The new model is called the Spence and it’s a mere 10.9mm thick, which makes it one of the thinnest divers on the market, and certainly at this price point. The watch retails for £500 and there are five colours to choose from.

The Spinnaker Spence Feels Great On The Wrist

The sample the Spinnaker sent me is the Hickory Brown colourway, and as I said it’s a very comfortable watch on the wrist. In addition to being very thin, the steel case is 40mm across with a lug-to-lug measurement of 48mm. These dimensions are an ideal sweet spot for most wrists, and it means that the Spence doesn’t feel too big or too small. When I’m wearing it the Spence feels very reminiscent of the Black Bay 58, which is unsurprising, because as you can see from the design it’s really channelling that big crown Submariner vibe. 

Speaking of crowns, the large screw-down crown on the Spence is nice and easy to grip and use. The same goes for the uni-directional bezel, which has absolutely zero back play and turns with a very satisfying series of smooth clicks, though unfortunately it is slightly misaligned. The overall finish of the case is pretty decent too, with nice even brushing, but I think that the case chamfers could be a bit sharper. 

You Get Two Straps For The Price Of One

The Spence comes with two strap options – a steel oyster bracelet and a water-resistant leather strap. The bracelet is of good quality for the price point and the links are nice and thin so that they don’t overpower the watch. The bracelet uses male end links, which makes the Spence wear a bit larger on the wrist, however, they curve sharply downwards, so they don’t make a massive difference compared to using female end links. But I do think that I’d have preferred it if the Spence had female end links. 

The clasp is the standard design found on many affordable watches, and it’s got six micro-adjustment positions, making it easy to find a comfortable fit for the bracelet. If I had to be picky, I’d say that the clasp is a bit big given the size of the watch, but then again I don’t expect a custom clasp at this price point.  

The leather strap is supple and has a nice buckle, but the material isn’t the best quality. Fortunately, the lugs are 20mm, so you’ve endless aftermarket options if you’d prefer to try the Spence on another strap. Personally, I think the Spence looks fantastic on an olive green NATO, which gives the watch a bit of a military vibe. I would have liked to have seen the Spence come with drilled lugs to help with strap changes, but their absence isn’t the end of the world. 

The Spinnaker Spence Isn’t Just For Show

In addition to being incredibly thin, the Spence also has some decent specifications. Firstly, it’s water resistant to 300m, which is pretty impressive given its size. It’s also got a sapphire crystal and is powered by a Miyota 9039 movement. Most of us will be familiar with this Japanese automatic calibre as it’s widely used by brands after an affordable and reliable movement. It features 24 jewels, a 4Hz beat rate, and a 42-hour power reserve. 

The lume is probably the one area that lets the Spence down. It’s bright enough when charged, but it soon dims to a faint glow. Its only saving grace is that as the hands and markers are fairly big, they’re easier to read in the dark. 

A Design That’s Familiar But Not A Homage

When it comes to design, the key elements of the Spence are all fairly standard. The dial follows the classic Submariner layout, and it’s paired with a simple broad arrow handset. However, Spinnaker has added a few extra touches that make the design feel fresh. 

For example, the use of brown is an obvious reference to “tropical” vintage dive watches that have patinaed with age, whilst the dial has a subtle sunburst to it that creates a range of shades, rather than a flat block of colour. A couple of other nice touches are that the hour markers have a white border, and the lollipop on the seconds hand is orange. 

All these things help the Spence to feel familiar whilst not being too derivative of any specific watch. The resulting design is both simple, attractive, and legible without looking boring. Often watches like this can look very similar to one another, but I think that Spinnaker has done a great job of putting a bit of a spin on a classic dive watch styling. 

The one element of the design that I’m not particularly fond of is the lumed inserts on the bezel. The colour of the lume doesn’t match that on the dial and hands, and the finishing of them isn’t great. Whilst I like the concept, I think the Spence would look a lot cleaner if all the markings on the bezel were silver instead. 

My Thoughts On The Price Of The Spinnaker Spence 

Regarding the £500 price tag, I think that there are some people who are used to Spinnaker pricing their watches a bit cheaper than the Spence, and who will find its asking price a little on the high side. It’s completely understandable as the Spence is definitely at the top end of Spinnaker’s catalogue, with most of the brand’s watches priced well under £500. Personally, I think the Spence could be slightly cheaper to make it a more tempting affordable value proposition. However, the price of the Spence compares pretty favourably to similarly specced thin dive watches like the Baltic Aquascaphe, which costs approximately £676 including tax, or the NTH Subs, which cost £650. The Spence also has a very similar case design to the NTH Subs, so it’s a good alternative to the NTH if the price of that watch is a bit steep for you. 

