The Obie1 is the debut model from the Oberlin Watch Company. It is a cheap and cheerful fellow in honest American red, white, and blue that honors the town of Oberlin, Ohio. I got to see it in real life at the Watches, Whiskey and Wine show in Hagerstown, Maryland last month, and practically snatched this one right off of owner James Henderson’s wrist so I could borrow it for review.
Before I talk about what it is, I’ll clear up what it is not. It is not from Oberlin (the company is in Massachusetts), it is not a revival of the old Oberlin brand (it never existed, “Oberlin” watches were made for a French pharmaceutical company), and it has nothing to do with any Jedi Knight (“Help us, Obie1 Kenobi, you’re our only hope”). It is simply a product inspired by James’s love of his hometown and intended to appeal to the widest possible audience. James is no stranger to the watch industry — he started with Tourneau, then moved on to Doxa, and is now a writer and consultant who often posts his musings on the Tempus Fugit blog — so it was only natural that he would express his feelings about Oberlin in watch form.
The Obie1’s brushed stainless steel case is topped with a polished bezel and a K1 mineral crystal. It measures 40mm wide, 48mm long, and 9mm thick; an easy fit for just about any wrist. Inside, is a humble but reliable Miyota 2035 quartz. The watch is rated for a useful 100m water resistance, making it suitable for just about any wet activity short of scuba diving.
While the polished crown is signed, the etching is a tad faint, but the crisply engraved case back more than makes up for it. There you will see Oberlin’s position on the map with its precise coordinates. It is simple, but nicely designed and cleanly executed.
The Obie1’s dial is a lighthearted display, alternating red and blue for the markers, hands, and even the bars that bracket the Oberlin name. It’s a patriotic display, but more to the point, these are the colors of James’s own Oberlin high school. It’s a design that could have very easily turned campy, but tasteful restraint reined it in. The numbers and teardrop markers are properly sized and a radial layout provides a pleasant balance.
The brand name is printed in a conservative serif typeface that looks traditional without being contrived. I would have liked a minute index, perhaps a railroad track to reference the Great Kipton train wreck, an event near Oberlin that led to the establishment of watch performance and uniform timekeeping standards in the United States. Still, while that might have been nice, it is in no way essential, and squeezing one in would have required shrinking all the other elements.
The Obie1 arrives on 20mm black leather from Lic in Belgium. It’s a quality strap with handy quick-release pins. I’d say it is a sound choice, but that dial just begs for more color. This blue gator print from Rios really woke it up. Oberlin has more Obie variants in the works. The Obie2 will be a sober black-on-white while the Obie3 will offer pops of red and yellow on black.
Lume is, well… it’s present. There is some glow to the hands that certainly helps in low light but don’t expect it to be a dive-worthy torch. That’s not really what this watch is about. It isn’t a railroad watch or a tool watch or field watch, but a sound, everyday piece for those who want to carry a reminder of small-town America. James is even personally spray-painting each box in this first run of 100 watches himself, which I find adorable. It’s heartening to see someone produce a true passion piece without a shred of pretense.
If the Obie has won you over, you can order it now for just $97.97, directly from OberlinWatch.com .
