The Praesidus Watch Company produces an impressive range of military-inspired pilot and field watches. While they generally hew closely to the originals, they also make some in alternate colors and others from historically significant materials. Today, I have the Praesidus A-5 UDT ($645) for review. It’s a bit different from the models I’ve reviewed before because it is a dive watch and because the brand let its designers have a little fun with this Abyss Blue version.
You will immediately notice that the A-5 UDT is a canteen design, with a threaded cap covering the entire crown. This novel solution to the water penetration problem dates back to WW2 and a U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships (USN BUSHIPS) contract. The watches were small (31mm) but mighty and issued to demolition teams for prolonged underwater operations.
While the canteen was rendered obsolete by more efficient waterproofing designs, it enjoyed a brief renaissance about ten years ago, mostly as a fashion gimmick for already comically oversized watches. The Praesidus, on the other hand, takes the canteen back to its roots.
In case you had any doubt, the cap is indeed functional. Notice the gasket at the base inside the threading. The crown itself is a push-pull. When all sealed up, the A-5 is good for 200m water resistance.
Excluding the massive crown cap, the A-5’s brushed stainless steel case measures 38mm wide, larger than its diminutive ancestor but modest enough to preserve that earlier watch’s compact proportions. It is 12.5mm thick measured from the case back to its tall, domed, and AR-coated sapphire crystal. Unbowed case sides, a fixed bezel, and, of course, the prodigious crown cap enhance the A-5’s robust presence, and yet, with its steeply angled lugs and 45.8mm length, it occupies very little space. I found it to be a comfortable fit on my 6.75″ wrist.
I know some will worry that the oversized canteen cap may dig into their skin, but I had no such issues. The A-5 is small enough to keep the crown far from the bend of my wrist.
On the case back, you will find the watch’s serial number, an angry cartoon frog (representing the Navy Underwater Demolition Unit for whom the original watch was issued), and statements attesting to its water resistance, American assembly, and Swiss movement. Praesidus chose a Soprod P024, a 25-jewel, 28.8k bph automatic utilizing the familiar ETA 20824 architecture.
If you are looking for a faithful recreation of a 1940 BUSHIPS watch, Praesidus will happily sell you one with a plain black dial, but in my opinion, this Abyss Blue version is the more engaging choice. While the layout is all business (employing, as it does, flat syringe hands and a traditional military index), all the markers and text are raised over the dial’s undulating texture. The deep blue at its center darkens to nearly black at the edges. It’s all very aquatic and great fun to look at, especially when you catch a glimpse through the tall crystal’s crazy edge distortion. If you find the wave effect too much, I’ll note that they also offer a lovely sunray blue dial.
Everything has been treated with Super-LumiNova; the hands, markers, index, and even the brand and model names get a dose of the glowy stuff for a blue glow that looks outstanding in the dark. Well, almost everything. The second hand is simply silver.
Two 20mm strap options are offered: a stainless steel beads-of-rice and a blue rubber tropic. I sampled the rubber. It is soft and pliant enough to make me think it was FKM, but the underside proudly proclaims “Vulcanized Rubber,” and I am not complaining. It’s much nicer than most other rubber straps I’ve encountered, and the color is an excellent match for the dial. The strap has two floating keepers, quick-release pins, and a signed buckle at its tapered end.
For an additional $55, you can get an optional fitted beads-of-rice bracelet. I love a nice BOR, and it is an intriguing look when paired with such a bullish tool watch, but I did not sample it.
After sampling the watch, I found that I appreciated it for two dissimilar reasons. My first reason was the A-5’s status as an iconic military watch. Praesidus always does a fine job of recreating these old warhorses, and even when they resize them for modern tastes, they do so sympathetically, preserving the proportions of the original.
My second reason was that Praesidus got a little funky with it. Yes, they make a sober homage to the BUSHIPS original, but after doing so, they stirred a little modern fashion into its sauce. I love the Abyss Blue’s color, texture, and the surprising presence of lume on the text. They didn’t go too crazy; they just took a couple of liberties that paid off handsomely.
The Praesidus A-5 UDT Abyss Blue is available now. For more information or to place your order, visit the Praesidus website.
