny light play, evoking a sense of quality while calling the eye to the dial. Elsewhere, the size and knurling of the signed (and lumed) crown offer a highly functional contrasting texture.

Overall, the build quality of this watch is precise and sturdy. The crown releases with a pleasant pop, winds smoothly, and screws down with ease. And the movement on my unit only loses about 2-3 seconds per day.

Draken includes two straps, both with sturdy custom hardware. Perhaps to minimize height increase, the leather bund is fairly thin, and I'm not sure how long it will last. I don't know if I'll ever break it in to find out, as this isn't really my style, but at least it minimizes its profile on my smaller wrist. (I personally struggle to wear bunds, as I feel like I'm stealing valor from the 70s/80s "Camel man" advertisements.) The ribbed Nato is well made and is thankfully a single-pass. More brands need to do this!

It's worth noting that the Aoraki has great lume for a field watch. Not only does this aid visibility while passing through different daylight conditions, but it provides (essentially) all-night visibility: if I go to sleep around midnight, there is still detectable glow when I wake up at six. The tiny seconds hand is even lumed, which is a delightful little touch.

I paid less for my preorder, but even the standard pricing of $399US is arguably fair, given the combination of specs, build quality, and design. As to whether I can justify its inclusion in my collection, I must admit to asking the question somewhat c̶y̶n̶i̶c̶a̶l̶l̶y̶ rhetorically: yes, obviously, of course! But even accounting for my willingness to buy unreasonable numbers of field-esque watches, the Draken Aoraki has definitely won me over.