Wristwatch Review: Nautica N/83 Finn World Quartz Watch

One watch I snatched up pre-owned on Amazon is this Nautica Finn World watch (Model NAPFWF201).  It's a beautiful dive-style watch inspired by Finn class sailboats and the sea. The styling of this watch is just amazing with the boldest of blues, a purposeful looking diver-style bezel, and a silicone strap that fits an up to 8-inch wrist.

Nautica Finn World Watch (Amazon Photo)

It looks perfect on Amazon, but this great deal story has a twist.

Incredible Watch Deal but Shockingly Unacceptable Delivery

Amazingly, I found this Nautica watch as a pre-owned deal for just under $15.00. But, I was shocked when the watch arrived.  It was in a box that had about a tablespoon of beach sand inside. It covered the watch, the original box, and any papers inside.

My Nautica N/83 arrived in beach watch condition

I almost sent the watch back. The watch was new in box, but the box was terrible. I dusted the watch off, removed the sticker protecting the crystal and the sticker protecting the case back and rinsed off the straps. 

The dusty wrist strap of my Nautica N/83

Fortunately, clean up revealed that underlying timepiece was undamaged.

Nautica N/83 Finn World Watch Style and Features

Like nearly all Nautica watches, this watch is a winner in terms of style and design. The color combination, nautical reference to the Finn class of sale boats, bezel look, and strap design are all winners. This is one of my best looking watches. As a fashion watch, this Nautica is on point.

From a feature perspective, this Nautica N/83 is a little sparse. The bezel is fixed. That's a bit of a shame because I do like a rotating bezel for timing pizzas and other important things. However, the simplicity of the design is also refreshing. There are no tiny subdials or date windows with numbers I can't read. I don't have to check and set the date with this one when I pick it up after awhile to put it in rotation. The watch has a practical water resistance of 50 meters. I'll rate the lack of features a win for this watch.

Nautica Watch Dimensions

I like the size of this watch. The case is 44mm in diameter and 12mm thick. The strap is 22mm wide and provides plenty of length.

 

Nautica Watch Construction

Founded in 1983 by designer David Chu and a partner, the Nautica brand is now owned by Authentic Brands.  In the fashion space, Nautica is slots above Izod and below Brooks Brothers in Authentic's portfolio of brands. Nautica watches have been designed, manufactured, and distributed by the Timex Group since the 1990s. The design direction and quality guidelines have worked well in the partnership to yield some great looking and affordable watches.

This Nautica N/83 Finn World watch features stainless steel construction, a silicone strap, and a mineral glass crystal. It's a very solid watch.

Nautica Finn World Watch Overall Impression

Overall, I really love this watch. I'm glad I didn't send it back. It's genuinely one of my favorite casual watches. It has a great look. It's very readable and it has practical water resistance.

Where to Buy Nautica Watches

Fashion watch brands move fast and constantly evolve. This watch is no longer available on Amazon.  But, it is listed online at Kohl's for $125 new.  It also appears regularly on secondary sites like eBay. Since Nautica shows remarkable consistency in design theme and style, you may find another Nautica watch appealing using my affiliate link here on Amazon.

Watch Wearing Wednesday: Nautica Quartz Watch with Yellow Strap

If you want a watch that you can't easily misplace, check out this bright ray of sunshine from Nautica.  It's a great watch for summertime wear and one that's likely to cure seasonal mood disorders during the dark days of winter.

A Nautica Quartz Watch with Signal Flags and Yellow Strap

If you like the ocean and all things nautical, this watch is a great choice.  I like the signal flag theme.  The globe motif in the background.  It's another great looking quartz watch for men and, if you can find it, it won't break the bank.  I picked this one up in a Ross store.

A Nautica Quartz Watch in its natural environment

Wristwatch Review: Nautica Quartz Black Dial Signal Flag Watch

For my recent birthday, I received two new watches.  Here is one of them.  It's a Nautica Quartz Watch with a black dial and signal flags on the bezel.  My wife found a pretty good deal on this model at Belk.com.  According to Amazon, this Nautica is listed as the NAD09509G NSR 100 FLAG Analog Display Quartz Black Watch.  As with many watches these days, I think there are some opportunities for marketing departments to come up with better names for watch models.

Nautica Black Dial Signal Flag Watch

Nautica Watch Design

I really like the design of this Nautica signal flag watch.  This Nautica combines traditional elements of a diver style watch and the nautical signal motif with a bit of the black seriousness of "commando" watch.  Nautica has several watches where the signal flags are on the dial and are actually colorful flags.  Those watches have a lighter mood about them than this Nautica in black.

The Nautica logo is featured in this design on the watch strap.  It is positioned on the upper part of the strap and faces away from the wearer.  Thus, it isn't a distraction to the wearer and let's the world know that you are wearing a Nautica watch.  The Nautica logo is also featured prominently on the nicely engraved back plate of the watch.

