On November 1, BOLDR Supply Company started a Kickstarter campaign to fund their latest watch, the Expedition. It is a stylish tool watch packing a Swiss automatic movement into a dual crown case. I received this Rushmore prototype just in time for a quick hands-on review as the campaign got rolling.
The Expedition’s stainless steel case measures 41mm wide, 48mm long, and 14.5mm thick that cuts a rugged profile without relying on sheer girth to do so. I particularly liked the way it fit my 6.5″ wrist. Oversized watches (like BOLDR’s excellent 45mm Odyssey diver) have their place, but mid-sized watches tend to be far more versatile. The Expedition is right on the money.
At its heart, is a Sellita SW200-1 movement. The 26-jewel, hacking and hand winding automatic purrs along at 28.8k bph and employs Diashock protection. Power reserve is about 38 hours. It is a quality movement that should be familiar to many an affordable watch aficionado. The fact that it is Swiss Made will likely win over a fan or two as well.
In proper military fashion, the case wears a low glare, bead blasted or PVD black finish and a double domed sapphire crystal with inner anti-reflective coating. Both of its chunky, 6.5mm knurled crowns screw down and the case is rated for 200m water resistance. Tough as it may be, the Expedition does not ignore the finer touches. The upper crown has orange accents that match the second hand’s paddle tip and the lower crown has a polished head signed with a raised BOLDR logo. A sapphire case back offers a view of the mechanical movement within, but only a glimpse as the glass is decorated with what BOLDR calls “signature artwork.” It appears to be a line drawing of a topographical map, which makes sense in the context of this watch.
The serial number etched between the lugs is another nice touch. Granted, it serves little practical purpose, but it another way to telegraph the idea that you are wearing a piece of equipment and not an article of jewelry. Of course, the prototype was 000/000.
BOLDR took a traditional approach with the Expedition’s dial and executed it brilliantly. A combination of even numbers and baton markers mark the 12-hour clock, while military time is represented by only the odd numbers at the ends of the batons. A date window occupies the 4 o’clock position. An internal bezel displays both a 60-minutes/seconds index and compass points for navigation. Three lines of text in the lower half of the dial balance the large BOLDR logo on top. The combination of large elements could have easily cluttered this relatively small dial, but I’m pleased to report that the designers pulled it off, creating a face that is clear and handsome.
Brushed needle tipped “syringe” hands and a paddle tipped second hand give the Expedition a tough of a 1970’s dive watch vibe, which is not bad at all. The whole thing looks brilliant under the domed and anti-reflective coated sapphire crystal – even more so at night when the SuperLuminova springs to life.
The Expedition’s 20mm strap is made of leather-backed canvas, meticulously stitched and padded with brass eyelets and a buckle that matches the case finish (that buckle will be signed on the production versions). It feels tough, looks great, and is surprisingly pliable for a comfortable fit.
Six different models are offered. The Rushmore, shown here, is black with a bead blasted case and a khaki green strap. Others include the triple black Kilimanjaro, the blue dial and grey strap Everest, the black dial/gray bezel Rainer, the gray and old radium Fuji, and the full lume dial Eiger. All start at $539 SGD, or about $395 USD on Kickstarter and will retail for $599 USD.
I think the Expedition is a solid, attractive piece that packs a lot of punch, and at less than $400 USD for a Kickstarter early bird pledge, it is a mighty tempting proposition. For more information or to place an order see the BOLDR Expedition Kickstarter page. ⬩
