Wenger Off Road Quartz Titanium - Quick Review.
Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2018 1:26 pm
I just purchased the following from the previous deals thread, thanks to BostonCharlie. Since it's still new on the wrist, am repeating my review here. The deal at Certified has since risen from $59 to $98.
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Wenger Off Road Quartz Titanium 01.1341.208
Thanks to BostonCharlie for finding a $59 deal on the Wenger Off Road Titanium 01.1341.208 at Certified Watch. It was posted to the now-closed Deals thread, shortly before it was shuttered. It is a quartz watch typically offered for sale between $170-251. Dimensions 43mm x 10.4mm. I can’t find it on Wenger’s site, so perhaps it’s recently discontinued. Here’s a quick review:
The good:
It’s titanium, so very light. On the bracelet it’s only 3.0 oz.
Thin at 10.4mm. This is my thinnest rotating bezel watch, so far.
Super comfortable, even on the bracelet. Just disappears on the arm and is forgotten…which I like.
The lume on the hands — still easily readable at 5am. I was surprised.
Very legible, fast reading dial.
The bad:
It’s a bead blased titanium. It’ll scratch. Oh boy will it scratch. I can live with that for $59.
Lume on the dial, which is almost nonexistant. Tiny little pips at 3, 6, 9, 12.
Odd clasp. I don’t know what a diver’s extension is, but this may have it. An additional expansion joint that flops out when you don’t want it to, and must be folded back in, before the main clasp can be closed.
No screwdown crown and only 100m.
The logo is overdone. IMO, budget watches should de-emphasize their branding, not over-emphasize it. Nobody is going to buy this watch so they can brag about who makes it.
I’d sure like to buy a quartz watch where the date is at the edge of the dial, not inset.
The indifferent:
The bracelet. Solid end links but folded middle links. Very lightweight for a bracelet but you can tell the middle links are chintzy. I’ll likely put it on a canvas strap before long.
Sapphire COATED crystal. I don’t know anything about that. I assume it’s less desirable than solid sapphire.
The rotating bezel. No complaints, but reminds me of my bicycle hub, has that “Shimano” sound to it, and turns somewhat more easily than other bezels. Bezel is low profile, though, so chances of resetting it by accident are slim.
Second hand hits the markers? Close, and mostly. It’s a quartz though.
White date window on a black dial. It’s OK, I guess.
Odd design decision to have the date window “eat into” the 3.
Odd to have the minutes/seconds numbered on the dial AND AGAIN on the bezel.
Of these attributes, the overwhelming one is: comfort. Just a super comfortable watch that “goes away” until you need a view of it.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Wenger Off Road Quartz Titanium 01.1341.208
Thanks to BostonCharlie for finding a $59 deal on the Wenger Off Road Titanium 01.1341.208 at Certified Watch. It was posted to the now-closed Deals thread, shortly before it was shuttered. It is a quartz watch typically offered for sale between $170-251. Dimensions 43mm x 10.4mm. I can’t find it on Wenger’s site, so perhaps it’s recently discontinued. Here’s a quick review:
The good:
It’s titanium, so very light. On the bracelet it’s only 3.0 oz.
Thin at 10.4mm. This is my thinnest rotating bezel watch, so far.
Super comfortable, even on the bracelet. Just disappears on the arm and is forgotten…which I like.
The lume on the hands — still easily readable at 5am. I was surprised.
Very legible, fast reading dial.
The bad:
It’s a bead blased titanium. It’ll scratch. Oh boy will it scratch. I can live with that for $59.
Lume on the dial, which is almost nonexistant. Tiny little pips at 3, 6, 9, 12.
Odd clasp. I don’t know what a diver’s extension is, but this may have it. An additional expansion joint that flops out when you don’t want it to, and must be folded back in, before the main clasp can be closed.
No screwdown crown and only 100m.
The logo is overdone. IMO, budget watches should de-emphasize their branding, not over-emphasize it. Nobody is going to buy this watch so they can brag about who makes it.
I’d sure like to buy a quartz watch where the date is at the edge of the dial, not inset.
The indifferent:
The bracelet. Solid end links but folded middle links. Very lightweight for a bracelet but you can tell the middle links are chintzy. I’ll likely put it on a canvas strap before long.
Sapphire COATED crystal. I don’t know anything about that. I assume it’s less desirable than solid sapphire.
The rotating bezel. No complaints, but reminds me of my bicycle hub, has that “Shimano” sound to it, and turns somewhat more easily than other bezels. Bezel is low profile, though, so chances of resetting it by accident are slim.
Second hand hits the markers? Close, and mostly. It’s a quartz though.
White date window on a black dial. It’s OK, I guess.
Odd design decision to have the date window “eat into” the 3.
Odd to have the minutes/seconds numbered on the dial AND AGAIN on the bezel.
Of these attributes, the overwhelming one is: comfort. Just a super comfortable watch that “goes away” until you need a view of it.
