This Vaer has 100m of water resistance and a screw down crown. The Khaki has 50m of water resistance and no screw down. So if you are really planning to use the watch on the field, Vaer has a practical advantage.
Hamilton actually says in their documentation with every watch, not to use it in the field or swim with it. They are just for show pieces that have cashed in on the field watch customer but their product just isn’t suited for the field. Just not worth it. Other brands will overtake them. Technology nowadays is moving so fast pretty soon you’ll be able to make a watch like this in your own home one day.
A great review! A fair & insightful review. Full transparency - I actually waited to see the JOMW review before I pushed any Kickstarter buttons, but it was a close call! That US$299 9015 version was a siren song of desire, and the Dirty Dozen version wanted to come home with me SO MUCH, but like Odysseus, I tied myself to the mast & resisted their sweet temptations. Resisted, that is, until I could hear from JOMW about the true value and quality of the Vaer offerings. I like their design, I like the apparent quality, and I especially like the David vs Goliath of the micro-brand going toe-to-toe with the mighty Swatch monster! And really, adding the 9015, as well as the 2824, to their product - all us No Quartzers were howling for this exact thing ever since Vaer opened shop. So, let's step up and support them in their hour of need, purchase a watch at the reduced Kickstarter price, and help keep this company alive. Why? If they are THIS good at the watch game now, so early in their development, think what they will come up with NEXT year! I would like them to be around so we can all see what they have in store.
These are absolutely stunning to me. They're like a Shinola done right, a good size, American made, and not horrendously priced for what you're getting. There's a cost associated with having American or Swiss on the dial! Great review, mate!
Case looks good and the myiota 9015 is a nice movement. But the dail and hands look really cheap with a poor quality. Price with 330$+import tax (about 350€) is too high. I could walk 500m to the next swatch outlet and buy me for the same price a nice Hamilton Khaki field mechanical watch.
I would have picked one with the ETA 2895 but for $599 early bird and the now $639 for that price point I think I could find something that floats my boat a bit more. Another great review that helps with the decisions. 👍🏼
I own a black C5 Heritage quartz. It uses the same dial. I think photos of the date cramping the 3 on the dial are a bit deceiving to the eye. In person it looks quite good. My take on this is not to let it put you off. I have an S5 in white as well without the date complication and I really miss not having the date available to read. Vaer makes some great watches and they deserve our support. They continue to improve as demonstrated by the new automatic watches and a new release including a 36mm case design has been announced. I love this brand the quality, value for money and the backbone of these designs speak for themselves.
Jody, just wanted to take a moment to thank you for these great reviews. I was stumbling around from one bad decision to another when I found your channel and a few others. Now I am on my way to building a focused , non homage, watch collection. Every time I hear "Welcome to Just one More Watch" I start jumping around like a "frog in a sock"! The watch community should build a bronze statue of you for helping so many people become addicted to their products. Keep up the great work!
Thank you for introducing me to Vaer. Love the simplicity of this watch. And like getting something assembled in the USA since I live here. Probably going to get this same dial version but the Quartz.
Great review. This hits a great market segment for microbrand lovers, affordable watches, and auto only crowd. I've always been fine with the Vaer and Boldr quartz though, as an everyday field watch.
Case, movement, dial: these are really the good points of this watch. The hands seem taken from a cheaper one, like a Seiko 5. They 'd be better in a polished or satinated finish
I got the black quartz field watch and really enjoy it. Super light, perfect size and always ready to go. ( + the 15% off I got makes it even better). My only thought is if I need an auto that looks exactly like my quartz? I'll have to see in the future if they make any different designs.. then I'll give VAER another look .
At Sub $350, looks like a fairly good package. At the upper side of the price range, with ETA and all bells and whistles, I would skip VAER and go to the good old Sinn 556a.
I got the quartz Classic Light. It’s a great watch for less than $150. I like the fit and finish. And with its Bauhaus styling, it’s a bit more interesting to look at than the field watch. I just don’t see paying the extra money for an automatic.
Really digging the railroad style numerals. I'd choose the white dial with the mint arabic numerals. A bit too steep in price though, indeed. Always a good time, Jody! Thanks for this one.
$450 is fine. It's a bit more expensive than a Hamilton Khaki Field (which I'm also planning to get), but nobody else seems to offer a sporty white faced watch at a better price. I've looked all over the place and the only two that seem to match my criteria are this one and the Martenero Kerrison (which is way more expensive and frankly a bit too large at 42mm).
Great review as always, that macro lens was money well spent. It adds a lot to your final product. I backed the "Dirty Dozen" model a few days ago and really looking forward to adding it to the collection. That being said, although it is easy to compare this to a Hamilton, I do think it's a little unfair to do so right now. First and foremost, this is a Kickstarter campaign. Albeit from a company that has successfully produced and sold watches in the past, it's still a Kickstarter campaign. That means that those who volunteered to back the campaign are not buying a watch, rather they are providing capital to a company. I think that is an important distinction to make. As with any Kickstarter campaign there is no guarantee that a product will ship. The money will hopefully go towards producing and shipping a product as described, but it's not an absolute. For that reason, I feel that the pricing is not comparable to an established brand selling a product. A person should not back the campaign because they want a watch. They should back the campaign because they like what the company is doing and want them to succeed. Receiving a watch is just a bonus. If a person just wants a watch that they like the look of, buy a Hamilton (or another brand) from a store. Once the campaign is complete, units have been sent to all backers and Vaer are selling the watch on their own online store, then the comparisons to a Hamilton are warranted.
