NTH Watches have churned out so many different variants of the mid-size Subs series dive watches that I sometimes forget they make anything else. This is no knock on the brand. They really caught lightning in a bottle with that one so they would be fools not to. Still, not everyone wants a 40mm watch. For those who like their watches a bit bigger, NTH has released the new, super-sized 2K1 Subs series. They sent me samples of the Swiftsure and Thresher models to try for this review.
Anyone who even casually follows my reviews knows I like the NTH Subs series. I dig the vintage look, tidy proportions, and clean execution. I think the 40mm case is one of the best in its class; a true 300m dive tool that is still only 11.5mm thick and damn handsome to boot. When I first heard that the brand was making a bigger version, I cried sacrilege. After all, the sub is perfect on my wrist so it should be perfect for everyone. Except for bigger guys with thicker wrists. And people who want a bigger dial for easier visibility. Oh, and people who just like larger watches. “Crap,” I thought, “maybe they have a point.” Well, NTH founder Chris Vail certainly thought so. He and the design team sharpened their pencils and worked up a big Sub.
Like the original, it has a relatively flat case with a dip at the lugs to better fit your wrist. The brushed finish is offset by a polished chamfer running the length of the case both above and below. Drilled-through perches facilitate removal of the standard, Oyster-style bracelet.
Unlike the original, the new Sub is 43.75mm wide, 51mm long, and 13mm thick with 22mm between the lugs. That is big. I’ll admit that I kind of dreaded reviewing the 2K1 because I worried that it would be the horological equivalent of seeing a favorite actor from your childhood turn into a bloated caricature. But no, the 2K1 is not Steven Segal. Its pleasing proportions remain intact.
While 13mm is nothing special on a 40mm watch it looks positively svelte on a watch that is nearly 44mm wide. Granted, 51mm pushes the boundaries of my 6.75” wrist, but not so much that I wouldn’t wear a 2K1 to the beach. On a guy with large wrists, a 40mm Sub might look like a toy whereas the 2K1 would be right at home. It works.
It is clear that the mid and large Subs share more than a passing resemblance, but they are not identical. You will find a deep undercut in 2K1’s bezel that goes far to visually slim the case even further. Like the first version, the 2K1’s crown it is broader than it is tall, making it easy to grip while maintaining the clean lines of the case. This time, it is flanked by crown guards and the aforementioned polished chamfer wraps right around them. It is a delightful design element and quite possibly my favorite detail in a watch that is chock full of them.
The smaller Sub is rated for a healthy 300m water resistance but the big boy goes to 610m or 2001ft. On the left side, you will find an integrated helium release valve, because if you are going to dive that deep, you might as well set up shop in a mixed-gas environment and stay awhile. Right? Movements are the excellent Miyota 9015 (date) or 90S5 (no date). Either way, you are getting a reliable and accurate 28.8k bph automatic with a 48+ hour power reserve.
The case back is plain because the Subs keep all the pretty stuff up in the front, under that double-domed, AR-coated sapphire crystal. The Thresher is the more traditional of the two, presenting thick, white markers; large, flat dauphine hands; and a white paddle tipped second hand on a black dial surrounded by a white-on-black chapter index. The 120-click, DLC black steel bezel is engraved and its action is flawless. Tritec BGW9 SuperLuminova fills the hands, bezel markers, and even the signed crown. It is the high contrast, maximum visibility set up you need on a proper diving tool.
The white Swiftsure is the fancier of the two. It has an Explorer-style layout and its black applied markers and sword hands are filled with the uncommon choice of powder blue lume. Pops of orange accent the chapter index, model name, and second hand tip. A brushed steel bezel insert frames it. I love this. Love it. Of course, the bezel cannot be fully lumed like the black insert, so you will have to make do with only the pip. Such is the price of fashion. You can get the Swiftsure in a more conventional color scheme, but damn! This one just looks sharp.
If neither of these grabs you, never fear, Vail has other variants in his inventory. He offers the Thresher and Swiftsure in black and blue dials, date or no date (porthole at 4:30), and even a black dial in a black DLC case. All variants are $725 and worth every penny.
Sure, I was a skeptic, I had my doubts, but these big Subs came through. They are every bit as good as their smaller siblings, better suited to bigger wrists, capable of diving to depths you can’t even fathom, and they look handsome as hell. You might say they 2K1 me over. If you have been looking for a larger version of the NTH Subs, or if you just happen to be in the market for a really nice diving watch, head over to NTHwatches.com or any of the brand’s five authorized dealers and see for yourself. ⬩
