Slim. Uncluttered. I get that a lot. So does Torgoen.
The Torgoen is an interesting watch collection – in a world where we focus a lot on automatic watches with complications, most of the Torgeon are quartz. They’re Swiss quartz, but they’re quartz nonetheless. There is an automatic collection, but it’s proportionally quite small among Torgoen’s offerings. Similarly, the majority of the collections focus on aviation-inspired watches. There’s a tactical collection with a rotating bezel, and a few aviation-inspired chronographs, but the majority are pilot style three hand watches with large 3-6-9-12 numerals.
That isn’t to say that they’re all alike. Some are larger, smaller, thicker, thinner; there’s a wide variety. The T39 Torgoen represents the Slim collection, which Torgoen describes as “Slim, uncluttered design, Sub seconds”. And so it is, appearing in either a brushed stainless steel case, or PVD black, with black, blue, cream, or a gradient green dial. Available either on a Milanese mesh bracelet or two variants of brown Italian leather (stitched thoroughly, or a more vintage simple stitch), the watch is well-suited for almost any occasion.
The watch as we received is the T39 green dial on fully stitched Italian leather. It’s comfortable, and the green grows on you. It’s a lovely color, and it works well with the cream colored lume and black case. The strap tapers comfortably from its 22mm lugs to about 16mm at the pin and buckle clasp. The sub seconds is at the 6 position, and is slightly recessed below the surface of the rest of the dial. The recess is an angled cut, which gives it a nice visual effect in the light. Of course, there’s the date at 4, which breaks the symmetry of the watch, but if you must have a date, this is a decent way to do it. Hand length is excellent, with the minute hand extending through the end of the minute markers, and the hour hand meeting the numerals, and almost reaching the hour markers. It works out.
The slim nature of the watch comes out in both its diminutive height, and the slender lugs. It’s a 41mm diameter watch, with a thickness of just 6.35mm thin. Thin watches aren’t nearly as difficult a challenge with a quartz movement as they are with an automatic, but I enjoy the lightness and thinness just the same. It’s such an easy wear. Even with the thickness as slight as it is, the watch is still water-resistant to 50 meters (165 feet). There are very few watches that can claim 41mm diameter, 6.35mm thin, and weigh in at just 58 grams. This is a comfortable watch, one I would be happy wearing anywhere. It’s strange. I’m not usually interested in black watches or green dials, but everything about this design comes together so well, that I’ve warmed up to it, and would happily wear any watch from this collection.
The Torgoen T39 slim watch is well executed, the strap is comfortable, and it’s a Swiss classic available for $430 USD. If you happen to be in the market, you have several choices in this price point, but usually it relegates you to either quartz minimalist watches or Seiko or Miyota powered divers. Here, you get a pilot watch that’s slim enough to fit under a dress cuff, with excellent lume in a classic look. The T39 is available from torgoen.com
Watch Overview
- Brand & Model: Torgoen T39 T39GR41L
- Price: $322.50
- Who we think it might be for: You like a slim watch with a classic pilot look. It’s an easy wear.
- Would I buy one for myself based on what I’ve seen?: It’s so comfortable. The green is good. I like the band on T39GR41V slightly better.
- If I could make one design suggestion, it would be: Not a thing. The lume is great.
- What spoke to me the most about this watch: The green sunburst with vintage cream lume and a vintage leather strap to match.
Tech Specs from Torgoen
- Case size: 41mm
- Height: 6.35mm
- Case material: steel (DLC black)
- Crystal: flat, sapphire
- Strap: leather, pin buckle clasp
- Movement: Swiss-made Ronda quartz – slimtech 1019
