Today, we’ll take a look at the first of two review samples we were sent from a new brand out of Minnesota, Kayaniv.
Kayaniv came to be, not because the principles were looking for a watch they couldn’t find. Instead, it came to be because one of them had friends and family coming to him for advice on what watch to buy. And rather that sort through all the various options in the market when it comes to things like case and crystal materials, and movements, they’ve created a “code” which all of their models adhere to:
- The case will be made of stainless steel or gold
- The crystal will only be sapphire
- The movement will be Swiss (at this time, this means an ETA 2824 or Ronda quartz)
So, that’s the genesis of these watches. At this time, they’re not “from scratch” designs, but they are intending to have their own design created in six to eight months.
The first model we’re taking a look at here is known as the Deep Diver. While it technically could be a diver, with it’s 200m WR rating, I’d say it’s more of a diver style watch than a true dive piece. It’s definitely a sportier piece with case measuring in at 46mm, with a bit of refinement to it, with the use of polished surfaces on the case and bezel (the bracelet is fully brushed).
In terms of styling, it’s cleanly put together, and the use of blue and white on the dial combines with the steel for a crisp presentation. The contrast between the dial and indices made reading the time (and the chronograph) fairly easy; when the lights go down, the blue lume kicks in and works adequately for reading the time in the dark.
While it would have been nice to have some lume on the bezel itself, I appreciate that, in liu of that, they instead with with raised and polished numerals and indices. It’s just a much nice look and feel than if it was a simple (and flat) insert popped into the bezel.
In terms of wear, it was a fairly comfortable piece, even for being a bit larger than I would normally wear. Time keeping was accurate (as you’d expect from Ronda), and the chronograph functions worked just as you’d expect them to.
Coming in at $630 (available here), you’ve got a nice mix of materials and design on offer, albeit at a touch higher price point than I’d expect (lucky for you, the code WWR20 will knock 20% off the price). If you’re looking for a diver that’s going to spend more time at the office (or in the pool) than over in the ocean, this may be worth a look.