Final Thoughts

I think it’s fair to say that the Spinnaker Spence is not without its flaws. In my opinion, there are a few minor things here and there that hold it back from being a truly incredible piece. But that doesn’t mean that it isn’t still a good watch. 

It’s got some good specifications, a solid build quality, and it’s powered by a reliable movement. And, as I keep harping on about, it really is exceptionally wearable. I’m also a big fan of this brown version. Brown is a colour that I think is very underused in watch design. It might sound odd, but it allows for a more unusual look without coming off as gimmicky. 

Overall I think that the Spinnaker Spence is a solid pick for anyone after a fun, easy-to-wear diver at an affordable price. It ticks a lot of the boxes whilst managing to offer an original look to a classic design. 

You can read more about the Spence 300 on Spinnaker’s website here.

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We have been spoiled by Spinnaker for some time; in that, they consistently create pretty great diving watches for a very reasonable price; usually under £250. This new Croft Midsize Limited Edition made me take a second glance at the RRP though, as it’s been a little while since I saw one of their watches cost £310. Granted, these are limited editions – with a run of 1000 watches over 3 models, and offer a slightly more special appearance thanks to the skeletonised Seiko NH70 movement. However, all is not lost, as if you use my code WIAA20, you’ll get 20% off it, making it a more reasonable £248.

Without further ado, let’s check it out.

Spinnaker Croft Midsize Specs

• Dimensions: 40mm diameter x 14.6mm height x 47mm lug to lug
• Weight: 100g
• Water resistance rating: 15ATM / 150m
• Movement: Seiko NH70
• Accuracy: 16.4 sec / day
• Lug width: 20mm
• Warranty: 2 years
• Price: £310; use code WIAA20 for 20%, off making it £248
• Available from: https://spinnaker-watches.co.uk/products/croft-mid-size-skeleton-automatic-hazy-sunset-sp-5095-01

This model is known as the “hazy sunset”, and it’s a delightful balance of vintage colours and finishes, the complexities that come with a skeleton dial, and the bold design requirements of an actual dive watch.

The base of the dial is purely exposed Seiko NH70 movement, with a smokey layer applied on top to increase the limited legibility. Legibility on a skeleton watch is always going to be an issue, however, they’ve attempted to get the best of both worlds here.

Talking about the movement, the NH70 is a skeletonised version of the ever-popular Seiko NH35, which you’ll find in the majority of affordable automatic watches. Whilst the NH35 is industrial at best with its finishing (read: plain and boring), the NH70 is certainly a step above, and they’ve done a great job in making it look surprisingly well finished considering the budget aspect of it. Specs include a low best rate of 21.6k bph, hacking seconds hand, hand and automatic winding, and an approx 41-hour power reserve.

Spinnaker has also added a custom application to the rotor, making the rear of the movement, visible through the exhibition caseback, appear a lot fancier than the plain stock option.

Moving back to the dial; the hands are thick and bold, ensuring optimum visibility on top of the complex movement; as well as the simple mix of disc and baton hour markers. They all have a brushed light bronze finish to them, continuing the vintage theme from the case.

The case is a great size and shape. On my approx 7” wrist, it fits excellently and I have no complaints at all. Whilst 14.6mm sounds tall, it wears a lot thinner thanks to the slender profile which contracts a lot from the sides to the top of the crystal and bottom of the caseback.

I must admit, I have questions about the case on this model. It’s described as steel, so either the description is wrong, or this is an applied coating, which might rub off in time.

The screw-in crown is a delight to use, with an effective grip and sturdy thread. Spinnaker used to sign their crowns with a motif based on the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, but now they opt for some sort of fancy N. It looks nice from a design standpoint, but I’m not sure of the connection. Whatever the case, it’s nicely finished and well engraved.

Moving on to the bezel; it’s a simple enough aluminium insert, but it’s wonderfully executed. Lume-filled numerals and dashes, little neat dents at each minute, and a tidy red triangle at 12 with lumed pip within.

This brings us on to the lume, which is excellent. Thickly applied on all elements, it charges quickly, glows brightly, and lasts a while. Why can’t some of the more expensive brands just get their lume right?

