Since I established Total Watch Reviews I have noticed an influx of new and exciting brands entering the lucrative watch industry. OceanArc is a British company situated in the idyllic location of Bristol, England. The business was founded in May 2013 by the multi talented Kevin Lambert. He has drawn on valuable experience gained from the design and engineering industry. Over the last few years he has been involved in numerous projects involving boats, tankers and oil platforms. His fascination for the sea has inspired him to produce his own original timepiece called the Series One.
I have had several conversations with Kevin over the last few months and realise how sincere he is about this venture. Initially he has concentrated on designing one limited edition model, of which only 500 pieces will be produced. I admire what he is trying to achieve especially since he is entering one of the most competitive areas of the market. Currently there are many well-made diver watches available to purchase. I have been fortunate to review a good cross section of these timepieces and generally like this genre. Essentially the Series One is a good-humoured twist on this theme.
Due to proactive marketing on Kevin’s behalf the brand has significantly raised its profile in a very short space of time. This has culminated in a sponsorship deal with the British Longboard surfing champion Adam Griffiths. A few days ago I received the watch and realistically the pictures don’t do it justice. The Series One has a diameter of 42mm, which is smaller than other diver watches I have featured. These proportions should appeal to a wide audience of both male and female buyers. I found it sat comfortably on my wrist and there was no friction from the lugs. Primarily this is down to the innovative design of the 26 sided stainless steel case. The timepiece felt fairly lightweight to wear and in my opinion would be a viable option for daily usage.
Visually the façade of Series One is completely unique and highly distinctive. The dial has an attractive etched wave crest pattern, which gives the watch a sporty appearance. I love the vibrant injection of colour on the bespoke hands, numerals and indexes. This perfectly contrasts with the sleek matt black DLC (diamond like carbon) coated case. Every element of the composition has been carefully considered and the overall attention to detail is first rate. Clearly the aquatic styling is light hearted and I feel that is integral to the success of the design.
Beneath the watch’s charming exterior lies a reliable Calibre ETA 2824-2. This Swiss automatic movement comprises 25 jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. The Series One features hours, minutes, seconds, date and a power reserve of 41 hours. It also has a uni-directional bezel with Super-Luminova markings and is water resistant to a depth of 500 metres. Kevin has informed me that to ensure optimum quality the timepieces are manufactured in Germany.
The Series One has a super cool Stingray strap with a customised OceanArc engraved clasp. There is also an additional durable Ted Su rubber diving strap provided. The suggested retail price is: £2,000 (approximately $3,190).
http://www.oceanarc.co.uk