In your opinion, which is a better movement, Hamilton or this Vaer automatic? (More accurate, lasts longer before service?) I’d appreciate any help you can provide. Thank you.
I wish I had the money right now, because I would definitely get one. I really like these! That said, there is no way in hell I would ever pay $500 and up for one! At that price I could buy something more upscale. Unless the selling price comes down to $300 later on, I will never own one. That is a shame, because I would really like to have one of these watches in my collection.
Well, I'm one of the ones who have put my money down. I love the look of the heritage. A few notes - there has been some clarification on the date window clipping the 3, apparently it doesn't and there is a picture of one where this is true in the kickstart listing. Also, the lume on many models will be switched over to a green that is stronger, and the crown bigger as you noted. I wish they color matched the date wheel as I'm in for the heritage model with date, horween two piece and rubber. I also love the look of dirty dozen, and the movement in it is very nice, but it is a bit rich for my blood. Thanks for the review. Do you get to keep the watch you reviewed? Lucky you if so.
saulysw, I am in the same boat with you; though I am not yet decided about the date complication. Yes the dirty dozen design is attractive, but I am frankly not convinced that a movement which can only be serviced by a Swatch group certified watchsmith is something I want to commit to. I do not like the Swatch business model in regards to servicing and their decision to deny independent watchsmith's access to parts. This is a practical consideration for me in regards to long term ownership, and it dims my enthusiasm for ETA movements. Frankly, I would prefer an ETA clone. This is a tool watch. I want a tool watch that is highly reliable and fairly accurate out of the box. The Miyota movement is just that. The form factor and finish is nearly ideal. I would personally prefer a 38mm case and a manual movement, but this watch is very close to ideal in almost all terms, as a desert island watch. Truth be told, I would prefer a solid case back and a military contract style face sans ornamentation, designation, or markings; as in the US armed services field watch of the Vietnam era.
@@ivermec-tin666 Hey, thanks for the reply. The issue I have with the Miyota are 1) The unidirectional rotor, which you can apparently feel wobbling around (never had one so not sure) and 2) you can also apparently hear it as it is somewhat noisy. Again, no direct experience with this, so I'm not sure how bad these issues are in the real world, but I have a few ETA 2824 based watches and I've been happy with them so that is what I went for. I know I'm not in the majority with that decision. Interesting comments on Swatch group servicing costs. I am yet to service any watch I own, so I wonder if this is really a big deal or not...? As for tweaks for the design to make it the "perfect watch", we all have our wish list, right? For me, the heritage dial with date (so practical, for me the difference between a dress watch and a daily wear) this is pretty close to perfect already, with the unclipped 3. If I could get my color matched date wheel I'd be really happy, and even without it I'm good. Perhaps a nice applied logo rather than the block text? Applied indices? This will be my casual weekend watch, and for that I think it fits the bill really well. My weekday watch is a Fortis flieger professional, which has the day complication I love so much. I'm quite excited about the Vaer actually. I don't have or want a huge collection, and I hope it lives up to my expectations and has plenty of wrist time. I am also into Elgin pocket watches and there is a similarity in the Vaer designs that really appeals to me. The dirty dozen design is really, really nice to my eyes - but is effectively a dress watch to me, so I'd wear it very rarely. For the price I couldn't justify it. If you want a "sanitized" dial you can probably find something like it on Ali Express, but of course the quality is unlikely to match the Vaer, or even to be close. It would be a lot cheaper though, so if it breaks you could just buy another one? :)
@@saulysw I have never heard of the wobbling effect of the unidirectional winder on the Miyota automatic movement. I have heard of the noise issue with these winders, and asked for feedback from another reviewer of this VAER prototype on this issue. He indicated that he did not hear any noise coming from the winder on wrist. That is one man's experience, anyway. I understand that the noise issue is heavily influenced by the watch case design. I guess I am going to find out, one way or the other in November. I am leery of generic Chinese watches. I hate things that are unreliable, particularly things that I wear on my person. I would rather wear my homely but astonishingly accurate g-shock, than some generic automatic made by virtual economic slaves, even if it had a Seiko movement inside. I already own an skx-013. There are a few German watch makers that make sanitized (unbranded and without marketing nonsense on the dial) faces as an option, as was the historical practice for military spec watches for the US and German armed services. Like you, I do not want to build a large collection of watches, just a small selection for specific uses; a beater, a diver, a casual watch, and one for work. The VAER will be for work. I do not own any watches rated for less than 100m WR, and don't particularly want to. I do not plan on a dress watch at this point; maybe someday. I think pocket watches are lovely, but I don't think I will ever wear a three piece suit, and I am not very fond of vests either. I am firmly in the wristwatch camp. I hate using my phone to tell the time; it's clumsy. Frankly, I don't enjoy my interaction with my cellphone. It is a fiddly little device which demands far too much accommodation on my part.
@@ivermec-tin666 Again, a pleasure to read your reply. Jody mentioned the rotor wobble and noise in this review didn't he? Yes, see 9:03. For me, Chinese watches have a place - as an educational device. They are not things I want to own per say, or use long term, but they can let me discover first hand if I like certain designs before committing a significant wad of cash. I recently got 3 Chinese watches of various designs for less than half the price of the strap alone of one of my Swiss watches. One was a Rolex "homage" (Loreo, on Jody's recommendation) which I got to see what all the fuss is about, as I've never really felt that I liked the Submariner design. Now I know more about that. So, if they help me make a better decision about a "real" purchase, about quality, then they have achieved something good. I think they also keep the big players on their toes. It is a grey area, I know, and I'm not totally comfortable with it, and importantly I'm not trying to pretend I have something I don't. Pocket watches : Levi's all have a small pocket in the right hand side which is actually made to hold a pocket watch. That is where I keep mine, on a short, hand-made (by me!) leather strap looped through a belt hole for safety. I don't actually use it to tell the time, I use my watch for that. I just wear it because I like it, it is as simple as that, and I love the ticking sound it makes. I'm lucky that I can wear jeans to work most days. I could go on about that for longer, but really it is getting fairly far off topic here.