Finally, we come to the strap. I always find Spinakker straps to be nice and thick, supple and high quality. I’m pleased to say that’s not changed here. It has a rustic matte brown finish to it which will age well, topped off with some cream stitched detailing at the lug ends. The buckle seems to have had a slight revamp to their usual too, with a more angular approach. It’s got a matching finish / coating to the case, which works well with the brown. The logo is neatly engraved on the top bar.

Spinnaker Croft Midsize Limited Edition Final Comments

I applaud Spinnaker for trying something different. In fact, these are their only skeleton models available. From top to bottom, it’s a genuinely lovely watch too – with Spinnaker’s usual excellent build quality. I like the vintage / rustic aesthetic, which is tastefully done. It also provides some of the best legibility on a skeleton watch I’ve seen before thanks to the smokey opaque dial and bold hands and simple layout. So if you’re after a skeleton watch, but have concerns for readability then this could be just for you.

The RRP of £310 is a bit steep for me, but using code WIAA20 for 20%, making it £248, is much more reasonable. For that, you get a solid 150m diver with a flourish that’s not the norm.

The post Spinnaker Croft Midsize Limited Edition Watch Review appeared first on 12&60.

Whilst the idea of paying money for a watch that’s “pre-worn” may make some of our toes curl up, it’s quite liberating when you think about it.

Never again will you worry about that first knock. When your beloved watch does eventually make contact with that door frame, you won’t peer down to your wrist with one eye closed and the other full of water, scared of what horrors await. As it’s all been done for you already. 

The case looks like it’s been out through a session in the washing machine. Alone. The bezel looks like it’s had a meet and greet with a piece of 80-grit sandpaper. And what’s that? Mould on the dial, hour markers and hands? 

They’re watches for a certain customer, and whilst I personally don’t find myself in that category, it’s got me thinking that there are some mental benefits to a “pre-worn” style watch. 

With an RRP of £250, it has all the specs you’d expect. However, I can offer a 20% discount code to all WIAA readers – WIAA20 – making it £200. 

The specs

• Dimensions: 44mm diameter x 13.5mm height x 50mm lug to lug
• Weight: 103g
• Water resistance rating: 20ATM / 200m
• Movement: Seiko NH35
• Accuracy: -2.4 sec/day
• Lug width: 22mm
• Warranty: 2 years
• Price: £250, use code WIAA20 for 20% off making it £200
• Available from: https://spinnaker-watches.co.uk/collections/wreck-mens-watch/products/wreck-oxidized-blue-sp-5089-02

When you slap it on, I feel it wears pretty large. 44mm diameter seems a bit overkill; 40-42mm would be a much sweeter spot and would make it a little bit more wearable and elegant on the wrist. For reference, my wrist is approx 7”.

Before we go into the main aspects of the watch – I must say, the lume is fantastic. I mean, just look at the depth of the application on the hour markers. They look like lovely thick slices of blue cheese with the mouldy spots and all, just need the crackers and pickle to go with it.

The name “Wreck” is certainly fitting for this watch: rustic and rugged, in appearance and finishing, from top to bottom. The weathered finish to the case means that you never have to worry about getting it damaged, scratched or dinged. However, it’s well machined and a real hunky chunk of steel. It has a pleasantly rounded profile and hugs the wrist well. 

The screw-in crown with the logo engraved on the end is solid in the hand and easy to handle thanks to the effective grip. 

The caseback doesn’t continue the worn finish, but rather is regular ol’ brushed, with the Spinnaker logo deeply engraved in the center, surrounded by various specifics.

The aluminium bezel insert has a gently aged fade to it, contrived of a plethora of scratches. The grip is really good, and the bezel action is superb – and incredibly loud when you rotate it.

Whilst the base of the dial is blue, it has a distinct variety of colouring (or discolouring) throughout. Again, to provide an aged, almost water-damaged look. I can’t take my eyes off the fake mould, they’ve done a great job on that. If you like that kind of cheese, expect to be constantly hungry. 

The hands and border around the date window have the same matte brushed finish to them, with that same weathered look as the rest of the watch. 

The legibility is great; the bright and simple lume-filled hands stand out against the deep blue backdrop. 

There are latitude and longitude coordinates engraved below the text in the bottom half of the dial. I’ve tried to dig into what they represent, or what’s found at that location, but sadly I can’t find anything – which is a bit remiss of Spinnaker, to be honest. I assume it’s to some sort of shipwreck, but it must be pretty important to be engraved on the dial, so why not share information about it? Anyway, visually it’s a nice touch and it exemplifies the overall texture-fest of the dial.

