My favorite microbrand watchmaker has a new reversible watch

Vario’s VERSA line featured a reversible case that gives you two looks without turning the watch into a novelty. Their original concept, which featured two quartz movements inside the case, was cool but this latest, the Reversible Single Time Automatic, streamlines the watch and turns it into something special.

The headline change is the movement. Vario is using the Miyota 6T28 automatic with a custom rotor, running at 28,800 bph with a quoted 40 hours of power reserve. Vario also leans into the fact that the watch is still reversible while staying relatively slim for the format, with the case listed at 41.5mm long, 28mm wide, and 10.5mm thick. That shape lands in a sweet spot if you like rectangular watches but do not want something tiny.

Design-wise, the “Tuxedo” models come in black or white and use a two-tone mirrored stripe dial treatment. The case is 316L stainless steel, with a flat sapphire crystal and inner anti-reflective coating, plus 5 ATM water resistance. Vario ships it on a vegetable-tanned Italian leather strap that tapers from 22mm to 18mm with a deployant clasp. They also note that the included strap may not fit wrists 7.5 inches and above, and offer a longer strap option for that range.

Price is set at $498 for the White Tuxedo and Black Tuxedo versions. If you liked the idea of the VERSA but wanted a mechanical version that feels more like a daily watch and less like a special-purpose travel piece, this is the cleaner entry point. You still get the flip-case party trick, but the rest of the spec reads like a normal, well-thought-out rectangular automatic. Given Vario’s amazing work in classic watches, I think this is another winner from this Singapore microbrand.