In January 2020, the Smithsonian Museum of American history declared 2020 to be “The Year of the Woman” in honor of the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment (affirming the right to vote for all citizens in the United States regardless of sex). Little did we know that a global pandemic would smash the grand plans of exhibits and ceremonies and celebrations to smithereens.
Well, one thing that didn’t get smashed to smithereens was Bia Watches’ two new models targeted at the female watch market: the Rosie Diver and the Suffragette. Bia is a brand from the capable folks over at Time Concepts (also known for their Szanto, 420 Waldos, and Hawaiian Lifeguard Association products) developed with the goal of creating watches that celebrate and uplift women. A portion of the profits from Bia Watches is donated to organizations that work to give women the help they deserve to be independent, educated, and valued. Also, kudos to Bia for choosing marketing photos for their watches that depict women as capable, valued, and independent.
The available dials run the gamut from versatile white, to chic black, to cool neon green. Both watches are powered by Miyota quartz movements, with the Rosie having a date feature and the Suffragette a small seconds complication. Both the Rosie and the Suffragette share a unique characteristic: a dial made from Visible 24/7 injection molded, glow-in-the-dark plastic. Bia claims that 10 minutes of light means 10 hours glow time and having tested it, I can back that up. The painted markers and solid hands are silhouetted on the dial, making the watch truly readable 24 hours a day, regardless of available light. I think this is a fantastic innovation and really adds to the “grab and go” nature of both watches.
Drawing inspiration from Rosie the Riveter, the Rosie diver is definitely a well-designed watch that fits into a desired but sparsely populated niche: the sub-$300 mid-sized diver market. At 38mm diameter, 44mm lug to lug, and 12mm thick, it’s wearable for nearly every wrist and with 200m of water resistance, it will handle anything you throw at it. The stainless steel 120 click bezel is easy to turn and has absolutely zero play. It is honestly one of the best bezels I’ve ever had occasion to use. The unidirectional bezel has mirror-finished dividers between the timing segments. The flat crystal is K1 mineral glass, which is more shatter- and chip-resistant than sapphire and more scratch-resistant than traditional mineral crystals. The case back is neatly engraved with all of the relevant specifications and Bia logo.
I don’t say this very often, but I would choose the matching silicone strap over the bracelet. In fact, I would probably buy a second silicone strap with the $40 difference between the strap and bracelet models. The silicone strap is extremely comfortable and adds to the sporty nature of the watch. The quick-release bars mean it’s easy to swap out for another strap or the bracelet. The bracelet links are brushed on the top and have mirror finishes on the sides, but the way this translates to the end links gives the bracelet an unfinished appearance as the brushing terminates rather abruptly. It closes securely with a hidden butterfly clasp and two half links are included to make sure you can size it to fit your wrist perfectly. Bia has a well-constructed bracelet with this model – the solid end links fit tightly against the case without a hint of rattle – but for my taste, I prefer this watch on the silicone strap.
The Suffragette is a bit smaller than the Rosie at 36mm wide and 10mm thick and has 100m water resistance. The case and both metal strap options (mesh and oyster style bracelet) have a satin brushed finish. This gives the watch a very sporty, casual aesthetic that will complement a variety of styles. The mineral crystal has a very slight dome to it but doesn’t extend more than about half a millimeter above the case. The font used for dial numerals is rounded, as are the hands. Come to think of it, I don’t think there is a sharp edge on this watch. The case could benefit from a mirror-polished surface, perhaps on the lugs, to help it catch the light a bit. Overall, the watch is very matte: the dial, hands, and case are all the same flat finish and it makes the watch seem a bit two-dimensional on the wrist. On the plus side, matte finishes tend to be less prone to showing scratches. The small seconds dial adds visual interest, and if the ticking of a quartz bothers you, it tends to make the movement of the seconds hand seem smoother.
Along with the oyster and mesh bracelets, Bia offers a variety of leather straps, some of which are color matched with the dial. All of the two-piece straps have quick-release bars to make it easy to swap straps out. The bracelet has smaller links than that of the Rosie so no half links, but I didn’t miss them. The bracelet flowed well around my wrist and it fit tightly to the watch.
Overall, I think the Rosie and the Suffragette are excellent offerings for Bia’s first time out. They fit into a segment of the watch market that is generally under-served, are well constructed, and have unique and brightly colored dials that make them both fun and functional. As a bonus, you’re buying a watch that is supporting organizations that help women around the world. For right around $200, either of these watches is a hell of a deal and even more so if you apply code TIMEBUM20 for 20% off (note that The Time Bum is an affiliate).
For more information or to order one of your own, visit the Time Concepts Bia Watches web store.