The thick leather strap is the only thing that is not worn out, thankfully; that would be taking the whole thing too far. It’s robust, with a gently textured top. It’s also surprisingly supple and comfortable on straight out the box considering the thickness of it. The tang buckle mimics the battered finish of the case.

Final Comments

I’m not going to tell you whether you should buy this watch or not. After all, I don’t feel that I can with a watch so potentially divisive. However, what I will say, is that if you do decide to buy it – then you’d be getting a lot of watch for your money, as is usually the case with Spinnaker divers. Solid build quality, pretty decent design, and specs on point. There’s little that disappoints when the watch is in hand – as long as you are ok with the aged, distressed look. 

Instead, I want to conclude by expressing how interesting it is to wear a watch like this. Whilst it’s not for me, I certainly see the appeal – I feel free, unchained, and unshackled from the usual concerns for the health of my watch. And for that, I can’t help but feel this is style makes the perfect “beater” watch.

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Right away, it promotes a chunky, reassuring heft, with that affordable price tag too: an RRP of £250, but yours for £200 if you use my 20% off code WIAA20. 

Let’s check it out. 

The specs

• Dimensions: 43mm diameter x 14mm height x 50.5mm lug to lug
• Weight: 168g
• Water resistance rating: 20ATM / 200m
• Movement: Seiko VK73
• Warranty: 2 years
• Price: £250, use code WIAA20 for 20% off making it £200
• Available from: https://spinnaker-watches.co.uk/collections/meca-quartz/products/hydrofoil-racing-green-sp-5086-44 

I’m going to do things a bit different with this review and split the most important points into three main categories: things I don’t and do like, and other observations. Let’s get the negatives out of the way first. 

Things I don’t like about the Spinnaker Hydrofoil

Integrated lugs bracelet. Sure, it works well and looks good for the bracelet supplied, but it’s incredibly limiting. I feel this watch would look brilliant on a NATO, but unfortunately, it’s just not going to happen. You may be able to get a leather strap on it, but you’ll have to butcher the ends so much it’ll look terrible. 

I do like a big date complication. However, they also have to be well executed. I feel the date wheels are a bit too deeply set here, making the feature look unrefined. 

Screw-in pushers – whilst they’re great for water resistance, I’m not sure they’re completely necessary for 200m, and they make using the pushers a massive faff. You can leave them unscrewed, which actually looks quite cool, but they’ll inevitably loosen and will need twiddling. 

Slight bezel misalignment – whilst the pip at 12 looks spot on, there’s a slight misalignment at 3 / 15 mins. It’s not crazy obvious, but a bit disappointing. 

Things I like about the Spinnaker Hydrofoil

Now the negatives are out the way, I’ve got to say – there are lots to like here. Firstly, the price at £200 using code WIAA20 is certainly pretty competitive for a pretty unique and solid watch like this brandishing a mechaquartz. 

Hulk power – I’m a great fan of the green, especially how it has a fading / sunburst effect. Coupled with the bezel insert, it’s a refreshing change to the normal colours we see so often. 

Detail on the dial – whilst I’m not the hugest fan of the date window, the rest of the dial is impressively detailed. The wavey texture is indicative of the Omega Seamaster, which picks the light up nicely in the ridges. I also appreciate the high rehaut with a nearly flat top with a tachymeter printed on. There’s also a pleasant polished and bevelled border to the subdials which picks the light out well.

The overall finishing and chunkiness of the watch – portrays a very solid, dependable piece. One that could take a beating, and carry on beating. 

The bracelet – whilst the integrated lugs are a negative, thankfully the bracelet itself is superb, so it’s unlikely you’ll want to change it out. The links are hefty and thick, fully brushed too so as to be more resilient to scratches. The double-locking buckle has a cheeky wetsuit extension which is a nice surprise, as well as 3 micro-adjustment holes.

Other observations 

I feel the oversized subdial at 3 is a nice design touch, which reminds me of the attractive Ebel 1911 chronograph. However, I don’t feel that the 24-hour indicator is the correct subdial to highlight. Who really cares about that subdial? For me, the chronograph minutes at 9 would make more sense to make oversized. 

