Watch Specifications from company website:
Versions: Military or Diver dial.
Case Material: Full titanium (full titanium case, caseback, crown, bezel)
Movement: Swiss Rhonda quartz or Swiss Automatic ETA 2824-2
Functions: 3 hands, date
Water resistant: 30 atm / 300 meters / 990 feet
Dial: Flat black / date at 4 o clock
Dial versions: Diver and military version
Diameter at Bezel: 46,80 mm without crown / 50,55 mm with crown,
Case Diameter: 44,50 without bezel and without crown / 49,50 without bezel and with crown
Height: 12,30 mm
Crown: 5,5 mm Height, 8 mm diameter
Weight: 60 grams without watchstrap
Crystal: Sapphire, anti-reflective coating
Bezel: Uni-directional rotation, 120-clicks
Bezel versions: Diver bezel / Countdown bezel
Illumination: Swiss Super-LumiNova photo-luminescent material / Grade A
Watchstrap: Natural rubber strap, vanilla scent, 22mm
International Warranty: 2 years
SWISS MADE
Prices:
Titanium Quartz: 850,-* Euro
Black Titanium Quartz: 880,-* Euro
Titanium Automatic: 1150,-* Euro
Black Titanium Automatic: 1180,-* Euro
Versions: Military or Diver dial.
Case Material: Full titanium (full titanium case, caseback, crown, bezel)
Movement: Swiss Rhonda quartz or Swiss Automatic ETA 2824-2
Functions: 3 hands, date
Water resistant: 30 atm / 300 meters / 990 feet
Dial: Flat black / date at 4 o clock
Dial versions: Diver and military version
Diameter at Bezel: 46,80 mm without crown / 50,55 mm with crown,
Case Diameter: 44,50 without bezel and without crown / 49,50 without bezel and with crown
Height: 12,30 mm
Crown: 5,5 mm Height, 8 mm diameter
Weight: 60 grams without watchstrap
Crystal: Sapphire, anti-reflective coating
Bezel: Uni-directional rotation, 120-clicks
Bezel versions: Diver bezel / Countdown bezel
Illumination: Swiss Super-LumiNova photo-luminescent material / Grade A
Watchstrap: Natural rubber strap, vanilla scent, 22mm
International Warranty: 2 years
SWISS MADE
Prices:
Titanium Quartz: 850,-* Euro
Black Titanium Quartz: 880,-* Euro
Titanium Automatic: 1150,-* Euro
Black Titanium Automatic: 1180,-* Euro
Initial Impressions:
The design is military inspired, with a large, very legible dial and blasted finish. The watch is strikingly light at 60g without the rubber strap. The titanium case is well finished and bezel integrates very nicely into the overall watch design and provides tactical feel.
Watch Packaging:
I have to admit, the packaging for this watch is absolutely awesome! When the watch arrived at my home, I didn't know what to expect for packaging. When I opened the box and pulled the watch out, I was pleasantly surprised to find a nylon travel case with zippered closure. In keeping with the military theme of the brand, the outside of the case has a large Velcro style panel, which included two Orca rubber patches. The watch was safely secured in the wool lined case, with the warranty card as well as a nice Orca branded pen.
This case is one of the best soft carry cases that I have seen. It has the capacity to hold two watches securely within it and is small enough to fit into your coat pocket. I have already used it on several occasions to transport some of my watches to a local GTG and it worked like a charm.
The design is military inspired, with a large, very legible dial and blasted finish. The watch is strikingly light at 60g without the rubber strap. The titanium case is well finished and bezel integrates very nicely into the overall watch design and provides tactical feel.
Watch Packaging:
I have to admit, the packaging for this watch is absolutely awesome! When the watch arrived at my home, I didn't know what to expect for packaging. When I opened the box and pulled the watch out, I was pleasantly surprised to find a nylon travel case with zippered closure. In keeping with the military theme of the brand, the outside of the case has a large Velcro style panel, which included two Orca rubber patches. The watch was safely secured in the wool lined case, with the warranty card as well as a nice Orca branded pen.
This case is one of the best soft carry cases that I have seen. It has the capacity to hold two watches securely within it and is small enough to fit into your coat pocket. I have already used it on several occasions to transport some of my watches to a local GTG and it worked like a charm.
