I discovered Geo at the Toronto Timepiece Show. I hadn’t heard of the brand before and was drawn by the bold colors and lighthearted vibe of the display, and the infectious enthusiasm of Georshua Castro, Geo’s founder and the proprietor of GeoShop.co, which sells clothing, accessories, and, of course, wristwatches inspired by the vibrant culture of Puerto Rico. After a brief introduction to the collection, I was charmed and knew I had to review the latest model, the Geo Cofresí.
The watch is named for Roberto Cofresí, a Puerto Rican nobleman known as “the last of the West Indies pirates” who terrorized British, American, and Spanish ships until his capture and execution in 1825. While not expressly designed for piracy on the high seas, the Cofresí would no doubt be up to the task. Its no-nonsense, bead-blasted stainless steel case boasts a 200m water resistance rating and a sapphire crystal. After popping a spring bar or two in the surf, Castro determined that fixed lugs were a must for the Cofresi. If it works for surfing, it probably works for swashbuckling, too.
Its large, screw-down crown has deep and widely spaced grooves for easy grip and a soft edge that complements the lugs’ almost organic curves.
At 41mm wide, 48.3mm long, and 12.5mm thick, the Cofresí is on the larger edge of the current mid-size range. (Say, remember 10 years ago when it seemed like every new release was at least 42mm? Times have changed.) Combine those dimensions with a broad dial and a smooth, fixed bezel, and you get a suitably sporting wrist presence; however, the lugs’ steep angle masks the watch’s length. As a result, you get the benefit of a big dial without sacrificing wearability. I found it to be a comfortable fit on my 6.75″ wrist.
A Miyota 82S5 movement with a 3 o’clock crown places the small seconds sub-dial in the lower right quadrant. This 21-jewel, 21.6k bph, hand-winding automatic is a reliable unit boasting a 42-hour power reserve. Geo opted for a gilt finish with Geneva stripes. Does a tool watch need a pretty movement? Perhaps not, but pirates are all about the gold, so it fits the theme perfectly.
Those looking for true buccaneer style might go for the all-black Blacksand or gold/black Blacksand Gold variants, but I zeroed in on the steel/lume Whitesand model. I’m a sucker for full lume, and I loved the breezy turquoise accents on that BGW9 Super-LumiNova surface.
This is a deceptively simple layout. Applied black cardinal numbers and the hand-drawn style of the Geo logo are likely to grab your attention but linger a bit, and you’ll notice the 24-hour markers and the way the round tips of the hands mirror the curves of the lugs. Those coordinates at the bottom of the rehaut? They should direct you to the island. Or maybe buried treasure? I don’t know. I’m not the seafaring type. Regardless, it’s a clever, quirky touch.
This much Super-LumiNova in one place is going to pack a punch, so it should come as no surprise that at night, it lights up clear and bright.
A purpose-built beach watch needs a practical strap. Geo offers 20mm leather, nylon, or silicone. I tried the latter two because while leather is great, it is not usually the best choice for wet conditions. The military-style nylon does the trick, although I will note that the polished hardware looks out of place with the matte case. I liked the way the khaki color mellows the overall look, but let’s face it, there is not much to say about a nylon pass-through strap.
Geo’s Silicone is by far the best option for the Cofresí. It is a single-piece strap with two keepers; one floats, the other is trapped by shallow brackets. It is signed on the tail and the top keeper. Several colors and buckle finishes are available, but again, not matte.
Now this is a proper beach strap. It is smooth and soft, with no obvious sand traps. It’s waterproof, durable, and feels great against your skin. Because it is so pliable, it bends tightly over the lugs, eliminating the bulky overhang that can occur with a stiffer material. Yes, silicone can pick up lint, but if you opt for a lighter, brighter color like this, you won’t notice. Finally, it has sufficient friction to prevent the watch head from slipping off when unbuckled, a problem I’ve encountered with some slick one-piece seatbelt straps.
I’d say the Geo Silicone strap is not just ideal for the Cofresí, but it might be a winner on some of your other watches too. Geo sells them individually for just $20 and in several colors. For the Whitesand, turquoise was the clear choice.
Overall, the $450 Geo Cofresí is a joyful, thoughtfully designed watch. You don’t have to wear it on under the Caribbean sun as you stroll down a white sandy beach to the crystal blue waters, but it is the perfect companion if you do. And if you happen to be somewhere less warm and hospitable this winter, maybe it can bring its island time there, too.
Normally, I’d tell you to head to GeoShop.co for more information or to place an order, but in this case, the Cofresí Collection is in limited supply, and you can’t order it. The only way to get your hands on one is to get it in person at one of Geo’s pop-ups. If you are not in Puerto Rico, Geo will be at District Time in Washington, D.C. on March 8-9, 2025.
So, you should still go to GeoShop and check out the rest of the cool stuff for sale, but make your plans for District Time, if you want a Cofresí!