The movement is a dependable pick too, the Seiko VK73 is a solid mechaquartz with 3-year battery life and 5 ticks per second (1/5th second) chronograph seconds. 

Final comments

This watch actually pleases me more than some of Spinnaker’s mechanical pieces. To me, this watch has a purpose, a clear design vision, and a true uniqueness about it that really catches the eye. It’s also very well built and feels reassuringly solid in the hand and on the wrist. When you couple that with the reasonable price of £200 using the code WIAA20, it’s a hard watch to knock. 

The post Spinnaker Hydrofoil Racing Green Watch Review appeared first on 12&60.

So fast forward and now I’ve spent some time with the Boettger and got to know it a little better. How did I get on?

Well, let’s start with the basics as I said at the start this watch didn’t immediately strike me as a Spinnaker it has a very clean sharp look that is quite simple in terms of finish and details. I usually find Spinnaker heavily stylise their watches, but this version of the Boettger the SP-5083-33 has a very dark grey dial no textured finish no sunburst just mat dark grey. The indices are simple with a triangle for the noon position, batons for the six and nine and the simple circular markers for hours in between. The raised outer track holds the minutes and the dial script simply has the Spinnaker name nicely printed in silver to match the indices surrounds and hands. just above the six position Automatic is printed in crisp white and just below that 1000ft 300m printed in dark red. The hands are in silver and an interesting mix of maybe the original Sinn style with a touch of Mercedes for the hour hand. It was an interesting design choice to change the hour hand, and while legibility is excellent just in part to the large size, it does throw off the dial a little in terms of balance.

The dial also has a date complication with a white framed window and a black date wheel, so it fits in with the dark grey dial nicely. The attraction of this dial I think for most people will be the fact that the indices appear to be floating. A smart trick on Spinnakers part to put a twist on a reasonably austere dial. The indices are attached against the side of the chapter ring, which means the hands pass under the indices. It’s definitely a fascinating approach to the dial and gives it a real depth, especially when looking at any angle other than directly at the dial. Although Spinnaker isn’t the first to use this design method, it’s certainly not something you see very often!

The case and bezel are mainly brushed stainless steel with the crown for time and date adjustments sitting at the four o’clock position. The bezel action is 120 click unidirectional and has a satisfying click with little back play in operation. Sapphire crystal sits on top of the dial as you would expect from a serious diver. This isn’t a small watch at 42mm in diameter and 13mm thick it carries some wrist presence. Lug to lug is measured at just a hair under 50mm which could be an issue for some with smaller wrists. The case is described as lugless due to the integrated bracelet design, but in reality, there is no articulation in the first links either side of the case, and this causes two issues. Firstly it could provide an awkward fit due to the initial steep angle of those first links, and secondly, there is no way to change the bracelet as it’s an integrated style. So be aware of this if you’re considering purchasing and try it on for size if possible. Thankfully if you find it fits well which I think it should for most, and you have no issues with the integrated style then its a very nicely made bracelet with a very fine brushed finish and a taper from 26mm at the case to 20mm at the clasp. The clasp provides you three micro adjustments and a divers extension should you need to get this over a wetsuit.

Inside the Boettger sits the Miyota 9015 which has 24 jewels and operates at 28,800bph. This movement has a power reserve of 42hrs, and During my time with it, I didn’t notice any issues with timekeeping. It operated within the stated tolerance of -10+30 seconds a day. The Miyota is an automatic movement that’s used by several other brands. It is only 3.9mm thick, which may be one of the reasons Spinnaker used this movement to keep the watch as thin as possible while still getting the dramatic floating dial style.

So overall as a standalone piece from Spinnaker I think this one is an interesting offering, and it’s good to see them taking a different design path from the usual. I hope they continue trying things like this. I’m sure this will appeal to a lot of people as an overall package and design thanks to the evident Sinn influence. So what don’t I like? Well, I wish they hadn’t opted for the integrated bracelet. It does limit strap choices, and while this may just be my personal preference, I think because of the size of the watch and steep downward angle of the first links it may mean some people with smaller or much larger wrists struggle to get a fit they are comfortable with.

Secondly, I’m not sure about the hands. The more I wore the Boettger, the more I got used to them, but I do think they are slightly out of proportion and it’s a shame because I really enjoyed the rest of the dial aesthetically.

Spinnaker was aiming for a serious deep-sea diver that draws its design inspiration from the 70s and 80s, and with the Boettger that meant things needed to be done design-wise on a larger scale. I guess in the end it’s up to you to decide if that larger-scale works for your tastes and your wrist? If the answer to those questions is yes, then I don’t think you will be disappointed with this one on your wrist.