Watch Case and Dial:
The custom designed case has a nice, evenly applied bead blasted finish and a nice military design to it. Although the watch design is very similar to other models in the market, it maintains its own identity with slight revisions and updates that help it stand on its own. The case is made from aerospace grade titanium with a bead blasted finish. It is very well machined, no rough edges and the blasted finish has a nicely textured finish to it. As you can see the lugs extend downward from the case and are slightly angled down towards the wrist. The lugs are drilled and the strap is held secure with hex screws, which are easily removed with the supplied allen wrenches.
The unidirectional (120 clicks) bezel has nicely finished and has deeply notched grips that make it very easy to grip and rotate. Its square grip shape is very similar to those used in Kobold models and add a very aggressive look to the watch. The titanium bezel has an engraved countdown scale and an illuminated pip at 12 o'clock position, which is filled with white Super Luminova.
The watch includes a 4mm thick, flat sapphire crystal. The crystal has antireflective coating on the inside to provide a glare-free view of the dial. As you can see from the photos, the crystal is very clear and has virtually no reflection.
The custom designed case has a nice, evenly applied bead blasted finish and a nice military design to it. Although the watch design is very similar to other models in the market, it maintains its own identity with slight revisions and updates that help it stand on its own. The case is made from aerospace grade titanium with a bead blasted finish. It is very well machined, no rough edges and the blasted finish has a nicely textured finish to it. As you can see the lugs extend downward from the case and are slightly angled down towards the wrist. The lugs are drilled and the strap is held secure with hex screws, which are easily removed with the supplied allen wrenches.
The unidirectional (120 clicks) bezel has nicely finished and has deeply notched grips that make it very easy to grip and rotate. Its square grip shape is very similar to those used in Kobold models and add a very aggressive look to the watch. The titanium bezel has an engraved countdown scale and an illuminated pip at 12 o'clock position, which is filled with white Super Luminova.
The watch includes a 4mm thick, flat sapphire crystal. The crystal has antireflective coating on the inside to provide a glare-free view of the dial. As you can see from the photos, the crystal is very clear and has virtually no reflection.
Watch Strap:
The military dive watch is offered with several different rubber straps. The model that I was provided with came with an Italian “vent style” rubber strap. The strap has a nice vanilla scent to it and is fairly pliable right out of the box. The design style is very similar to the Seiko vent style wave straps (Z-20 & Z-22), but a lot less stiff. The prototype that I was provided had a stainless steel branded clasp. The final models will be fitted with titanium clasps, which will match the finish of the watch head.
Currently, Orca is developing a metal bracelet for the military diver model. At the time of this review, the bracelet was in the preliminary design stage and unavailable. There is, however, an initial photo of the design. Please see Don’s review below for more details.
The military dive watch is offered with several different rubber straps. The model that I was provided with came with an Italian “vent style” rubber strap. The strap has a nice vanilla scent to it and is fairly pliable right out of the box. The design style is very similar to the Seiko vent style wave straps (Z-20 & Z-22), but a lot less stiff. The prototype that I was provided had a stainless steel branded clasp. The final models will be fitted with titanium clasps, which will match the finish of the watch head.
Currently, Orca is developing a metal bracelet for the military diver model. At the time of this review, the bracelet was in the preliminary design stage and unavailable. There is, however, an initial photo of the design. Please see Don’s review below for more details.
Wrist shots of the watch on my wrist:
The watch is very comfortable on the wrist. In fact, once you put it on, you forget that you are wearing it after a while. The watch wears a tad bigger than it's 44mm diameter and is right at the outer limits of I would wear. Despite how it appears in the photos below, the watch does not overhang my wrist, the ends of the lugs are just inside the outer edges of my wrist.
The watch is very comfortable on the wrist. In fact, once you put it on, you forget that you are wearing it after a while. The watch wears a tad bigger than it's 44mm diameter and is right at the outer limits of I would wear. Despite how it appears in the photos below, the watch does not overhang my wrist, the ends of the lugs are just inside the outer edges of my wrist.
Overall impression:
Overall, the Orca Military Diver is a very nice dive watch and initial offering. Considering that the model reviewed is a prototype, I was rather impressed with the quality as well as the finish of the wach and recognize that this will only improve for the final production models. I am a big fan of pilot/Flieger style watches as well as tactical/tool divers and this watch definitely delivers in both areas. The blasted finish gives the watch a more casual look and titanium materials used give it a nice feel on the wrist as well as good balance. In summary, if you are in the market for a nice military styled, tool diver, the Orca is definitely a model that should be seriously considered and will prove to be a great addition to any collection -- Well Done Orca!!
