Back in February 2017, Draken launched its kickstater campaign for the Draken Tugela and raised more than needed for their goal. I recently did a hands on review of the Tugela which turned out to be pretty darn nice. Starting November 16, 2017 Draken is coming out with a new Kickstarter campaign for their new aviation inspired Draken Peregrine. Draken was able to send me out a prototype and so far, I like what I see.
The Dial
There are two dial options for the Draken Peregrine. There is a black dial with BGW9 lume and a full-lume white dial option. This is a simple three hand watch, but it has one very cool feature. At the 12 o’clock position, the Draken logo is more than meets the eye. That logo is actually a functional power reserve indicator. When the watch is fully wound, the logo is solid white, and lumed too. When the power starts running down, the logo will then turn orange. I really like this feature, it gives you something to talk about.
The Case
There are two options for the Draken Peregrine. You can choose from the bead-blasted 316L stainless steel case or the DLC (diamond-like coating) black case. Anti-reflective coated sapphire is used to cover the dial and is also used show off the movement. The case back is screw down and has a bead-blasted finish. The crown is screw down, signed with the Draken logo. Water resistance is 100m, which is fine since this is not a dive watch. The finish on this case is very good and I can find no flaws.
The Movement
Powering this Peregrine is a Miyota 9130 automatic movement with discreet power reserve indicator. That power indicator is a cool touch and adds a very unique element to the watch. The movement itself is decorated with simple Geneva stripes and has a decorated signed rotor.
The Strap
The Strap on the Draken Peregrine is very soft genuine leather. There are a lot of holes for a comfortable fit and it feels very comfortable on the wrist. You can choose from either the tan leather strap or a canvas strap. Both look very nice on this watch.
The Amazing Lume!
I really love the lume on the Peregrine. The white dial version is fully lumed and glows in a brilliant blue. If the watch is fully wound then the entire power indicator will glow. I was pretty surprised when I saw this glow for the first time. Since the whole dial glows there is no need to lume the hands or markers–they stand out over the glow of that dial.
Overall Impression
From what I have seen with this prototype, the Draken Peregrine is a solid, well-built watch. The finish is very good. That power indicator is such a nice touch to what would normally be a very simple three-hander. The little addition of blue on the dial breaks up the monotony of just black and white. This is an aviation/adventure watch, but is toned down enough to work well in the office. I really like this new model, and for a starting price of $289 USD, it a pretty solid bargain. You can check them out on kickstarter.
Review Summary
- Brand and model: Draken Peregrine
- Price:Starting at $289 USD
- Who’s it for: Avaiation and adventure watch lovers.
- What I’d change: Good the way it is.
- The best thing about it: That discreet power reserve indicator.
Tech Specs from Draken
- Miyota 9130 automatic movement with discreet power reserve indicator
- Bead-blasted and DLC (Diamond-like carbon) coated 316L stainless steel case
- Black dial with BGW9 lume and full-lume white dial options
- Green canvas and tan leather strap options
- Double-domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
- Exhibition case back with decorated rotor
- 100m water resistance
