Traska or Lorier?
I like microbrands... Baltic, Farer, Halios and Brew make up half of my current collection, but I'm quite torn between Traska and Lorier for my next watch. I like the design language of both brands but my collection only has room for one. Because I've never worn or seen either (in person), I'm curious to hear from folks who own or have owned these brands. Let me know your thoughts/recommendations/critiques, and we'll see who wins.
ps: I'm interested in a few from each brand, so feel free to discuss any of their watches below.
37 comments
Sort by
Full disclosure, I've never owned a Traska. I have handled one and read/watched several reviews. To me what stands out is the QC. Lorier owners hand inspect every piece before they go on sale and will delay a realese if things are not up to standard. On the other had there are many tales of blatantly misaligned Traskas being recieved. Now, Traska from what I hear always makes it right but when I buy a brand I am buying into a design philosophy and work ethic of those running the brand. The passion and dedication or Loren and Lorenzo is a clear winner to me. If they are half as stubborn with QC and design as they are with keeping plastic crystals they will offer long term support for products that last decades.
Full disclosure, I've never owned a Traska. I have handled one and read/watched several reviews. To me what stands out is the QC. Lorier owners hand inspect every piece before they go on sale and will delay a realese if things are not up to standard. On the other had there are many tales of blatantly misaligned Traskas being recieved. Now, Traska from what I hear always makes it right but when I buy a brand I am buying into a design philosophy and work ethic of those running the brand. The passion and dedication or Loren and Lorenzo is a clear winner to me. If they are half as stubborn with QC and design as they are with keeping plastic crystals they will offer long term support for products that last decades.
Thanks for the info!
The harness coating on Traska's watches is excellent. I have owned 5 different Traska's. Then customer service was always first-rate.
The harness coating on Traska's watches is excellent. I have owned 5 different Traska's. Then customer service was always first-rate.
Thanks! Which traska is your favorite?
Summiteer. I recently purchased the Sandstone. The color makes the indices really stand out. I think it looks like a deep champagne color.
I own a Lorier Gemini and I absolutely love it. Proportions, bracelet, finish.. it would be difficult to find a better product for $500.
I own a Lorier Gemini and I absolutely love it. Proportions, bracelet, finish.. it would be difficult to find a better product for $500.
Awesome... I'm digging the new special edition 'nero' they just released.
I own both, and they’re both excellent. It really comes down to style and preferences. The Traska Commuter is incredible to me, as is the Lorier Falcon III. Traskas tend to be a bit more rugged with their case coating for hardness and sapphire crystals, but the Loriers are also incredibly solidly built.
I own both, and they’re both excellent. It really comes down to style and preferences. The Traska Commuter is incredible to me, as is the Lorier Falcon III. Traskas tend to be a bit more rugged with their case coating for hardness and sapphire crystals, but the Loriers are also incredibly solidly built.
Hence, why I'm torn. I love the falcon, so nice.
What model are you interested in from each brand? Is it the ones pictured? I have a Traska Summiteer 36 and a Lorier Zephyr. Feel free to DM me if you have specific questions.
What model are you interested in from each brand? Is it the ones pictured? I have a Traska Summiteer 36 and a Lorier Zephyr. Feel free to DM me if you have specific questions.
If I didn't have a Halios Universa, it would definitely be the falcon or summiteer... but since I do, leaning toward Gemini, Hyperion (white) or Venturer, Freediver.
I would go with the Traska in that instance just for the superior movement and sapphire crystal. The bracelets on the Traska are so articulated that it is arguably the most comfortable watch I have, save for my Baltic beads of rice.
I would go with the Traska in that instance just for the superior movement and sapphire crystal. The bracelets on the Traska are so articulated that it is arguably the most comfortable watch I have, save for my Baltic beads of rice.
