Earlier this year, I had the chance to go hands on with the Houtman Pilbara Diver, the debut model from a new Australian brand. You can read the full review here, but here’s the bottom line: it’s a solid diver with all the specs you want, a beautiful case, and a sharp dial/bezel design. At the time, I only got to handle the green dial. Lucky for me (and you) I just received the coolest dial of the mode line, the Pilbara Rock, affixed to the 5-link bracelet I also missed out on. Herewith, an update.
“Rock” in this sense isn’t just a marketing word. The dial is actually made of a special compressed rock, which is undeniably cool. It’s meant to mimic the rocky red earth of the Pilbara, a region in northwest Australia. While it s not quite as red as the geology it aims to represent, I think the effect works.
Houtman Pilbara Specs | |||
Case Diameter: | 41.5mm | Crystal: | Sapphire |
Case Thickness: | 11.8mm | Lume: | Super-LumiNova® BGW9 |
Lug-to-Lug: | 49mm | Strap/Bracelet: | Leather and 5-link bracelet |
Lug Width: | 22mm | Movement: | Miyota 9039 |
Water Resistance: | 200m | Price: | $597 ($373 Preorder) |
The texture on the dial is great: the pitting is something I’ve never seen in a dial, and I’m happy to award points for uniqueness. I wasn’t sure how this dial would play against the stark black and white of the hour/minute track and bezel, but I’m happy to say it works. That’s the magic of keeping the rest of the watch simple: black and white go with everything.
Look at the minute hand. Had you noticed that the “dial” text is actually printed on the underside of the crystal? This certainly looks cool, and was necessitated by the somewhat brittle nature of the dial material and challenges in reliably printing upon it.
Ignore the coffee ring on the lume shot. Focus on the glow. That’s right, let it pull you in. Good. Very good. (But not exceptional, as the hour markers are outshone by the bezel and hands.)
I also got to handle the bracelet. On my first review, I had it on leather, but bracelet quality varies so widely I was eager to try it out this go round. As you can see, it’s well matched to the case. The bracelet features a fold-over clasp push-button release. I have a similar clasp on two or three of my watches and I’ve always liked it. It’s sturdy and slim, avoiding the bulk of other fold-over clasps and certainly of ratcheting clasps. I also realized that 5-link bracelets look best on 22mm lugs, as is done here. My experience with narrower 5-link bracelets is one of feeling packed in like sardines.
The Kickstarter for the Houtman Pilbara didn’t fund. It was unfortunate for such a solid watch. Sometimes, I think, potential backers are warded off if a watch doesn’t have enough flash. The Pilbara isn’t about flash, though. It’s about making a solid watch with some interesting but not garish dials. Happily, the brand is pushing on and the watches are available for preorder ($373) now on their website. Take a look and lock one up for yourself. And if you want to learn more first, here’s the link to my original review.