• Price: £500 – use code WIAA20 for 20% off, making it £400
• Available from: https://spinnaker-watches.co.uk/collections/boettger/products/sp-5083-33

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So what do we have in this more complicated version of the Fleuss? Well, it’s still effectively positioned as a diver but with the addition of the chronograph functionality, powered by what is a Japanese Mecha-Quartz movement. Sub-dials are placed at the 3 6 and 9, and the date has moved to the 12 o’clock position. Swiss luminova is used to keep things legible when the sun goes down, and there is a flat sapphire crystal protecting that dial and warding off scratches. 150/500ft of water resistance means this one can join you in the swimming pool when you next jet off for your holidays, and both the crown and pushers are screw down to keep things tight and safe.

Size-wise the Fleuss Chrono sits at 43mm in diameter so take this into account. Spinnaker class this as a medium-size which I’d agree with for a Diver/Chrono mixed watch.

I had this one on the bracelet, which is a H link style with a well-milled clasp. The bracelet is predominantly brushed, but the top and bottom of the centre links are polished and very sturdy-feeling overall. At 22 mm in width, it means straps can be changed easily, and Spinnaker also offers this on a leather/rubber hybrid strap which I would like to try. The leather straps I’ve seen on previous models have been excellent quality so that may be an option to consider.

The case is nicely brushed with polished and chamfered lugs, and a Spinnaker signed crown is an attractive detail. The case-back is screw-down as you would expect and again has the Spinnaker logo etched as well as the usual specification information.  Overall from a case and bracelet perspective, it’s hard to fault the Fleuss Chronograph in many areas. The bi-directional bezel is also lumed with a diamond at the 12 o’clock then markers at 5-minute increments but numbered at the 3, 6 and nine positions. The bezel insert is acrylic, so it has a vintage look and feel. Some will like this and some won’t, but it does look rather good although will pick up scratches and marks over time.

Dial wise Spinnaker have stayed with their use of a highly textured finish, and I must admit for a watch like this I think it looks very nice especially in this colour combination it adds an excellent depth to the dial. The dial is busy, but then it’s a chronograph with a sizable dual date window, and three sub-dials so I think they have done an excellent job at keeping things legible and balanced.

So final thoughts. I went back and forth on the Fleuss Chrono in my time with it. Some things I like, like the dial colour, layout and case, but some things I wasn’t so happy with. Although I like the look of the acrylic insert in the bezel, against the sapphire crystal, it will age, and although a bit of polishing may fix it, I just think they should have gone with a sapphire insert. The watch is heavy (200g) that maybe something you like, in which case that’s fine, but for me, it felt heavier than needed for a Mecha-Quartz piece. I’d be interested to try one on a strap as that may fix the weight issue for me at least as I’m sure the bracelet must make up a sizable portion of that weight. My other concern associated with the bracelet, and more directly the centre links as these sit above the H links you can see that the machining of these on the sides is not quite as good as it should be with tool marks which just spoil its appearance slightly. There is some additional polishing or brushing that needed to be done to bring these up to standard. My last two call outs would be the movement and steel used. I went through the specification on Spinnakers site but couldn’t find the Stainless Steel grade they used? This I would hope is 316L, but they don’t make reference to this, and if you intend using this in water, it would be good to know this. The same goes for the movement. They state Japanese Mecha-Quartz but give no further details? No expected accuracy or manufacture details? I have to call out I had this for approx three weeks and had no issues whatsoever with timekeeping, but I would like to know what’s inside should I ever need to get it repaired or possibly replaced.

I don’t typically mention price, but in this instance, it does play a part in my feelings on the Fleuss Chronograph. On Bracelet the Fleuss Chronograph is £250 (£200 using code WIAA20). On the leather/rubber hybrid strap it comes in at £210 (£168 using code WIAA20). For me the question marks around the steel used and the additional weight and finishing of the bracelet mean I would go down the strap route, and at that price point, I think this is a far more attractive proposition. You get a sapphire crystal, Swiss luminova, a useful set of complications and a nicely finished dial. At the lower price based on the strap, I think even with one or two open questions that is a good deal from Spinnaker for the Fleuss Chronograph.