I really like the specs! I think the dial and hands are a little plain. Add a crosshair to the dial or pick a different hand set and it would stand out from the other options.
No No No No No ! Yes it’s nicely finished, yes it’s sapphire and yes it’s a high beat movt. but you can get the same specs for much less from other more established micro brands, and that’s before the price goes up again!! Surely no one is going to buy one for $500 they’d be mad !
I want to get a field watch that is where my collection Is missing. I like this one and I like the no date however I’m not sure if her field watch should be no date. And I really like that it is American made or assembledThat is one of the reasons I haven’t been able to pull the trigger on Hamilton
LA seems to be at the center of this scene for American micro-brand watches with Nodus, Weiss and now Vaer. Agree with the cost, unfortunately LA prices.
@@grogthegrolie I bought the 38mm handwind (white dial) and it's definitley a nice watch. I just wish the lugs would curve down a little. The fact that Cameron Weiss makes his own movements (minus the Swiss barrel springs) definitely makes his watches stand out from the rest of these micro-brands ... in my opinion
@@ModernRegimen you are backing a project on Kickstarter, not buying a watch. The difference is the same as buying stock in a company and expecting a dividend. This gives me an idea for a secondary market for backer statuses. Anyway the point is: don't back on Kickstarter. Get a proper warranty or get it used for adjusted prices.
I suggest people try it I’ve been ripped off ,so never again on kickstarter there is no comeback at all on any product on kickstarter,they are not a shop.
Would have happily gone for a no date offering but just like so many starters using the 9015 means a phantom date and on a simple three hander that’s a no from me.
Good review as always. I bought the quartz version after you reviewed it and it's a great little every day timepiece. The autos look good but for the money they face strong competition, but good luck to them. If I was buying one it would be the Miyota version. However just pre-ordered the new Borealis so broke again 😂
Nice watch with that vintage field watch design but as you pointed out - they are asking too much. So many microbrands out there and popping a Miyota into a case is really nothing that special, let's admit it. If I wanted a field watch of this sort, I'd be looking at Hamilton, as you said, or go quartz with a Bertucci watch for half the price or better. There's just too much choice these days for something like this to gain much traction, I think (especially for something mostly made in China, "assembled" be damned).
I bought a field watch with a Seagull wind up movement for $40. It one of the most accurate and best made watches that I have. I think paying $500 for a no name watch is a stretch
Hahaha.... Frog in the sock. that's choice. Strangely the ETA 2824 version is way cheaper than the Miyota version... Still a bit pricey for those Automatics. Especially US$719 for a Miyota... I'd probably go the Quartz for those prices, true to field watch
I got my Hammy Khaki 42mm eta field for €412 after shipping and taxes. Great watch, legible and accurate (+4 sec/day) except for the polished bezel which scratches as Jody says. I like the simplicity and legibility of the Vaer, but it will struggle against grey market Hammys and the like which can be got for around $300-$400.
Have you ever had an issue with a grey market watch? Is it easy to resolve? That's been an apprehension that I've had about watch buying online for a long time
@@gdelacruzjr Hi. I bought mine from amazon, was around $300 from dealer in singapore, had to pay import tax in Ireland when it arrived. No issues with watch, got warranty card and other documentation. Worth shopping around, on amazon, jomashop, etc.☘
Niallv, The VAER is a 40mm Miyota for $299 early bird kickstarter. It will wear very differently than a 42mm Hamilton Khaki. It will also be much cheaper to keep, and probably just as accurate and reliable as the ETA in the Khaki. Now, the VAER ETA offerings are comparatively more expensive than what Hamilton offers. But Hamilton is part of the Swatch group. There are plusses and minuses to this. Would you shower or swim with the Hamilton Khaki on? You can with the VAER.
I like the watch itself but that "AMERICAN ASSEMBLY" is a deal breaker to me , to say the least. What's next? American supervised ? , maybe american sweatshop ? 'merican empire is my favorite !
Cool watches, decent dial designs, but they fall short at satisfying my OCD. So I think I'll stick with Hamilton since the prices are better (for the models I like) and the history with the U.S. military (and others) is there. Maybe in the future though! I'm optimistic!
O like the watch. But I don't like the price. Hamilton is a historical brand. I don't see myself paying more for a Vaer then for a Hamilton Khaki. If it has a correct price (30 / 50 dollars less) o should think about it. Nice review
Agree with all points Jody and a great review as always. Do like the legibility and the style but a first glance, it just looks like a cheap Timex from the 60’s. One for the US market if you ask me, guys that wish Hamilton was still American. And the price is a no no too, shame really.
I apprichiate what they're doing I just find them to be a bit cold as a company. Just another watch company with another field watch. For this much money I could find a Hamilton Khaki Field easily, wich I, personally find more appealing! Really good, informative video as always!
