Review – Stoic Sports Watch

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Recently I reviewed The Chronograph from STOIC, a new microbrand started by the well known English watchmaker Peter Speake-Marin.  Currently there are three watches in the STOIC line and for this review I have the STOIC Sports watch, which as the name indicates, is designed for sporting activities.

The watch has 100 meters w/r and has a very nice 120 click unidirectional coin edge dive bezel with a very well done silver on black stainless steel bezel insert.  The standout design elements for this watch are the brass like finish PVD coated bezel edge and the push/pull 7.25mm diameter coarse gear edged engraved signed crown.  This is combined with brass like, edged, raised, lumed indices and matching brass like lumed hand set, matt black, raised, square pattern dial and a brass like, edged, 11 o’clock 24 hour dial.  A printed, white, open edged railroad second track, blends perfectly with the rest of the printed white lettering on the face as well as the brass like logo and STOIC name at 3 o’clock..  By using a 4:30 white on black date window, the face maintains very good symmetry with none of the indices requiring any alterations, something that I really prefer.

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The PVD (physical vapor deposition) used on the edge of the bezel and the crown helps give this watch a very durable, tarnish resistant finish.  The 316L stainless steel case comes with a flat, raised beveled edged sapphire crystal, with three layers of a/r.  It has a quick release, thick, Italian, stitched, black leather strap with brushed, milled butterfly clasp and signed, brushed buckle.  Overall it exudes quality that could easily be expected in a watch at a much higher price point than here.  Not one element of this watch shows a misstep, including the polished, screw down, exhibition, sapphire crystal case back.  The case is brushed except for being polished between the 22mm lugs and polished on the chamfered edge that runs across 51mm lugs.  The watch is 43.5mm in diameter and 14.5mm thick, making it substantial, though not overwhelming on my 7 inch wrist.  The taper on the strap is a very subtle 22mm to 21mm.

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Powering this watch you would expect the very popular NH35a, but in this case it is Seiko/TMI/SII NH37A, the same movement with an additional 24 hour subdial complication.  Other specifications of this movement appear to be identical to the NH35a, including 24 jewels, 21,600 bph and 41 hour power reserve.  It has bidirectional winding, hand winding and hacking.  Though this movement has a rated accuracy of -20/+40 seconds per day, mine is less than 10 seconds per day fast.  Since the case back also has a sapphire crystal, the rotor is enhanced with Geneva stripes for decoration.  The crystal is also printed with the STOIC logo, name and Seneca quote, as found engraved on the polished stainless back of the STOIC Chronograph.  The standard watch information engraved on the polished case back is extremely well done and very easy to read.

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I don’t know if Peter plans to offer this watch in other finishes and colors, but as it stands this is a striking and very well done sports watch that doesn’t quite look like any other watch.  It combines different elements into a design that is harmonious and very easy to wear.  And most importantly, it is designed to be a reliable, distinctive watch that can withstand wear for a very long time.  $490. Stoicworld.com

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Bert Kanne is a freelance contributor to MBWW with a love for well made dive watches and chronographs. All photos by Bert Kanne unless otherwise noted.

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