When it comes to watches, we all have our own varying tastes. Sure, we can appreciate merits of certain watches, but it’s rare – at least in my experience – to run into another person who has as visceral of a reaction to a watch as I do. Take my buddy (and fellow WWR editor) Victor Marks. We can appreciate what the other likes, but our tastes are a bit divergent. At least, until I ran across the Steinhart Ocean Titanium 500 GMT Premium. It immediately became a synchronized chant of “DO WANT” in our messages back and forth.
Why is is that we’re so enamored by this watch? Well, I cannot 100% speak for Victor, but I can say that the Steinhart Ocean Titanium 500 GMT Premium hits a LOT of the right boxes for the both of us. You’ve got the obvious Rolex GMT Explorer influences here, complete with the blue/black ceramic bezel (aka “The Batman”, scratching another itch for me). So, yeah, the watch has it in the looks department.
Then, let’s have a look at the dimensions of the Steinhart Ocean Titanium 500 GMT Premium. The titanium case comes in at a surprising (for this day and age) 39mm diameter and 13mm thick. The case back with window for the viewable movement is made of 316L stainless steel. Then, it’s paired to a bracelet that snugs into the 20mm lugs and tapers down to a svelte 16mm at the deployant clasp. In other words, this is a nicely compact set of dimensions.
Materials? Yeah, the Steinhart Ocean Titanium 500 GMT Premium has that covered as well. You’ve got the titanium, stainless steel, sapphire crystals (front and back), a ceramic bezel, and a ETA 2893-2 Elaboré-grade movement. AKA, just about everything you could want from the luxurious version carrying the crown. Albeit, at a much nicer price.
You see, the Steinhart Ocean Titanium 500 GMT Premium comes in at a very palatable $618 (outside of the EU) plus shipping. This is a price I can get behind, particularly given this styling and dimensions. I’ve yet to see a Steinhart in person, but I’ve certainly been impressed by what they’ve been making. I’ve long eyed the more vintage-looking Explorer II homage they’ve got (the one with the stick hands), but this new Steinhart Ocean Titanium 500 GMT Premium may just bump it down a notch in what I’d consider saving up for. We’ve inquired after a review loaner; in the meantime, if one of you out there has one, please do get in touch! steinhartwatches.de
(correction: an earlier version of this piece named the case as stainless steel. This came from an early version of specifications from Steinhart that has since been updated, and the article has been updated to reflect that.)
Watch Overview
- Brand & Model: Steinhart Ocean Titanium 500 GMT Premium
- Price: $618 outside the EU (660 EUR in EU) + shipping
- Who’s it for? Anyone who likes the look of the crowned Batman, but needs it a bit more affordable
- Would I wear it? From what I can tell, yes, in a hearbeat
- What I’d change: I’ve used this line before, but it still works – get it on my wrist
- The best thing about it:Everything. More precisely, the relatively compact dimensions.
Tech Specs from Steinhart
- MOVEMENT
- ETA 2893-2 Elaboré Premium
- Swiss Made
- Automatic movement
- 21 Jewels
- second stop
- FUNCTIONS
- Screwed crown
- Date at “6”
- Decorated movement, blue screws and golden
- STEINHART rotor
- CASE
- Titanium case
- Diameter 39mm
- Height 13 mm
- Weight 160g
- Lug width 20 mm spring bar
- Back Stainless steel 316 L screwed with sapphire crystal
- Sapphire glass domed, with double anti-reflecting coatings on the interior side
- Bezel Ceramic black/ blue with Super Luminova BGW 9
- Waterproof to 50 ATM
- Dial and hands
- Dial: black
- Super Luminova BGW 9
- Central second hand
- Hand for the second time zone
- Second time zone adjustable using bezel and watch hand
- STRAP & BUCKLE
- Strap: stainless steel 20 mm x16 mm screwed
- Buckle: Butterfly Clasp 16mm stainless steel with safety deployment clasp and logo