The Nautica label is also featured with the brand name on the clasp and on the logo faintly etched into the crown of watch.  These are premium details that are expect in a watch at this price level.  I thought they were nicely done.

Nautica Watch Proportions

This Nautica is just about the right size for daily wear.  The case is 44 millimeters in diameter and 12.5 millimeters thick.  Since the bezel doesn't rotate, the watch could probably be a millimeter or two thinner.  However, this watch hides under a long sleeved dress shirt with no problem.

Nautica Watch Construction and Function

This Nautica has a reliable quartz movement.  Warranty service is provided by Timex.  The watch has a stainless steel case and case back.  It offers water resistance to 50 meters (165 feet).  The dial is protected by a durable mineral crystal.  The strap is made of silicone.  It seems durable and a little more pliable than a resin strap. After 15 days of wear, the watch and strap seem to be holding up well.  Overall, the timekeeping and water resistance capabilities of this watch are great.  If there is a downside to the functionality of this timepiece, it's that the bezel doesn't rotate.  Yes, it is a cool looking fashion watch, but a rotating bezel would make it even cooler.

Nautica Black Dial Signal Flag Watch

Nautica Watch Overall Review

This Nautica Signal Flag Black Dial watch is a great watch for daily way.  It is comfortable and good looking.  Overall, I really like it and recommend it.

Wristwatch Review: Nautica Aviation-style Chronogragh Watch

A new job calls for a new watch.  That's my story and that's why I've stuck a new Nautica watch on my wrist.  If I remember correctly, this watch was about $80 at T.J. Maxx and I haven't seen one quite like it on Amazon.  I believe this may be a chrono classic and it is a quartz watch.

 

Watch Design.  This Nautica has a cool style that harmoniously  brings together many classic watch design elements. First it has the vintage stainless steel look of a 1960s James Bond watch.  The case and bezel are neither highly polished nor flat.  Instead, the watch has an experienced classic look. 

Second, the watch has some aspects of a dive watch.  The time and date are set via a screw down crown.     The non-rotating bezel has numbers and markings that subtly evoke a dive watch. 

Third, beneath the crystal, a white triangle at 12 o'clock deftly pays homage to the classic aviator watches that have been so popular in recent years.  The aviator-style is backed up by simple numerals denoting each hour.

Watch Functions.  This Nautica has a lot of functionality built in.  There are three subdials to present information.  At 3 o'clock, the subdial provides the 24 hour time to the nearest hour.  At 6 o'clock, another subdial presents the elapsed seconds once the chronograph function is started.  Finally, at 9 o'clock, a final subdial records the elapsed minutes.  To complete the complications,  a canted date window between 4 and 5 o'clock provides the date.  I wish that the bezel rotated, but it is rather thin and streamlined.

Watch Construction.   Nautica may be a fashion brand, but they also make pretty solid watches.  This Nautica is water resistant to 100 meters.

Overall, I highly recommend this Nautica.  It's a stylish watch that has the looks I like!

Wristwatch Review: The Nautica Unisex N14663G NST 15 Date Watch with Textured Yellow Band

Spring is coming! But, to hasten its arrival, my wife recently bought me a very bright Nautica watch. It's the Nautica Unisex NST 15 Date Watch (Model N14663G) with a bright yellow band.

I've long admired Nautica watches because they have innovative designs and solid construction.  Unfortunately, one of my co-workers wears awesome Nautica watches all the time and I don't want to steal his style.  No one likes a copycat.   

Style. I like this watch dial design because it combines retro sensibilities and innovation.  I think that this Nautica watch looks like a dive watch from the early 1970s.  It is well proportioned with a 45 millimeter diameter case that is just over 13 millimeters thick.  But, the inner part of the dial contains a very cool retro-grade calendar.  In the first picture, notice the orange arrow pointing to the 5th day of the month at 10 o'clock.  How cool is that?  However, I must confess that I can't read the tiny date numerals at all.  That's what an old guy gets for trying to be hip.  The 20 millimeter wide yellow band is quite bright and takes some getting used to.  However, there is a similar Nautica watch with a dark blue band.

Construction.  The Nautica NST 15 Date Watch is solidly constructed with a stainless steel case, bezel and case back.  A screw down crown helps ensure 100 meters of water resistance.  According to Amazon ad copy, the watch is suitable for snorkeling or swimming, but not diving.  That's too bad because the watch also has a unidirectional rotating bezel.  I love those for the functionality of being able to measure elapsed time.  The dial is protected by a mineral crystal for scratch resistance.  Finally, beneath the beautiful exterior lurks an ever reliable Japanese quartz movement.   

Price. My wife got a phenomenal deal on this watch at our local TJ Maxx / HomeGoods store.  However, the prices on Amazon are quite good. Overall, I highly recommend the Nautica NST 15 Date Watch.  This is a watch deal that I'm excited about. It's a great looking watch and it's a great watch value for the money.

[2025 Update: The styles of Nautica watches change regularly as fashion watches are prone to do. However, you can find the latest in Nautica watches for men here on Amazon.]