In Review: WT Author 1953

We’ve reviewed (and written about) a number of watches from WT Author (you can see those here), but with today’s review, we’re leaving behind the trench watch aesthetics of the prior models, and are getting into something a bit more modern – and dressy – with the WT Author 1953.

As with prior releases, the model name reflects a very particular year. Along with denoting the era that the WT Author 1953 is intended to signify, it’s also another milestone in Britain’s history. 1953 is the year that Queen Elizabeth II was coronated at Westminster Abbey. It certainly marks the start of an era, one that continues on through to today.

So, why might you consider the WT Author 1953 a dress watch? Well, for one, there are a lot of polished surfaces. The hands are polished (and beveled), the indices are polished (with their own bevels and angles), and the two-tone bezel overlay is fully polished as well. Add in that there is nary a hint of lume, and yeah, you’ve got a dress watch. One that’s perhaps a little bit flashier than we might otherwise expect with the coppery/brassy bezel, but yeah, it’s a dress watch. Paired on the mesh bracelet, it certainly gets the job done. Though, I’ll admit, I wore it on the leather strap (which smells AMAZING) with a suit just as well. So, adapt it to your outfit, I’d say.

The WT Author 1953 also keeps cues that we’ve seen on prior models in their lineup, including the red crown, red logo at the 12 o’clock position on the dial, and the logo showing up on the caseback (here, it’s an exhibition caseback showing off the Miyota 9015 automatic). Speaking of that dial, it also called to mind a dress shirt. By that, I mean the textured, tight-knit pattern of the dial reminded me of some of my favorite dress shirts. Those tended to have a soft and subtle pattern to them, which brings just a bit more visual interest to things.

Coming in at under 38mm, the WT Author 1953 does seem like it’s calling from that era (though, I suppose it would have been a large watch for the 50s), while still allowing it to fit into today. With the larger bezel overlay on the watch, it visually felt larger than the 37.5mm would suggest, and I did not feel it was undersized for my 7.25″ wrist. And, should you have a larger wrist, both the mesh and leather straps have plenty of adjustment in them to accommodate you.

Overall, I’d say the WT Author 1953 was a fun watch to wear. I personally found it worked better as a casual watch (say, business casual), but that’s just down to my own preferences for what I look for in a watch I’m wearing with suits. Frankly, if you’re not a fan of the monochromatic stuff that makes up most dress watches, this is a unique direction to go, with pops of color that don’t feel like they’re overdone. And it works well as a casual watch as well, slipping in the 20mm strap of your choice, or even going for a quick dip in the pond, should you want too (100m WR rating here, though it’s not a screw-down crown).

It’s a unique look, and one that shows how the brand is evolving it’s designs, while still maintaining some of their design DNA across the entirety of the collection. While the version of the WT Author 1953 we reviewed ($754) is sold out (only 25 were made), there are other versions available on their site. There are quartz versions starting at $480, and two other automatic versions that come in at $685. You can check out the full range – plus the others for sale – directly over at wtauthor.com

Tech Specs from WT Author