Time to get a watch
It’s been a long time since I wore a watch. Not because I don’t like watches, I do its just that once I lost my previous one I held out hope that somehow I would find it and everything would go back to how it used to be.
I really loved my old watch because it was unique. The watch face itself was just a cheap $20 Target brand watch and the leather band broke only weeks after I bought it. What made this particular watch for me was when a coworker of mine fashioned a custom band out of reclaimed leather for it. Then suddenly this plain old watch became something else entirely, it was something special. I actually ended up buying the same $20 watch face two more times as replacements just so I could use the same band over and over.
The coworker, John Davis, by the way now has a thriving business named Fisticuffs Leather. Please check them out here.
Finding a watch that is well made, modern, and simple is actually quite difficult.
So I finally decided it was time to move on and invest in something new. I wanted to move a step up from the $20 department store watch to something more substantial that could last me a long time. I wanted something simple, but well designed. I don’t need a crazy diving watch with 4 different little dials on it, I just need to know the time. I also wanted something a little more unique then your average department store watch.
Finding a watch that is well made, modern, and simple is actually quite difficult it turns out.
I did eventually find something I liked of course, and it arrived today. Exciting!
The company is named Tsovet and they are based out in California. I am not entirely sure how to pronounce their name, but I always try to do it with a slightly Russian accent just for fun.
The box that it came in was quite substantial. It seems like I have a thing for companies that pack their products in ridiculously over the top packaging. What struck me as a bit weird was that while they sent me a huge box (pictured above) the watch itself came in a separate small box alongside it. The actual watch was less protected then its display case. Very weird. I did pack the watch in the big box for these pictures though since it is more dramatic that way.
And now finally the actual thing!
So far I am really liking this watch quite a bit. The model is called the SVT-FW44, its design is very modern for an analog face watch, but it takes cues from a more industrial age. The company as a whole looks to a lot of early 20th century aeronautical gauges and military hardware for inspiration (Even there model numbers sound like some kind of military hardware) and you can tell that in this watch and even more so in their other models.
Personally I wanted something a little less flashy then their other designs and I just don’t think my wrists could handle a watch any bigger then this one either. At 44mm this is the smallest watch they make and even this one is as big as I am willing to go I think.
So please check out Tsovet’s website I hope the word gets out about these guys a bit more since I really wish a lot more companies realize there is a market for well made, but simple timepieces.
As of today consider me one happy customer.
2 Comments
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Awesome, thanks for the review. I am thinking about getting one of these for similar reasons as to what you mentioned. Very few watches have styling that appeals to me while maintaining a relatively small case diameter (at least compared to the insane 50mms). I was wondering how big your wrists are? Mine are 6.5in, and I’m concerned that they might be too small for this.
My wrists are actually very thin. Not sure on size but I can touch my pinky to thumb around it. The watch-face is fairly large but I think it still works. It is the smallest watch they make too! I have gotten a lot of compliments on the watch as well. I’d say go for it!