Interesting comment about the quartz/automatic debate, it always makes me laugh as the quartz boys make microsteppers or three prong crystals to make "smooth" movements as in the brilliant "if hefty" Bulova precisionist , Now Jager lecoultre, no less, have announced their latest movement specially engineered to Tick like a quartz :-)
Nice review. I would rather have the Hamilton. I tried to get one for 259 us dollars on special manual wind version and it was all sold out. Yeah, Swatch Group owns the ETA movements but the 2824 lost the patent years ago so anyone can make a copy of the movement.
I would love an Oris but they're expensive. I was able to get the Vaer for $299 on the Kickstarter. I'm still debating cancelling the order and going with a Seiko SNZG but it's a little bigger (my wrist is 6.25) and the specs aren't as good. What should I do RUclipsrs?!?😣
gdelacruzjr, Apples and oranges. The Miyota movement is superior to the Seiko movement in the SNZG. The fit and finish are in different ballparks. You have time to consider your decision. My wrist is the same size as yours. I would not try to wear the SNZG. The lug to lug is too long, and the lugs do not conform to the wrist; as they do in the VAER offering. Also, 10mm depth is quite slender for an automatic.
I want to like it because of the workmanship of the case and being built in in America (F*** Yeah!), but the dial is not to my liking. If a future version offered a tux dial, I'd be in for sure.
3 Quick Questions: 1. Is that a Ayrton Senna t-shirt? If so, where did you find it? 2. What's going on with the San Martin review? 3. Is that the one corner in the house your wife let's you have? I ask, because I recall when I was married and my now ex-wife took over the entire house.
Hahaha! William, that made me laugh. 1. Yes, eBay. 2. Sorry mate, coming soon. Maybe next two weeks? I am borrowing the real SLA017 on Wednesday. 3. Actually, the other way around. RUclips has now taken over an entire bedroom!
I wish they'd used metal-colored hands, with the lume contrasting in the center. To me the white painted hands look cheap, and not like historic military watches. Really like this dial design though.
As much as a like this design, it is just to expensive. If assembly in the US is no additional attraction, and for me it isn't, I would pay a little extra and just go for the Hamilton.
I'm gonna buy a Vaer quarts....just looking for a nice leather strap for it. The leather straps they sell are wildly overpriced....$80 for a simple leather strap 😆
Nice presentation 👍 as always. I don't really get the snobbery and condescension to quartz watches, when the movement is vastly superior in almost every way. Oh, right, it lacks a "soul". Mmhmm.
At first glance the thumbnail made me think it was a Tide sponsored watch
Same 😂
This Vaer has 100m of water resistance and a screw down crown. The Khaki has 50m of water resistance and no screw down. So if you are really planning to use the watch on the field, Vaer has a practical advantage.
My Hamilton Khaki is 100 meters! Don’t know what u are referring ? Either way I would choose Hamilton any day!
Hamilton actually says in their documentation with every watch, not to use it in the field or swim with it. They are just for show pieces that have cashed in on the field watch customer but their product just isn’t suited for the field. Just not worth it. Other brands will overtake them. Technology nowadays is moving so fast pretty soon you’ll be able to make a watch like this in your own home one day.
Always love a kickstarter watch that isn't another diver, Great video as always!
True, and one which has done very well. A lot of the non divers struggle to get over the line.
A great review! A fair & insightful review. Full transparency - I actually waited to see the JOMW review before I pushed any Kickstarter buttons, but it was a close call! That US$299 9015 version was a siren song of desire, and the Dirty Dozen version wanted to come home with me SO MUCH, but like Odysseus, I tied myself to the mast & resisted their sweet temptations. Resisted, that is, until I could hear from JOMW about the true value and quality of the Vaer offerings. I like their design, I like the apparent quality, and I especially like the David vs Goliath of the micro-brand going toe-to-toe with the mighty Swatch monster! And really, adding the 9015, as well as the 2824, to their product - all us No Quartzers were howling for this exact thing ever since Vaer opened shop. So, let's step up and support them in their hour of need, purchase a watch at the reduced Kickstarter price, and help keep this company alive. Why? If they are THIS good at the watch game now, so early in their development, think what they will come up with NEXT year! I would like them to be around so we can all see what they have in store.
Just a killer 40 and 20 watch! Wonderful finishing. Case machining is in another world, and justifies the price, easily.
This watch has perfect dimensions. Nice close-up of the case finishing. Really classy watch overall.
These are absolutely stunning to me. They're like a Shinola done right, a good size, American made, and not horrendously priced for what you're getting. There's a cost associated with having American or Swiss on the dial! Great review, mate!
Case looks good and the myiota 9015 is a nice movement. But the dail and hands look really cheap with a poor quality. Price with 330$+import tax (about 350€) is too high. I could walk 500m to the next swatch outlet and buy me for the same price a nice Hamilton Khaki field mechanical watch.
@Cool Crush Ice Killa Its almost €83 tax, not €20
Fun with Turtles I thought the same thing. You can get a Hamilton Khaki king II for $400 all day every day
I would have picked one with the ETA 2895 but for $599 early bird and the now $639 for that price point I think I could find something that floats my boat a bit more. Another great review that helps with the decisions. 👍🏼
I own a black C5 Heritage quartz. It uses the same dial. I think photos of the date cramping the 3 on the dial are a bit deceiving to the eye. In person it looks quite good. My take on this is not to let it put you off. I have an S5 in white as well without the date complication and I really miss not having the date available to read. Vaer makes some great watches and they deserve our support. They continue to improve as demonstrated by the new automatic watches and a new release including a 36mm case design has been announced. I love this brand the quality, value for money and the backbone of these designs speak for themselves.
