The Dailos Waveform launches November 1 on Kickstarter. That gives you about a month to read this review and debate whether you want to be an early bird backer for this dive watch. I’ve been wearing a Waveform Ghost prototype on and off for a week now, so I think I’m in a pretty good position to give you some solid reasons why you should.
Perhaps the defining feature of the Waveform is its titanium case. The metal is tough, lightweight, and antimagnetic, so when it comes to tool watches, it is the ideal material. Dailos uses a scratch-resistant, reinforced alloy formed into a tidy 40mm wide, 47mm long, 13mm thick package (14mm if you count the double-domed sapphire crystal). Titanium has a distinctive gray color, and Dailos has played with the finish a bit, highlighting the usual matte surface with polished bevels along the outer edge. The signed, 4 o’clock crown is also polished, bouncing a touch of light between the two stout crown guards flanking it. Of course, the crown screws down, helping to seal the watch for a 300m water resistance rating. Overall, the case construction is excellent.
The Waveform gets a 20-18mm tapered titanium bracelet to match its case. This is a desirable addition because good luck finding aftermarket titanium watch accessories. That said, I did not try one as I opted for the one Waveform prototype without a bracelet. The Ghost version is a sinister DLC black, which looks mighty sharp with those shiny accents running its length. While the production models will come with a matching titanium DLC black bracelet, the sample arrived on a black nylon single-pass strap with matching black hardware. Of course, a nylon strap wears very differently than a bracelet, but I found the proportions of the Waveform’s head to be a comfortable fit on my 6.75″ wrist.
The black ceramic bezel insert maintains the Ghost’s stealthy appearance with raised, polished markers on a matte surface. Twin bands bridge the space between 0-10 and 10-20. It is rather handsome. I had worried that the bezel would be difficult to read, but under most conditions, the light reflecting off the glossy markers provided more than enough contrast for legibility in daylight. At night, you can rely on the lume pip. A coin edge provides proper grip, and the bezel’s action was spot-on, moving smartly through its rotation. The prototype has 90 clicks, which will be changed to 60 before production, and Dailos says they will improve the bezel action, although I must say, I had no issue with it.
You will find an appropriately nautical, anchor-and-chain illustration engraved on the case back. Behind it lurks a ubiquitous Seiko NH35 automatic. While not the sexiest of movements, this 21.6k bph unit is one of my favorites because it is durable, reliable, hackable, hand-windable, and affordable – all the “ables” you want in a tool watch.
The dial is perhaps the most conventional aspect of this watch unless you opt for the Ghost, in which case the traditional dots and bars layout takes on a whole new look with a frame treatment. Instead of being lume-filled, the sword hands, raised markers, and even the lollipop second hand, are lume-edged, leaving voids in their centers that reveal the matte black surface below. A white-framed black date disk completes the picture. Those white boxes create a striking contrast against the otherwise all-black Ghost.
In daylight, it recalls an old watch where the lume has fallen away, leaving only the frames. I confess that I was a little worried about how it would function at night and that the thin lines of lume would not provide sufficient surface area for an adequate glow. Oh, how I was wrong. The BGW9 was more than up to the task. It burns bright, burns long, and just look at the picture! Is that cool or what?
As you might have gathered, I really enjoyed the Waveform. It’s got excellent proportions, solid specs, and a uniquely attractive look. Better still, the price is right. Kickstarter rewards will start at $299 US, rising to just $339 by the campaign’s end. Launch day is November 2, so if you want to be first on board for the Super Early Bird special, head over to DailosWatches.com and sign up for a reminder.