I really like that mint green freediver… also, the blue venturer but don’t love the 2nd crown. But still, overall, I really like Lorier. Maybe I just go for a 2nd “explorer” type and get the falcon… but the Gemini, though 🤷🏻♂️
I don't own a traska but I did some research before pulling the trigger for the falcon III. What I can say is that spec wise, traska is pretty interesting (case coating, ar saphire etc.) But I found their designs to be ultimately more "generic" and crowd pleasing in a sense. Lorier watches has a real vintage flair. It really is a matter of choice. For me, le choix du coeur c'est Lorier
I don't own a traska but I did some research before pulling the trigger for the falcon III. What I can say is that spec wise, traska is pretty interesting (case coating, ar saphire etc.) But I found their designs to be ultimately more "generic" and crowd pleasing in a sense. Lorier watches has a real vintage flair. It really is a matter of choice. For me, le choix du coeur c'est Lorier
I agree... ultimately, I'm a bit more drawn to Lorier's designs. As I mentioned above, the falcon is the most appealing to me, but I already have a very similar watch.
No first hand experience wit Lorier but I have bought 4 Traska’s from their most recent drop a couple weeks ago. I own a Freediver, Summiteer & 2 Seafarer’s. No glaring issues that I’ve noticed with mine like @ShadowSocks said they dealt with. Their hardening tech is legit though. I passed all four of mine around the room last night at our RedBar meeting and the consensus was that they’re were built well and looked even better in person. I know of one guy that bought the grey dial Seafarer last night because he didn’t want to also have the mint dial like me. I would assume Traska would take care of any issues one could have with one as they state in their warranty. A misaligned indice or bezel pip isn’t the end of the world for me as I’ve seen that happen many times on luxury watches so at 500-600 bucks I don’t make a huge deal of it- I just contact the company and politely ask for a replacement. All I can say is that they did good on the 4 units I purchased. Good luck with your decisions.
No first hand experience wit Lorier but I have bought 4 Traska’s from their most recent drop a couple weeks ago. I own a Freediver, Summiteer & 2 Seafarer’s. No glaring issues that I’ve noticed with mine like @ShadowSocks said they dealt with. Their hardening tech is legit though. I passed all four of mine around the room last night at our RedBar meeting and the consensus was that they’re were built well and looked even better in person. I know of one guy that bought the grey dial Seafarer last night because he didn’t want to also have the mint dial like me. I would assume Traska would take care of any issues one could have with one as they state in their warranty. A misaligned indice or bezel pip isn’t the end of the world for me as I’ve seen that happen many times on luxury watches so at 500-600 bucks I don’t make a huge deal of it- I just contact the company and politely ask for a replacement. All I can say is that they did good on the 4 units I purchased. Good luck with your decisions.
They look great! That orange seafarer is amazing.
Full disclosure, I've never owned a Traska. I have handled one and read/watched several reviews. To me what stands out is the QC. Lorier owners hand inspect every piece before they go on sale and will delay a realese if things are not up to standard. On the other had there are many tales of blatantly misaligned Traskas being recieved. Now, Traska from what I hear always makes it right but when I buy a brand I am buying into a design philosophy and work ethic of those running the brand. The passion and dedication or Loren and Lorenzo is a clear winner to me. If they are half as stubborn with QC and design as they are with keeping plastic crystals they will offer long term support for products that last decades.
I have owned a couple of Lorier I am even considering their new GMT, ShowSocks is on point for the money it might be the best of the Micro brands
Socks I could not have made my point more clearly well done!
No first hand experience wit Lorier but I have bought 4 Traska’s from their most recent drop a couple weeks ago. I own a Freediver, Summiteer & 2 Seafarer’s. No glaring issues that I’ve noticed with mine like @ShadowSocks said they dealt with. Their hardening tech is legit though. I passed all four of mine around the room last night at our RedBar meeting and the consensus was that they’re were built well and looked even better in person. I know of one guy that bought the grey dial Seafarer last night because he didn’t want to also have the mint dial like me. I would assume Traska would take care of any issues one could have with one as they state in their warranty. A misaligned indice or bezel pip isn’t the end of the world for me as I’ve seen that happen many times on luxury watches so at 500-600 bucks I don’t make a huge deal of it- I just contact the company and politely ask for a replacement. All I can say is that they did good on the 4 units I purchased. Good luck with your decisions.