Jody, just wanted to take a moment to thank you for these great reviews. I was stumbling around from one bad decision to another when I found your channel and a few others. Now I am on my way to building a focused , non homage, watch collection. Every time I hear "Welcome to Just one More Watch" I start jumping around like a "frog in a sock"! The watch community should build a bronze statue of you for helping so many people become addicted to their products. Keep up the great work!
Thank you for introducing me to Vaer. Love the simplicity of this watch. And like getting something assembled in the USA since I live here. Probably going to get this same dial version but the Quartz.
I’m going for this exact model and got the $299 price, I thought the case back was mineral crystal. I think it will pair nicely with my Sinn 104.
Great review. This hits a great market segment for microbrand lovers, affordable watches, and auto only crowd. I've always been fine with the Vaer and Boldr quartz though, as an everyday field watch.
Case, movement, dial: these are really the good points of this watch. The hands seem taken from a cheaper one, like a Seiko 5. They 'd be better in a polished or satinated finish
I got the black quartz field watch and really enjoy it. Super light, perfect size and always ready to go. ( + the 15% off I got makes it even better). My only thought is if I need an auto that looks exactly like my quartz? I'll have to see in the future if they make any different designs.. then I'll give VAER another look .
Love It, Easy read an like You Stated, Clean.
Excellent Show JOMW.
What a nice Ayrton Senna’s shirt! Love it!
I love that slightly curved case that’s pretty great
Jody excellent points and well explained. I like it due to this being from a micro-brand and not just another subbie homage.
Jody you're the only one I enjoy watch-ing any more these days. I really enjoy your content and perspectives. Maybe review a reef tiger diver?
I really like the black dial Vaer without the date option.
At Sub $350, looks like a fairly good package. At the upper side of the price range, with ETA and all bells and whistles, I would skip VAER and go to the good old Sinn 556a.
"Sapphire Sandwich". Such a wordsmith.
I dunno about that. If it was a slice of sapphire between two slices of bread, then it properly would be one. Maybe a sapphire Oreo.
It's a smart looking little field style watch. I would have loved to see a manual wind option.
The dial kills it for me. Great review as always!
Great review, amazing montage, love the macros!
Not my cup of coffee. But as always, great review. 👍🏻
You are right Jodie, it's the perfect package all of us look for but that price for a micro brand does not make it a perfect deal...
Thanks for the review...I'd like to see a hand wind only version on a watch like this
chris auge
That would be awesome!
Nice unit, thanks for the reveal.
Sounds like you're talking about Jody exposing himself.
Whose mind work which way?
Or, if I were Scooby Doo or Astro, "Roh rah?"
I like the white dial one - reminds me of the Nomos Club Campus.
I got the quartz Classic Light. It’s a great watch for less than $150. I like the fit and finish. And with its Bauhaus styling, it’s a bit more interesting to look at than the field watch. I just don’t see paying the extra money for an automatic.
Very nice and clean watch! Too bad I spent my watch money for 2019 already...
Looks like a winner
Really digging the railroad style numerals. I'd choose the white dial with the mint arabic numerals. A bit too steep in price though, indeed. Always a good time, Jody! Thanks for this one.
I got a victorinox and enjoy the Arabics
Great looking watch! Thanks for review!
$450 is fine. It's a bit more expensive than a Hamilton Khaki Field (which I'm also planning to get), but nobody else seems to offer a sporty white faced watch at a better price. I've looked all over the place and the only two that seem to match my criteria are this one and the Martenero Kerrison (which is way more expensive and frankly a bit too large at 42mm).
Great review as always, that macro lens was money well spent. It adds a lot to your final product. I backed the "Dirty Dozen" model a few days ago and really looking forward to adding it to the collection.
That being said, although it is easy to compare this to a Hamilton, I do think it's a little unfair to do so right now. First and foremost, this is a Kickstarter campaign. Albeit from a company that has successfully produced and sold watches in the past, it's still a Kickstarter campaign. That means that those who volunteered to back the campaign are not buying a watch, rather they are providing capital to a company. I think that is an important distinction to make. As with any Kickstarter campaign there is no guarantee that a product will ship. The money will hopefully go towards producing and shipping a product as described, but it's not an absolute. For that reason, I feel that the pricing is not comparable to an established brand selling a product. A person should not back the campaign because they want a watch. They should back the campaign because they like what the company is doing and want them to succeed. Receiving a watch is just a bonus. If a person just wants a watch that they like the look of, buy a Hamilton (or another brand) from a store. Once the campaign is complete, units have been sent to all backers and Vaer are selling the watch on their own online store, then the comparisons to a Hamilton are warranted.
In your opinion, which is a better movement, Hamilton or this Vaer automatic? (More accurate, lasts longer before service?) I’d appreciate any help you can provide. Thank you.
I wish I had the money right now, because I would definitely get one. I really like these! That said, there is no way in hell I would ever pay $500 and up for one! At that price I could buy something more upscale. Unless the selling price comes down to $300 later on, I will never own one. That is a shame, because I would really like to have one of these watches in my collection.
Loved that Ayrton Senna T-shirt
Senna
"Going off like a frog in a sock."
Nope, I got nothing.
Although the eta 2824 maybe a bit steep on the price the Dirty Dozen with the eta 2895 is priced right. It's a rarer not often seen mov't.
I like it, though not in love with that gap between spring bars and watch. A nato would cover that, but you don't always want to wear a nato.
It is time to review this Rolex wall clock. It looks like a charm!!
Nice watch i prefer the white dial.
Perfect dimensions!
