A red-orange-tipped lollipop second hand finishes it off. Large sword hands (bead-blasted, of course) pair well with the oversized hour markers. The porthole 6 o’clock date window is framed in a bead-blasted ring, and the disk itself is lumed. Toothy, bead-blasted markers like pop through the chapter ring to overhang similarly shaped cutouts in the sandwich dial beneath, which itself reveals a layer of vintage lume. There are no wrong choices here.Īll of Draken’s watches have featured cleverly detailed dials, and the Benguela’s is particularly fun. Moreover, it warms my heart by being $100 cheaper. The Seiko powered version bests the ETA on power reserve (41 hours instead of 38) and is, as far as I’m concerned, utterly awesome.
the Seiko’s 21.6k) and, of course, Swissness. The Swiss unit boasts a higher, smoother beat rate (28.8k vs. The markings are markings deeply engraved and filled, a yellow lume triangle at the top center.īuyers have the option of two equally unflappable movements, a Swiss ETA 2824-2 or a Japanese Seiko NH35A. Note the angled cuts – a subtly appealing touch that makes the edge more comfortable and attractive. It is one solid stainless steel unit with broadly spaced indentations that provide a secure grip. Of course, it has a 120-click bezel, which its an impressive piece all by itself. If you are a normal human being living a normal human life, there is little you can do to rattle this beast. It boasts a helium escape valve (red-orange-ringed no less!), knurled screw-down crown, 3.7mm domed and anti-reflective coated sapphire crystal, and a whopping 500m water resistance. It is probably the best case art I have seen this year.Ī dive watch this big had better be able to back up its Thicc Boi* posturing with some solid specs and the Benguela delivers. Those ominous tentacles stand in high relief. The punch-engraved case back is simply outstanding. The Benguela certainly doesn’t want for wrist presence, but thanks to some thoughtful curvature, it wasn’t at all unwieldy on my 6.75” wrist. This is generally not one of my favorite elements, but on this watch, it seems entirely in keeping with its aggressive design brief. Like the Kalahari before it, the watch has the Draken name deeply engraved onto the side. Hooded lugs make it appear even more substantial, although it wears surprisingly well. The stainless steel case measures 43mm wide and is a beefy 15mm thick. Like previous Drakens, the Benguela is not small. I had the sample just long enough to get a good feel for it, and it felt darn pretty good. Well, we are now just two days away from launch, and I am ready to share my review of the black-dial prototype he sent me. Movement: Seiko NH35A automatic with hacking and hand-windingĬase: High-grade 316L bead-blasted stainless steel, helium escape valve, punch engraved case back.īracelet: Tapered 316L bead-blasted bracelet.A couple of weeks ago, I told you about the Benguela, a new diver that Draken Watches was preparing to launch on Kickstarter. Read more about the Bengula in our Blog post: The tool watch with the spirit of the Dragon The custom date wheel is also luminous, ensuring legibility even during the twilight hours.Įach watch comes standard with a bead-blasted bracelet with a micro-adjust clasp, and a natural rubber strap, perfect for water sports of any kind.
X1-Old Radium Super-LumiNova® is used for an incredible nighttime glow. The dial is precisely crafted with slabs of bead-blasted steel, set on top of a sandwich dial, for a display with incredible depth. Turn the watch over to see an incredibly deep and detailed engraving of a sea monster, inspired by the Paper Nautilus myth from South African folklore. The hooded lugs give the watch a great wrist presence while eliminating the need for SELs (solid end links) so that bracelet installation is a breeze. At 2 o’clock is the HEV (Helium Escape Valve), designed to equalize the internal pressure of the watch when returning from extended periods at extreme depths. The case features an offset knurled crown at 4 o’clock, tucked away for comfort.
DRAKEN WATCHES PROFESSIONAL
The Benguela tool watch has all the features you would expect to see from a professional diving instrument but adds some details that are rarely seen in the genre.
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