Given that this watch is a prototype, there are several areas that still need to be addressed and finalized prior to it's release. The following is a listing of the items that I noted during my review as well as a few features the Orca that, I feel, could be addressed. These points are nit-picky, but warrant mention:
- The bezel turned smoothly and had nice, firm clicks. However, the positioning of the bezel is a bit loose and had some “play” in it. The brand was well aware of this when the prototypes were shipped and are currently refining the bezel to eliminate this.
- Currently, the caseback is brushed stainless steel. I would have preferred it to match the case materials. I was informed by Orca that the final versions of the watch will have a titanium caseback and finishing to match the case.
- The drilled lugs on the watch are too close to the top edge of the lugs. I would have preferred that the drilled lugs be more cantered on the lug. This would provide a more symmetrical, refined look to the watch. If this was not possible due to the strap designs or another design consideration, perhaps another means of attachment could be considered – such as a smaller screw, traditional drilled lugs with springbars or non-drilled lugs with springbars.
- Although the second hand is more than adequate, I would have preferred a thicker hand with more lume and/or red/orange tip. This point is really a personal preference, but I believe that it would add to the already very good legibility of the watch as well as add a little more character.
- The guards are adequately sized, but they are designed with a straight edge on the crown side of th e guards. I would have preferred that these be machined to flow with the crown shape. This would give the watch a more refined look when viewed from the side as well as a nicer transition between the components and a more sleek appearance.
- I have never been a fan of vent/wave style straps. However, I believe that Orca has improved on this well know design by utilizing a more pliable and soft Italian rubber. This is definitely an upgrade to the typical, stiff Seiko wave style straps, but I tend to prefer a straighter design due to the overall look and the way that the watch wears on my wrist. Although the strap provided is well made and comfortable to wear, I am a big fan of IsoFrane straps and will more than likely transfer an Orca diver onto one for daily wear.
Overall, the Orca Military Diver is a very nice dive watch and initial offering. Considering that the model reviewed is a prototype, I was rather impressed with the quality as well as the finish of the wach and recognize that this will only improve for the final production models. I am a big fan of pilot/Flieger style watches as well as tactical/tool divers and this watch definitely delivers in both areas. The blasted finish gives the watch a more casual look and titanium materials used give it a nice feel on the wrist as well as good balance. In summary, if you are in the market for a nice military styled, tool diver, the Orca is definitely a model that should be seriously considered and will prove to be a great addition to any collection -- Well Done Orca!!
Given that this watch is a prototype, there are several areas that still need to be addressed and finalized prior to it's release. The following is a listing of the items that I noted during my review as well as a few features the Orca that, I feel, could be addressed. These points are nit-picky, but warrant mention:
- The bezel turned smoothly and had nice, firm clicks. However, the positioning of the bezel is a bit loose and had some “play” in it. The brand was well aware of this when the prototypes were shipped and are currently refining the bezel to eliminate this.
- Currently, the caseback is brushed stainless steel. I would have preferred it to match the case materials. I was informed by Orca that the final versions of the watch will have a titanium caseback and finishing to match the case.
- The drilled lugs on the watch are too close to the top edge of the lugs. I would have preferred that the drilled lugs be more cantered on the lug. This would provide a more symmetrical, refined look to the watch. If this was not possible due to the strap designs or another design consideration, perhaps another means of attachment could be considered – such as a smaller screw, traditional drilled lugs with springbars or non-drilled lugs with springbars.
- Although the second hand is more than adequate, I would have preferred a thicker hand with more lume and/or red/orange tip. This point is really a personal preference, but I believe that it would add to the already very good legibility of the watch as well as add a little more character.
- The guards are adequately sized, but they are designed with a straight edge on the crown side of th e guards. I would have preferred that these be machined to flow with the crown shape. This would give the watch a more refined look when viewed from the side as well as a nicer transition between the components and a more sleek appearance.
- I have never been a fan of vent/wave style straps. However, I believe that Orca has improved on this well know design by utilizing a more pliable and soft Italian rubber. This is definitely an upgrade to the typical, stiff Seiko wave style straps, but I tend to prefer a straighter design due to the overall look and the way that the watch wears on my wrist. Although the strap provided is well made and comfortable to wear, I am a big fan of IsoFrane straps and will more than likely transfer an Orca diver onto one for daily wear.
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