A 3 way battle with the Hammy and a Glycine Combat 6 would be vaery interesting.
The Heritage model is
typical Cold War era style
made for the British military
Jodie, the third choice with the subdial second has a ETA 2892-derived 2895. $600 is really something of a bargain for that movement.
Well, I'm one of the ones who have put my money down. I love the look of the heritage. A few notes - there has been some clarification on the date window clipping the 3, apparently it doesn't and there is a picture of one where this is true in the kickstart listing. Also, the lume on many models will be switched over to a green that is stronger, and the crown bigger as you noted. I wish they color matched the date wheel as I'm in for the heritage model with date, horween two piece and rubber. I also love the look of dirty dozen, and the movement in it is very nice, but it is a bit rich for my blood. Thanks for the review. Do you get to keep the watch you reviewed? Lucky you if so.
saulysw, I am in the same boat with you; though I am not yet decided about the date complication. Yes the dirty dozen design is attractive, but I am frankly not convinced that a movement which can only be serviced by a Swatch group certified watchsmith is something I want to commit to. I do not like the Swatch business model in regards to servicing and their decision to deny independent watchsmith's access to parts. This is a practical consideration for me in regards to long term ownership, and it dims my enthusiasm for ETA movements. Frankly, I would prefer an ETA clone.
This is a tool watch. I want a tool watch that is highly reliable and fairly accurate out of the box. The Miyota movement is just that. The form factor and finish is nearly ideal. I would personally prefer a 38mm case and a manual movement, but this watch is very close to ideal in almost all terms, as a desert island watch. Truth be told, I would prefer a solid case back and a military contract style face sans ornamentation, designation, or markings; as in the US armed services field watch of the Vietnam era.
@@ivermec-tin666 Hey, thanks for the reply. The issue I have with the Miyota are 1) The unidirectional rotor, which you can apparently feel wobbling around (never had one so not sure) and 2) you can also apparently hear it as it is somewhat noisy. Again, no direct experience with this, so I'm not sure how bad these issues are in the real world, but I have a few ETA 2824 based watches and I've been happy with them so that is what I went for. I know I'm not in the majority with that decision. Interesting comments on Swatch group servicing costs. I am yet to service any watch I own, so I wonder if this is really a big deal or not...?
As for tweaks for the design to make it the "perfect watch", we all have our wish list, right? For me, the heritage dial with date (so practical, for me the difference between a dress watch and a daily wear) this is pretty close to perfect already, with the unclipped 3. If I could get my color matched date wheel I'd be really happy, and even without it I'm good. Perhaps a nice applied logo rather than the block text? Applied indices? This will be my casual weekend watch, and for that I think it fits the bill really well. My weekday watch is a Fortis flieger professional, which has the day complication I love so much. I'm quite excited about the Vaer actually. I don't have or want a huge collection, and I hope it lives up to my expectations and has plenty of wrist time. I am also into Elgin pocket watches and there is a similarity in the Vaer designs that really appeals to me. The dirty dozen design is really, really nice to my eyes - but is effectively a dress watch to me, so I'd wear it very rarely. For the price I couldn't justify it.
If you want a "sanitized" dial you can probably find something like it on Ali Express, but of course the quality is unlikely to match the Vaer, or even to be close. It would be a lot cheaper though, so if it breaks you could just buy another one? :)
@@saulysw I have never heard of the wobbling effect of the unidirectional winder on the Miyota automatic movement. I have heard of the noise issue with these winders, and asked for feedback from another reviewer of this VAER prototype on this issue. He indicated that he did not hear any noise coming from the winder on wrist. That is one man's experience, anyway. I understand that the noise issue is heavily influenced by the watch case design. I guess I am going to find out, one way or the other in November.
I am leery of generic Chinese watches. I hate things that are unreliable, particularly things that I wear on my person. I would rather wear my homely but astonishingly accurate g-shock, than some generic automatic made by virtual economic slaves, even if it had a Seiko movement inside. I already own an skx-013. There are a few German watch makers that make sanitized (unbranded and without marketing nonsense on the dial) faces as an option, as was the historical practice for military spec watches for the US and German armed services. Like you, I do not want to build a large collection of watches, just a small selection for specific uses; a beater, a diver, a casual watch, and one for work. The VAER will be for work. I do not own any watches rated for less than 100m WR, and don't particularly want to. I do not plan on a dress watch at this point; maybe someday.
I think pocket watches are lovely, but I don't think I will ever wear a three piece suit, and I am not very fond of vests either. I am firmly in the wristwatch camp. I hate using my phone to tell the time; it's clumsy. Frankly, I don't enjoy my interaction with my cellphone. It is a fiddly little device which demands far too much accommodation on my part.
@@ivermec-tin666 Again, a pleasure to read your reply. Jody mentioned the rotor wobble and noise in this review didn't he? Yes, see 9:03.
For me, Chinese watches have a place - as an educational device. They are not things I want to own per say, or use long term, but they can let me discover first hand if I like certain designs before committing a significant wad of cash. I recently got 3 Chinese watches of various designs for less than half the price of the strap alone of one of my Swiss watches. One was a Rolex "homage" (Loreo, on Jody's recommendation) which I got to see what all the fuss is about, as I've never really felt that I liked the Submariner design. Now I know more about that. So, if they help me make a better decision about a "real" purchase, about quality, then they have achieved something good. I think they also keep the big players on their toes. It is a grey area, I know, and I'm not totally comfortable with it, and importantly I'm not trying to pretend I have something I don't.
