By Jovan Krstevski
Everytime there is a start-up trying to shake up things in the horology world, we always get excited to know what they have on offer. To be honest, this entry point (crowd funding) for modern watches has been exploited quite much so forgive us if we are a bit wary when someone claims they found the “magic recipe” for a watch we all crave for… however, they do turn out just fine as far as we know. So without further ado, here is a new Kickstarter, the NAVIS Aqvantis Watch. NAVIS is a startup established by a duo watch enthusiasts who, like us, agree that high quality watches should not be very expensive for regular horology fans. Armed with this inspiration, NAVIS started producing watches of the highest standards minus the steep price point.
The NAVIS Aqvantis Watch is pretty much the result of over two years of hard work for the 2 watch enthusiasts. Certainly this is quite the right time when you think about the research involved when creating a watch that you think will rattle the market. To be honest folks, it doesn’t really matter, the market judges what really is a work of passion. Besides, this is a diver watch and they are Swiss made.
The NAVIS Aqvantis Watch looks rugged on a 42 mm 316L stainless steel case. At this size, it does look large, but judging on the design of the case, it is about the right dimension. The lugs are impressive thanks to the combination of chamfered and sharp edges. The case is also equipped with a 120 click bezel (this allows to keep track of time with an accuracy of 30 seconds) with toothed side for better grip. Finally, the case comes on either Black PVD or brushed silver finish. Either finish look incredibly sharp particularly the brushed metal on the silver finish. Moreover, the Black PVD case called the Lugano was inspired by the mysterious color of Lake Lugano in Switzerland while the silver case, called the Geneva, was inspired by Lake Geneva, which looks brighter at its bottom. The screwed down crown further aids in the waterproofing of the watch which is rated up to 300 m/1000 ft.
Moving on to the watch face, the NAVIS Aqvantis Watch features a double-layer sandwich dial which aids in legibility. The only qualms we have here is the small hour digits for the 12, 6, and 9 o’clock. The date window replaces the 3 o’clock hour marker which is nice to have for a diver watch. On the plus side, the superluminova coating on the hour and minute hands look incredibly legible in the dark. This is absolutely perfect not only when you’re underwater but for the times when lights go out.
Powering the NAVIS Aqvantis Watch is either a Japanese NH35A or Swiss SW200 depending on your choice. The SW200 is a popular choice because of its durability and quality and is usually seen on luxury watches. On the other hand, the Japanese movement, NH35A is characterized by its tried and tested reliability and superb power reserve.
There are 4 iterations of the NAVIS Aqvantis Watch: Lugano Blue – black PVD case with blue dial, Lugano Black – black PVD case with black dial, Geneva Blue – silver case with blue dial, and Geneva Black – silver case with black dial. The real icing on the cake here is the 50% discount and up to 2 extra straps for the early birds during the campaign launch of NAVIS on October 27, 2017. For more info, please visit naviswatches.com