Specifications:

• Case and Bracelet: Stainless Steel
• Movement: Japanese Mecha-Quartz Chronograph
• Dimensions: Diameter 43mm, Weight 200g Lug Width 22mm
• Water resistance: 150m 500ft
• Price: £250, use code WIAA20 for 20% off, making it £200
• Available from: https://spinnaker-watches.co.uk/collections/fleuss/products/sp-5085-11

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The Wreck as it’s aptly named is a distressed finished diver that makes you think it’s a lot older than it is. The watch finish is worn and faded, and on this particular model, had a brassy patinated case finish which worked well with the green colour scheme. Those metallic and green tones do work well, and although green is not my first colour of choice for a watch, I couldn’t help liking this the more I looked at it. The watch face itself has a similar scratched and distressed look, but it’s not overdone as to affect the legibility of the dial. The spinnaker logo, date window and hour and minute hand are finished in a rose gold colour which again works very well against the green. Indices are applied, and lume filled as are the hands. The second hand is a lollipop style in orange, giving it good contrast and legibility at a glance. The bezel insert is a simple green aluminium one, again made to look old and distressed with bold but straightforward ten-minute increments.

Now, this isn’t a small diver with a case size of 43mm, but the lugs curve down nicely, and on the wrist, it didn’t feel unwieldy or too large. It has a nice heft while not being overly burdensome. I’d say the balance of size and weight (130g) on this one is pretty much on the money for a dive watch. The case is made from 316L so reasonably standard in terms of materials used and with a lug width of 22mm, it will be easy to find straps if you want to swap it out. Speaking of the strap, the strap that comes on the Wreck is a very lovely leather vintage-style strap in a nice thick leather that is supposedly water-resistant. The strap is in a dark green, and although the subject of leather straps on dive watches regularly splits opinion in the watch community, it has to be said it suits the vintage vibe of the wreck and is very comfortable. I usually find that straps or bracelets at this price point are a weak point or an afterthought on watches, but this one is genuinely good once broken in.

As with most watches, there are points I would like to change. The Wreck is positioned as a dive watch but has 100m of water resistance. Generally, on a dive watch, I’d like to see 200m to be on the safe side. I know many people may never go near the water with the watch so it may be a personal preference, but still, as a dive positioned watch I think they could have gone further. The case does have a screw-down crown, so it should be perfectly adequate for light water usage. The crystal is a mineral crystal with chamfered edges which looks fine, but again a piece of sapphire would have been an excellent addition and been harder wearing in the long term.

Finally, the Wreck has a display case back through which you can see the Spinnaker signed rotor on the NH35 movement from Seiko. I’m not adverse to display case backs, but I think it would have been money better spent on improving the crystal or water-resistance of the Wreck. The NH35 is a reliable, robust movement so works great in an application like this and will be easy to maintain and regulate as needed by any competent watchmaker, but it really doesn’t need to be viewed, and the display case back doesn’t fit with the vintage theme in my opinion.

So in conclusion, how do I feel about my time with the Wreck? Overall I was unsure at first, but after wearing it, there is something genuinely fun about the aesthetics of this watch that make it pleasant to wear. The green works very well and they chose an excellent shade, and case colour combination for that vintage wrecked vibe they went for in this green version. With a reliable movement that is available in far more expensive pieces, I found myself overlooking some of the points I didn’t like so much because as an overall package the watch works very well. I’ve enjoyed my time with the Wreck perhaps more than I initially thought I would. With other colours on offer from Spinnaker as well I think this will appeal to a lot of people and is a solid offering in the range.

Specs:

• Case 316L distressed
• Diameter 43mm
• Bezel unidirectional matte Aluminium distressed Lug to lug 50mm
• Lug width 22mm
• Crystal mineral glass
• Leather water-resistant strap
• 100m water resistance
• Weight 130g
• NH35 movement
• Available from: https://www.spinnaker-watches.com/collections/wreck-sp-5065
• Price: $280 / ~£225
• USE CODE WIAA20 for 20% off: $224 / ~£180

The post Spinnaker Wreck SP-5065 Watch Review appeared first on 12&60.

The latest cheap-but-chunky automatic diver of theirs is the Amalfi. I’ve been to the Amalfi coast and stayed in Amalfi itself. Let me tell you, it is one of the most beautiful places on planet earth.

Is the Spinnaker Amalfi just as beautiful? Probably not, but it’s still quite an eye-catching piece.