Pocket watches : Levi's all have a small pocket in the right hand side which is actually made to hold a pocket watch. That is where I keep mine, on a short, hand-made (by me!) leather strap looped through a belt hole for safety. I don't actually use it to tell the time, I use my watch for that. I just wear it because I like it, it is as simple as that, and I love the ticking sound it makes. I'm lucky that I can wear jeans to work most days. I could go on about that for longer, but really it is getting fairly far off topic here.
Love these Nomos knock offs
Spot on with the review. At that price I’d go with a Hamilton and once the campaign is over not even close.
Hamilton is having a lot of failure return
I really like the specs! I think the dial and hands are a little plain. Add a crosshair to the dial or pick a different hand set and it would stand out from the other options.
The designer dials come with syringe hands and a second hand which has a skeletonized arrow tip. Quite lovely and distinctive.
Is that T-shirt quote from an interview Senna gives with Jackie Stewart?
Too expensive after the KS campaign, but a nice looking time piece.
Nice piece. Great video as always. But Jody, have you seen the Picard trailer!?
YES! Can't wait.
No No No No No ! Yes it’s nicely finished, yes it’s sapphire and yes it’s a high beat movt. but you can get the same specs for much less from other more established micro brands, and that’s before the price goes up again!! Surely no one is going to buy one for $500 they’d be mad !
Nice watch. They could loose the assembly logo from the face and keep it on the caseback. Good review, Jody.
I love your videos! Please can you give a review on a timefactors watch. Eddie makes fantastic watches for the price and they're right up your street!
I want to get a field watch that is where my collection Is missing. I like this one and I like the no date however I’m not sure if her field watch should be no date. And I really like that it is American made or assembledThat is one of the reasons I haven’t been able to pull the trigger on Hamilton
LA seems to be at the center of this scene for American micro-brand watches with Nodus, Weiss and now Vaer. Agree with the cost, unfortunately LA prices.
A Weiss with an in-house USA handwind movement is definitely worth the investment.
@@grogthegrolie I bought the 38mm handwind (white dial) and it's definitley a nice watch. I just wish the lugs would curve down a little. The fact that Cameron Weiss makes his own movements (minus the Swiss barrel springs) definitely makes his watches stand out from the rest of these micro-brands ... in my opinion
Never going to buy from kickstarter,no returns no refunds ,no comeback if you never get your item
Is there really no safety net when it comes to getting ripped off on Kickstarter? Curious.
@@ModernRegimen you are backing a project on Kickstarter, not buying a watch. The difference is the same as buying stock in a company and expecting a dividend. This gives me an idea for a secondary market for backer statuses. Anyway the point is: don't back on Kickstarter. Get a proper warranty or get it used for adjusted prices.
Hmm pretty sure most decent company’s on there will do both returns and guarantees. It will be in the small print or just ask!
I suggest people try it I’ve been ripped off ,so never again on kickstarter there is no comeback at all on any product on kickstarter,they are not a shop.
I've had nothing but positive experiences on KS, and it's been a pleasure dealing directly with the creators.
Would have happily gone for a no date offering but just like so many starters using the 9015 means a phantom date and on a simple three hander that’s a no from me.
Good review as always. I bought the quartz version after you reviewed it and it's a great little every day timepiece. The autos look good but for the money they face strong competition, but good luck to them. If I was buying one it would be the Miyota version. However just pre-ordered the new Borealis so broke again 😂
OOo, nice one Tom. A prototype is on the way. Review hopefully next Tuesday.
What dial etc did you go for?
@@JustOneMoreWatch got the black dial with the straight hands. Just a classic look.
Awesome watch and show
Nice watch with that vintage field watch design but as you pointed out - they are asking too much. So many microbrands out there and popping a Miyota into a case is really nothing that special, let's admit it. If I wanted a field watch of this sort, I'd be looking at Hamilton, as you said, or go quartz with a Bertucci watch for half the price or better. There's just too much choice these days for something like this to gain much traction, I think (especially for something mostly made in China, "assembled" be damned).
I bought a field watch with a Seagull wind up movement for $40. It one of the most accurate and best made watches that I have. I think paying $500 for a no name watch is a stretch
Hahaha.... Frog in the sock. that's choice.
Strangely the ETA 2824 version is way cheaper than the Miyota version... Still a bit pricey for those Automatics. Especially US$719 for a Miyota...
I'd probably go the Quartz for those prices, true to field watch
I really do have to wonder who okays these microbrand names...
It's a board comprised of David St. Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel and Derek Smalls.
@@grogthegrolie Well that explains it
Idiots with money.
@@grogthegrolie If so, they must've upped their game. I mean...the dial goes up all the way to *12* on this one.
I got my Hammy Khaki 42mm eta field for €412 after shipping and taxes. Great watch, legible and accurate (+4 sec/day) except for the polished bezel which scratches as Jody says. I like the simplicity and legibility of the Vaer, but it will struggle against grey market Hammys and the like which can be got for around $300-$400.
Have you ever had an issue with a grey market watch? Is it easy to resolve? That's been an apprehension that I've had about watch buying online for a long time
@@gdelacruzjr Hi. I bought mine from amazon, was around $300 from dealer in singapore, had to pay import tax in Ireland when it arrived. No issues with watch, got warranty card and other documentation. Worth shopping around, on amazon, jomashop, etc.☘
Niallv, The VAER is a 40mm Miyota for $299 early bird kickstarter. It will wear very differently than a 42mm Hamilton Khaki. It will also be much cheaper to keep, and probably just as accurate and reliable as the ETA in the Khaki.
