The Perils of Searching For Fine European Watches

I've been researching high end watches lately with searches for brands like Towson Watch Company, Rolex, and Tudor.  Now, according to the ads I'm seeing, the Internet thinks that I may want to buy a Mercedes or borrow up to a million dollars.  I guess that is just one of the perils of searching for watches that I can't really afford.

Aaaah, but, it is nice to dream of European engineering and design. 

Of course, if you look hard enough, you'll also discover some wonderful brands that bring European design to your wrist at affordable prices.  While the manufacturing may be handled in Asia, the heart and soul of some of these brands is European.

ADNA.  The watch I'm wearing right now came to me courtesy of a Belgian firm called ADNA. ADNA XXL watches combine diver-style practicality with innovative interchangeable straps and fun color combinations.  The ADNA XXL collection was designed by one of the best watch design minds in Europe!

Insignum.  Germany's Insignum brand also brings teutonic design sensibilities to your wrist at a reasonable price point.   When the brand was first launched in the U.S. my friends at ZuluTimeZone.com sent me a really cool example to review.

Neither ADNA or Insignum watches are overly expensive.  They fit most wrists and they fit most budgets.  If you aspire to own a product with fine European design, these watches cost considerably less than a Mercedes or Maserati!

Wristwatch Review: The Innovative ADNA XXL

As summer comes to a close, I've been wearing a great new watch that I recently received courtesy of the folks at ADNA.  It's called the ADNA XXL and it combines the comfort of a silicone band, the innovation of interchangeable straps, and the business like look of a diver-style watch.

Watch Dimensions. The ADNA XXL is a large watch with a movement that is surrounded by a silicone strap.  The overall width of the watch is 52 millimeters.  However, despite the large size, the ADNA XXL is a lightweight and comfortable watch.  While it has a stainless steel caseback, the case is made of heavy duty PVC and the strap is made of silicone.  I find the weight of the ADNA XXL light and comfortable.

Watch Dial Style. The ADNA XXL is available in a variety of styles.  Since they are uni-sex watches, you can get them with straps in a wide variety of colors.  However, the core watch comes in with a strong, masculine, diver-style look.  Each watch has numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock.  The date window sits just inboard of the 3 o'clock marker.  The bezel rotates unidirectionally with satisfying clicks.  The rotating bezel has a clean design markings in 10 minute intervals and the ADNA name occupying the 12 o'clock position.
 

Watch Construction.  I'm rough on watches.  Unfortunately, I tend to whack my wristwatches into hallway walls and door frames when I round corners.  Typically, I like a strongly built, all metal watch, but the ADNA XXL takes a different approach to cornering.  When I incidentally bang the watch into a wall or door frame, my ADNA XXL bounces off without a scratch.  The silicone strap does an awesome job of protecting the watch.  So far, I haven't gotten any scratches at all.

While the ADNA XXL is a first and foremost a fashion watch, it is built to be water resistant to 3 atmospheres (100 feet).  That's enough water resistance to protect against accidental dunkings and rain.  The Seiko quartz watch movement resides in a strongly built PVC case protected by the silicone band.  With the ADNA XXL you get a nice combination of strength and light weight.

Watch Pricing. My ADNA XXL has already drawn compliments.  Yet, it is currently priced at a refreshingly affordable $99.  That seems just right for this watch.  It also puts the ADNA XXL in the same ballpark as a typical Fossil or Relic watch.  But, as a novel and newly introduced timepiece, the ADNA XXL will be relatively rare on American wrists for some time to come. 

Overall, I like the ADNA XXL and it has quickly become one of my favorite watches for daily wear.

ADNA: A New Watch Brand from Belgium

Can you imagine a watch with a silicone band and a high quality quartz movement?  It would be superbly comfortable and stylish!  Fortunately, Belgian watch designer Alain De Nys imagined just such a watch.  The new ADNA watch brand features interchangeable silicone straps and superbly readable dial and a high quality quartz movement from Japan.  The ADNA XXL line brings comfort, design, and functionality together in a timepiece that we can all afford!

If you've ever owned a watch with a silicone strap, you know that it is a really comfortable material to wear.  Plus, multiple colors are available.  If you are a traditionalist like me, you can stick with black or gray.  But, if you want to open up your options, you can buy a color like lime green, white, or orange.  If you buy more than one, you can swap the straps around.  These dive-style watches are water resistant to 3 atmospheres (98 feet) and are perfect for closing out the summer relaxing by the pool or kicking back at the beach.