My work colleague referred to it as a “dartboard”. Take from that what you will; but at the end of the day, it ticks all the right boxes for a diver: immense visibility and great lume, solid construction, decent Seiko NH35 movement (with a customised sticker), sapphire crystal with very good anti-reflective coating; all on top of a very pleasing price tag of $340 / ~£260 if you use code WIAA15.

The size is ridiculous at 46mm in diameter, yet somehow it still feels comfortable on. This is quite possibly the main issue that many will face. There’s no doubt, it is a lot of watch for your money – but it’ll likely be too much for many.

All things considered, it’s a splendid watch and well worth considering. Watch the video review below for a more detailed look.

The specs

• Dimensions: 46mm diameter x 15mm height x 51.8mm lug to lug
• Weight: 208g
• Water resistance rating: 20ATM / 200m
• Movement: Seiko NH35
• Accuracy: +7.0 sec/day
• Lug width: 24mm
• Warranty: 2 years
• Price:
  • RRP $400 / ~£305
  • USE CODE WIAA15 FOR 15% off: $340 / ~£260
• Available from: https://www.spinnaker-watches.com/collections/amalfi-diver/products/sp-5074-11

The video review

The post Spinnaker Amalfi Watch Review appeared first on 12&60.

It really is a lot of watch for your money; but can you look past the hardened mineral crystal instead of a sapphire crystal?

The specs

• Dimensions: 42mm diameter x 14mm height x 46.5mm lug to lug
• Weight: 97g
• Water resistance rating: 20ATM / 200m
• Movement: Seiko NH35
• Accuracy: +2.2 sec/day
• Lug width: 22mm
• Warranty: 2 years
• Price:
  • $285 / ~£215
  • Use code WIAA15 for 15% off: $242.50 / ~£185
• Available from: https://www.spinnaker-watches.com/collections/spence/products/sp-5066-01

The video review

The post Spinnaker Spence SP-5066 Watch Review appeared first on 12&60.

The specs

• Dimensions: 42mm diameter x 15.5mm height x 47.5mm lug to lug
• Weight: auto 91g, chrono 83g
• Water resistance rating: 10ATM / 100m
• Movement: auto Seiko NH35, chrono TMI VK73
• Accuracy of auto: +5.8 sec/day
• Lug width: 22mm
• Warranty: 2 years
• Price: WIAA15 for 15% off
  • Auto RRP $250 – Use code to make it $212.50 / ~£170
  • Chrono RRP $235 – Use code to make it $199 / ~£160
• Available from:
  • Auto: https://www.spinnaker-watches.com/collections/hull-mens-watch/products/sp-5071-01
  • Chrono: https://www.spinnaker-watches.com/collections/hull-mens-watch/products/sp-5068-03

The video review

The post Spinnaker Hull Automatic & Chronograph Review appeared first on 12&60.

The specs

• Dimensions: 43mm diameter x 15mm height x 49mm lug to lug
• Weight: 111g
• Water resistance rating: 20ATM / 200m
• Movement: Seiko NH35
• Accuracy: -0.5 sec / day
• Lug width: 22mm
• Warranty: 2 years
• Price: $350 / £265; use WIAA20 for 20% off making it $280 / £215
• Buy Here: https://www.spinnaker-watches.com/collections/cahill-mens-watch/products/sp-5064-02

Spinnaker Cahill video review

The post Spinnaker Cahill Watch Video Review appeared first on 12&60.

The specs

• Dimensions: 42mm diameter x 14.5mm height x 50mm lug to lug
• Weight: 99g
• Water resistance rating: 18ATM / 180m
• Movement: Seiko NH35
• Accuracy: +8.5 sec / day
• Lug width: 20mm
• Warranty: 2 years
• Price: $285 / £220; use WIAA20 for 20% off making it $228 / £175
• Buy Here: https://www.spinnaker-watches.com/collections/bradner/products/sp-5062-04

The video review

The post Spinnaker Bradner Compressor SP-5062 2nd Generation Watch Review appeared first on 12&60.

The specs

• Dimensions: 43mm diameter x 15mm height x 48mm lug to lug
• Weight: 125g
• Water resistance rating: 30ATM / 300m
• Movement: Seiko NH35
• Accuracy: +1.0 sec/day
• Lug width: 22mm
• Warranty: 2 years
• Price: $350 / £265
  • WIAA20 for 20% off making it $280 / £215
• Available from: https://www.spinnaker-watches.com/products/sp-5070-02

The video review

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