Now, the VAER ETA offerings are comparatively more expensive than what Hamilton offers. But Hamilton is part of the Swatch group. There are plusses and minuses to this. Would you shower or swim with the Hamilton Khaki on? You can with the VAER.
What’s your two cents on the Dirty Dozen as far as pricing etc? 🤔
Durability and taking the tough is the hallmark os a :field: watch. How Tuff is it?
I like the watch itself but that "AMERICAN ASSEMBLY" is a deal breaker to me , to say the least. What's next? American supervised ? , maybe american sweatshop ?
'merican empire is my favorite !
Cool watches, decent dial designs, but they fall short at satisfying my OCD. So I think I'll stick with Hamilton since the prices are better (for the models I like) and the history with the U.S. military (and others) is there. Maybe in the future though! I'm optimistic!
I would have bought this but I'm not sure about the pins at the very end
hey jody when are they going to come out with a watch brand called kickstarter, lol
I much much prefer the look of the Hamilton
O like the watch. But I don't like the price. Hamilton is a historical brand. I don't see myself paying more for a Vaer then for a Hamilton Khaki. If it has a correct price (30 / 50 dollars less) o should think about it. Nice review
Agree with all points Jody and a great review as always. Do like the legibility and the style but a first glance, it just looks like a cheap Timex from the 60’s. One for the US market if you ask me, guys that wish Hamilton was still American. And the price is a no no too, shame really.
Mark Playford it looks like a timed weekender which is a $40 watch and has the best lume in the world
I apprichiate what they're doing I just find them to be a bit cold as a company. Just another watch company with another field watch. For this much money I could find a Hamilton Khaki Field easily, wich I, personally find more appealing!
Really good, informative video as always!
Interesting comment about the quartz/automatic debate, it always makes me laugh as the quartz boys make microsteppers or three prong crystals to make "smooth" movements as in the brilliant "if hefty" Bulova precisionist , Now Jager lecoultre, no less, have announced their latest movement specially engineered to Tick like a quartz :-)
Nice review. I would rather have the Hamilton. I tried to get one for 259 us dollars on special manual wind version and it was all sold out. Yeah, Swatch Group owns the ETA movements but the 2824 lost the patent years ago so anyone can make a copy of the movement.
Scott SJ seagull make a good copy but as always with stuff from China there are a lot of fakes
I would love an Oris but they're expensive.
I was able to get the Vaer for $299 on the Kickstarter.
I'm still debating cancelling the order and going with a Seiko SNZG but it's a little bigger (my wrist is 6.25) and the specs aren't as good. What should I do RUclipsrs?!?😣
gdelacruzjr, Apples and oranges. The Miyota movement is superior to the Seiko movement in the SNZG. The fit and finish are in different ballparks. You have time to consider your decision. My wrist is the same size as yours. I would not try to wear the SNZG. The lug to lug is too long, and the lugs do not conform to the wrist; as they do in the VAER offering. Also, 10mm depth is quite slender for an automatic.
Omg! Jody, checkout the Perpetual SC for $180.
The movement spacer looked like plastic when I first saw it and now I can’t unsee it.
Hey Jody what do you mean by saying that don't want to see the NH35 ?
NOT an attractive movement to look at. The 9015 is actually pretty.
thoughts on the Kickstarter NASA 50th Anniversary Apollo 11 Automatic Watch?
Review coming soon!
I want to like it because of the workmanship of the case and being built in in America (F*** Yeah!), but the dial is not to my liking. If a future version offered a tux dial, I'd be in for sure.
3 Quick Questions:
1. Is that a Ayrton Senna t-shirt? If so, where did you find it?
2. What's going on with the San Martin review?
3. Is that the one corner in the house your wife let's you have? I ask, because I recall when I was married and my now ex-wife took over the entire house.
Hahaha! William, that made me laugh. 1. Yes, eBay. 2. Sorry mate, coming soon. Maybe next two weeks? I am borrowing the real SLA017 on Wednesday. 3. Actually, the other way around. RUclips has now taken over an entire bedroom!
I checked some of the waches from their website, it’s too expensive for a microbrand. I would go for a hamilton rather.
I'm usually a negative Nancy but I can't complain about anything here. Nice one Jody
Still prefer my oris big crown pro pilot.
Great watch the propilot 👍
@@samuelball8775 it is a lovely watch. Highly ledgeable. A very good alternative to many stainless steel sports watches
@@michaellegg3430 Wearing mine now 😜 so easy to read the time. 100m wr. Great dimentions. Decent price difference between them though.
it looks like there are a few flaws between the lugs, can you confirm this?
Didn't spot them myself mate, but this was a proto, so its possible.
I wish they'd used metal-colored hands, with the lume contrasting in the center. To me the white painted hands look cheap, and not like historic military watches.
Really like this dial design though.
As much as a like this design, it is just to expensive. If assembly in the US is no additional attraction, and for me it isn't, I would pay a little extra and just go for the Hamilton.
I'm gonna buy a Vaer quarts....just looking for a nice leather strap for it. The leather straps they sell are wildly overpriced....$80 for a simple leather strap 😆
The gap between strap and case would bother me, the rest of watch is not particularly exciting either.
I just find them uninteresting. I try to appreciate them, but there's nothing to grab me. It looks like just another field watch.
If the dial was white, it would look like a wall clock. Not bad, though!
Nice presentation 👍 as always. I don't really get the snobbery and condescension to quartz watches, when the movement is vastly superior in almost every way. Oh, right, it lacks a "soul". Mmhmm.