Now that the weather is starting to warm up some (at least for the northern hemisphere), your thoughts are likely turning towards outdoors activities. Depending on what those may be, you’re likely headed in one of two directions for the watch you’re strapping on – either something loaded with sensors and timing abilities (likely digital), or you just want something sturdy to keep with you to tell the time so you know how long you’ve been on the trail. If you’re in that second came, thenArchimede’s latest updates could be a good candidate for you.
When a brand gives their watch the name of OutDoor (as Archimede has done here), you can be fairly certain they’re doing their homework to aim the watch. As I went through in my review of the original OutDoor, this is a great watch to head outside with. It’s a relatively simple three-hander (plus date) that’s compact on the wrist (39mm by 11.2mm thick) and won’t weigh you down (75g on the strap / 125g on the steel bracelet). Add in the option for a fully lumed dial, and you’ve got an SW200-powered watch ready to keep up with you.
The original version that I reviewed last summer, however, was “only” a simple stainless steel case – which means it’s susceptible to all the scrapes, dings, and whatnot that come along with doing something more strenuous than relaxing in a chair under a tree. To that end, they’ve gone and hardened both the case and the optional bracelet. This hardened surface (hardened to a rating of ca. 1200 HV, for those curious) makes for a watch that’s going to resist those sorts of minor damage, taking you from the trail to the restaurant without it looking beat up.
Along with those changes, they’ve also introduced a new rubber strap. While the leather strap I reviewed was nice, if you’re really planning on being out in the rough with this watch, the rubber strap may be the better option. Pricing seems fairly similar to what we saw last year. It starts at $830 for the black dial on the silicone strap, and tops out at $964 for the luminous dial on the steel bracelet. For those of us outside the EU, VAT will get excluded from the price, so it should be about 20% lower. I liked what I saw in last year’s model, and I think this newest iteration is a great (if invisible) improvement to the watch. archimede-watches.com
Watch Overview
- Brand & Model: Archimede Outdoor
- Price: $830 – 964 (less VAT for those outside of the EU)
- Who we think it might be for: The outdoor enthusiast who wants a solid mechanical to keep up with the adventures
- Would I buy one for myself based on what I’ve seen?: I could see that happening
- If I could make one design suggestion, it would be: For lightweight strength, I wonder if some non-steel materials could be explored for future versions
- What spoke to me the most about this watch: The fully-lumed dial – one of my first watches had a similar one, and it’s just plain fun to see that glow after being out in the sun
