I had dinner with The Time Bum team the other night. It was our first get-together since before the pandemic, and of course, we all brought the watches we had accumulated in the past year. One of the things that struck me about the collection on the table is how none of them was terribly large. This is due in part to the fact that we have similar tastes and fairly modest wrists, but it is also attributable to the better selection of smaller watches in the microbrand market. It got me thinking that I’d like to see even more 40mm-and-under watches. The next day, the mailman delivered a 39mm Nordberg Skagerrak for this review.
Nordberg may not be a familiar name, but this Swedish Company produced the low-volume Kategatt dive watch in early 2020, and their Skagerrak Kickstarter campaign is well underway. As of this writing, they have not yet hit their goal, and it seems a shame because the Skagerrak has a lot going for it. Please note that I reviewed a prototype, but the folks at Nordberg assured me there would be no major changes before production.
As mentioned above, this is a mid-sized watch, measuring 39mm wide, 47.5mm long. It felt right at home on my 6.75” wrist. I would not call a 39mm watch small, but the Nordberg feels leaner than most, a perception I attribute to its svelte 11.5mm profile and 18mm bracelet.
These tidy dimensions, coupled with its clean, handsome face, make it a natural choice for office wear and dressier events while its 100m water resistance rating, sapphire crystal, and C3 lume will handle your weekend activities as well. This dual nature is also reflected in the combination of brushed (top) and polished (sides) surfaces. It is a true all-rounder with little compromise, which is a rare and wonderful thing.
Nordberg offers two variants, each limited to 250 pieces. I sampled the austere Day version, with a matte white dial, gray markers, and blue second hand. The slightly sportier Night version has a black dial and yellow second hand. Both feature raised bar markers, a reticle design, a deep chapter index, and a properly framed 3 o’clock date window.
I rather like the choice of gray for Day’s hour markers as it is fairly uncommon and coupled with white and blue, reminiscent of a Scandinavian winter – or at least what I would imagine a Scandinavian winter would be like. I’ve not experienced one, but I have seen a lot of Bergman films. That counts for something, right? I will note that the C3 is only on the handset, not the markers; a necessary compromise given their color.
I think the Skagerrak’s bracelet is responsible for much of the watch’s character. Most 38-40mm watches would have a 20mm lug width. The Skagerrak’s 18mm Oyster-style gives it a more tailored appearance. It is otherwise as you would expect: solid end links, split-pins, and longitudinal brushing to match that of the case.
I would have liked to have seen three separate sections in each link and a female end link, but these are hardly deal-killers. For me, the bracelet stands out because of Nordbergs choice of clasp. This simple bi-fold unit is wafer-slim, barely adding to the thickness of the links. It is signed at the push-button release. There are no micro adjustments, but that is a sacrifice I’m willing to make if it means I can maintain a smooth line under my wrist. So very worth it.
The case back has a sapphire exhibition window to show off the Seiko NH35 inside. This is a feature I would have happily passed over. It’s not that I don’t like exhibition case backs, it’s just that the utilitarian Seiko isn’t much to look at. Nordberg signed the rotor, but that is all. I’d have taken a solid back and a few bucks off the price instead.
Speaking of price, Nordberg does not break the bank. You can get one via Kickstarter for about $379 US. It will increase by 45% after the pre-order period is complete and I’d say $695 is a tad steep for the Skagerrak’s specs but the pre-order price is right on target. If you are looking for a solid, everyday watch with a clean Scandinavian aesthetic, you would do well to give Nordberg a look. For information and orders, visit the Skagerrak Kickstarter page by July 29.