How does that faded orange model wear? Larger on the wrist?
I have owned a couple of Lorier I am even considering their new GMT, ShowSocks is on point for the money it might be the best of the Micro brands
Socks I could not have made my point more clearly well done!
I have the hydra, it is all it is supposed to be. If wears about the same as the neptune 3. It takes some time to get used to reading it quickly as the dial has a lot going on. It looks the same size as the neptune because the time section of the dial is smaller in size and proportion. This makes it feel just like the neptune on wrist, it does wear slightly thicker but not even close to the slab side of tudor.
No first hand experience wit Lorier but I have bought 4 Traska’s from their most recent drop a couple weeks ago. I own a Freediver, Summiteer & 2 Seafarer’s. No glaring issues that I’ve noticed with mine like @ShadowSocks said they dealt with. Their hardening tech is legit though. I passed all four of mine around the room last night at our RedBar meeting and the consensus was that they’re were built well and looked even better in person. I know of one guy that bought the grey dial Seafarer last night because he didn’t want to also have the mint dial like me. I would assume Traska would take care of any issues one could have with one as they state in their warranty. A misaligned indice or bezel pip isn’t the end of the world for me as I’ve seen that happen many times on luxury watches so at 500-600 bucks I don’t make a huge deal of it- I just contact the company and politely ask for a replacement. All I can say is that they did good on the 4 units I purchased. Good luck with your decisions.
I do appreciate that Lorier is shooting for a more classic (old) look while traska is definitely more modern and reminds me of Monta. Those issues I read about are most likely due to growing pains, thank you for your input!
Lorier.
But I am biased to mid-century designs and acrylic.
I have worn my Neptune in places and situations that some might not felt was ideal for an automatic watch and it has been fine.
The biggest draw to me, is the overall design, the relative thinness, and I feel like I can have something to wear and then pass down, without having to spend +$2K. YMMV.
I have the hydra, it is all it is supposed to be. If wears about the same as the neptune 3. It takes some time to get used to reading it quickly as the dial has a lot going on. It looks the same size as the neptune because the time section of the dial is smaller in size and proportion. This makes it feel just like the neptune on wrist, it does wear slightly thicker but not even close to the slab side of tudor.
The thing I am really starting to like about the Hydra, is exactly that. It is thicker, but it wears VERY well.
I also personally feel like it has some Benrus Type I assymetric vibes going on too.
I have not handled any of them. They both look great. Sorry I'm not really helpful. Traskas sapphire and anti scratch coating looks great for Gada purposes.
How does that faded orange model wear? Larger on the wrist?
I love the way the Seafarer wears. It’s probably my favorite out of the three models I bought. The Freediver wears the biggest but it’s not unreasonable. I have about a 6” wrist. Sometimes a tad bigger on a warm humid day. I included a couple pictures of the sun-burnt orange Seafarer so you can see the difference in the two.
Both companies have loyal and satisfied customers, so I’d say it comes down to one question: what watch do you want? 😁
Not a damn thing wrong with Lorier but for the whole package, you cannot do better than Traska. But they are two different styles of brands. Room for both in a collection.
No experience with Lorier, but I have two from Traska. I definitely dig both (I have the Summiteer 38 and the Seafarer). Customer service was great, watches wear amazing. Definitely recommend
No experience with Lorier, but I have two from Traska. I definitely dig both (I have the Summiteer 38 and the Seafarer). Customer service was great, watches wear amazing. Definitely recommend
Great choices.
I own a few Traska and Lorier, I think the only factor which makes Traska stand out is the scratch proof material, which makes a huge difference - especially as a GADA or diver watch.