Now, if you’ve been reading this site for any time now, you’ve probably picked up that I tend to dig dress watches, and I also have an affinity for moonphase complications, regardless of how practical (or truly useful) they may be. Today’s watch tickles both those fancies, and brings our attention to a brand we’ve not looked at before.
The brand in question is Kristian Kiel, and they’re a relatively new brand, but their collection page shows quite a variety of pieces, 19 models in total.
Now, the piece we were sent for review is one of the newest models in the collection, and goes by the moniker of the Elan Moonphase. Not surprising, then, that one of the first things you notice about the watch is that moonphase display at the 6 o’clock position.
That’s just one of the more interesting features on this larger watch. Well, let me rephrase that – it’s not an overly big piece (especially by today’s standards) – but with the squared off case, it has a bigger presence. Thankfully, the curved lugs help it get down closer on your wrist. And those lugs shrink things down a bit, which allows for a narrower strap to fit.
Normally, I don’t care for this sort of discrepancy on a square case, but here it works. With the narrower strap, it fits a dressier profile, and you don’t have additional bulk of a the strap to squeeze under a watch cuff.
And I think the dress segment is really where this watch is being targeted (though it can work for the office). You’ve got bright, polished surfaces on the case, contrasting with the clean black of the strap (though it can be in tan or white); you’ve got Roman numerals for markers on the dial, blued subdial hands, and a blue crystal inset on the crown. For me, this all adds up to a dress watch.
And that’s where we’ll leave things today. Tomorrow, I’ll highlight a few more features that I really liked on the piece, as well as some other items that could be improved on future revisions.
