In the spring of 2022, I had the opportunity to review a prototype of the Satori Watches Companion, a slick, modern field watch destined for a Kickstarter launch. My time with the Companion was brief, but the watch certainly made an impression, which you can read about here. Now, a year and a half later, the launch is here, and I thought it a good opportunity to re-examine the watch, as well as to see what, if anything, has changed.
Satori Watches founder Roy Miah has taken the extra time to incorporate feedback into the design (which is always a good sign!) as well as to add two new bold colorways: red and royal purple.
The Companion was already an interesting piece, with a visual identity that clearly marked it as a field watch without feeling like it relied too heavily on the designs of historical field watches. There’s nothing wrong with a well-executed homage to the Dirty Dozen, but at some point, they all blend together. That’s not a risk for the Companion.
The two most noteworthy changes are the Companion’s size and the movement powering it. Downsizing of the watch from 43mm to 41mm strikes me as a good decision. The prototype already wore smaller than its size would suggest thanks to its proportions, but 41mm feels much more versatile and would likely look much more at home on my 6.5” wrist. It’s also a dressier option that can fit under a shirt cuff at only 11.5mm in height. Even more interestingly, the movement has been updated from the Swiss Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement to the Japanese-manufactured Miyota 9015. Apart from any personal preferences I might have, I think this change was a wise move. While both are solid, reliable movements, the switch to the Miyota allows Satori to shave a significant amount (over $100 USD) off the Companion’s retail price. That new movement will now be visible via an exhibition case back that shows off the custom
The nifty scalloped bezel still looks like it should turn (spoiler alert, it doesn’t), but the watch looks to retain its pleasant satin finish, as well as its 100m water resistance. 20mm lug width means that the Companion can be paired with any number of straps, but the included color-matched canvas and leather straps are a nice touch. If the prototype was any indication, they’ll be comfortable and durable. But wait, there’s more! Satori is now offering a stainless steel bracelet with solid, curved end-links as an optional add-on to backers, and is teasing two additional dial colors as a stretch goal.
While the dial is still a bit on the busy side, it’s functional, and I find the date window much more appealing now that it has been moved to the 6 o’clock position. I’m also an unabashed fan of the royal purple dial option, which shot to the top spot for me over the previous slate blue dial. Frankly, there’s not a bad choice among them, appealing to the more conservatively styled as well as the more brazen. The elegant syringe hands are a nice, traditional touch, and are well-lumed with Swiss BGW9 SuperLuminova, along with the numerals.
The Companion will be available to back on Kickstarter on January 30th. If you’re interested, sign up for more information at www.satoriwatches.com or www.kickstarter.com/projects/satori-watches/companion so you don’t miss out on early bird pricing as low as $322 USD (retail pricing will be $460).
All images are courtesy of Satori Watches.
