Jeep99dad
3T WIS
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So I’ve been very busy at work and home and I’ve slacked in terms of posting my new arrivals and doing write ups even for my recent favorite arrivals like the Ti Seawolf, Omega Dynamic and Zixen Nitrox Abyss. Plus many of my watches just stay for a short visit  I thought I’d take a few minutes to introduce my latest WIS purchase, a Bernhardt Binnacle Anchor (BA) I bought from Fred directly. I had been debating this one since it came out and was sitting on the fence, I was not a fan of the white/orange version, but recently a few pics on WRUW threads have and a few bucks left in my PayPal WIS funds put me over the edgeJ.
The purchase experience form Fred was just excellent like any of my past ones with him, he is gentleman and has a great CS. It was a quick painless process from my first email Wednesday night to its landing yesterday(I would have had it Saturday but no delivery at my office Saturdays). The watch arrived very well packaged and I always like Bernhardt’s wooden boxes, a very nice and high quality box for a sub 200$ watch IMHO, simple yet beautiful and not oversized. In the wooden box, was the watch on bracelet, a leather strap with signed buckle and cards; I thought the strap was a nice touch too.. again especially at that price. When I first held it, I was impressed with the overall look and quality, in spite of my original concerns the watch is perfectly sized too as the 40mm in this design wears larger and is at home at the office and under the cuff. It’s not big which sometimes is just better in some occasions like at work for meetings, formal dinner...
40mm
Myota 8215 Automatic movement
Scratch Resistant Sapphire Crystal
316-L surgical stainless steel
Stainless steel bracelet with screwed in links
Included optional 20mm leather strap with white stitching & signed buckle
Built in end pieces
200 meter water resistance
2-year warranty
I am not a polished SS fan but here we have a mix of brushed and polished SS. The top of the case is brushed which is important to me, the bezel and case sides are polished as well as the center link of the bracelet which helps it tie in with the case dual SS finish. The case has built in/integrated end links in the lug, so the bracelet ends are straight, this is done to remove the gap b/w strap end and case within the lugs one typically has when putting on a strap. I haven’t tried the strap on yet but am a bit skeptical on the looks of this setup and would have preferred a regular bracelet with end links, but I have to give it a shot before.. well shooting it down J The bracelet itself is just very nice for the price point, it is solid and thick but not overdone for this dressier and smaller sized watch. The links are screwed in, but this is the kind where the screw bar screws in the actual link, so need for two screwdrivers and no risk of losing the smaller end of the screw bar typical setup! I am a big fan, it makes sizing the bracelet extremely easy, painless and avoids scratches IMHO. Of course, if you were to strip the link then you’d lose the ability to use the link all together though it is well built and seems unlikely. The clasp is solid as well, is signed and has 4 micro adjustment positions. As I said, I am a big fan of Fred’s bracelets.
The dial is much nicer than I expected, it was the one thing that kept me on the fence. The simple black background is nice, simple and contrasts nicely with hands, indices, SS… The watch is somewhat of an homage to the Rolex Explorer, but the Arabic numerals are larger and took me a while to get used to in all honesty. But I must say this NO date dial is very clean, no oversized logo, and busy writing all over the place, merely the brand name and watch model in smaller font so it keeps things simple and clean which I like a lot! Fred went with applied indices, with polished surround matching the hands. It helps in making this watch dressy enough for formal occasions and the office as does the simple hand design. Hands are narrow and long which suits the watch overall design/look just fine, with just a touch of fun on the second hand with the anchor end(center).
In summary, the hands/dial elements just flow well together and match the watch’s overall design and purpose. I have not yet had a chance to check out the lume, but I have low expectations from my past experience with Bernhardt watches and other reviews I’ve read. No biggy, I have other watches that rock in that department and as I said, I expect it. At this price, I am getting a lot of watch anyways… IMHO! The watch is equipped with a signed (Bernhardt’s B)screw down crown, which is perfectly sized for the watch, and winds the well know reliable Myota 8215 smoothly. The mvt can be hand wound, but is non hacking; I don’t usually like that, but am ok with it in this watch and at this price point. Finally, the caseback is cool, simple but with a nice anchor in the middle.
I’ll take more pics and try on the strap, check out the lume too at some point but so far I am very pleased with the watch. It does its job well and is probably among the biggest bang for your buck out there! It’s very comfortable on the wrist as well, its flat caseback and slender slightly curved profile helps it sit perfectly on my wrist (7”…ish J). A sub 200$ watch that is a no nonsense timepiece at home with casual or formal wear, an homage with its own personality rather than a straight copy IMHO. Plus you get great CS from Fred! A no brainer in my book!
Thank you for reading! Brice
Cell Phone Q&D’s:
Official Watch info from Bernhardt’s site:
t the helm of every ship stands the centerpiece necessary to time and navigate the journey--the Binnacle. Housing and protecting the ship’s compass and navigation instruments, captains the world over depend on their binnacle daily for guidance and keeping them out of harms’ way. As we plot our own courses through life--navigating the obstacles, tribulations and celebrations--we take solace in the people, memories and objects that support us and seek out the right tools to meet our daily challenges. Designed with a leader’s needs in mind, Bernhardt's Binnacle line provides any commander the confidence to stay his course.
Now just as every ship needs an anchor, so does every captain. Introducing Bernhardt's Binnacle Anchor. Reliable and sturdy, its construction is strong enough to weather a hurricane but its design is iconic enough to embrace in black-tie. The Anchor's aim is simple but noble; to provide a respite, a sense of stability to help brace oneself against the high seas of life.
Housed in an all-stainless steel case and matched with a full-steel bracelet with screwed-in links, The Anchor features a scratch resistant sapphire crystal, Bernhardt-signed steel crown and thick, screw in, engraved case-back, providing up to 200 meters of water-resistance. Inside The Anchor boasts a Miyota 8215 automatic movement, manufactured by The Citizen Corporation. The 8215 is one of the more dependable movements ever made, a true workhorse. Powered by the centrifugal force of your wrist, the internal rotor winds the watch simply by wearing it, beating three times-per-second for a smooth sweep of the seconds' hand. Unique to The Anchor are its built-in end-lugs. By building the lugs directly into the curved portion of the case, the included contrast-stitched leather strap (with Bernhardt-signed clasp) will sit flush, removing the unsightly gap all too common with straps. As with all Binnacles, it is a limited-edition, backed by personalized customer-service and a multi-year warranty, outlined on the hand-signed card and comes in a wooden Bernhardt presentation box
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Much more interested in hearing your thoughts on some of the other new arrivals you've had as of late. Regardless I've got one of the 2824 Binnacles and it has remained in the collection getting more use in Summer than Winter. Just as you said it packs a lot of bang for the buck.
Very clean execution
