Although it’s our job right here at aBlogtoWatch to put in writing about watches, generally a written description merely doesn’t do justice to the watch at hand. The Henry Archer Nordsø NEON III is an ideal working example: a dive watch with a purple (very, very purple) dial, gilt palms and indices, and hour markers in teal, orange, and a pair shades of blue. Studying that description, it’s comprehensible if some relatively terrifying photos come to thoughts. I’m nonetheless not fairly positive how Henry Archer (or, relatively, Henrik Schødt, the mad Dane behind the semi-eponymous model) turned this on-paper outlandish mixture of parts into such a trendy and charming watch, however the Nordsø NEON III is simply that.
First, a little bit of background on the model. Henry Archer (an anglicized translation of Henrik Schødt’s title) launched shortly after a sure coronavirus floor the world to a sudden halt. Although that timing will need to have been completely terrifying for Henrik and his spouse — the only real proprietors of the model — the timing couldn’t have been extra fortuitous. The watch business quickly boomed, taking Henry Archer alongside for the journey. The model shortly expanded out of Denmark and went international with its attain. Although the title on the dial has been simplified for the North American market, the watches are as totally Danish as Schødt himself.
Assume “Danish design,” and minimalism will nearly actually come to thoughts, together with loads of lust-worthy mid-century fashionable design. When you could not consider a multi-hued, purple-dialed dive watch as minimalist, Schødt explains it this fashion: “Minimalism just isn’t boring, it’s about mastering complexity. [It’s about] protecting issues concentrated design-wise into its most uncooked kind with out being boring, however relatively timeless.” Sure, the watch is colourful, however at its core, the design itself is restrained — there’s no superfluous textual content or different parts to detract from the design.
In reviewing a watch like this, there’s no level in starting anyplace else however the dial. Right here, the purple dial is radially brushed in concentric circles. It’s dynamic, however not as strongly shifting (and generally illegible) as a typical sunburst. In case you’re a fan of purple however need one thing much more eye-catching, the Nordsø (Danish for North Sea) can also be accessible in a purple meteorite dial. There’s no means round it, the purple stands out. Although my typical model is extra informal and subdued (assume flannels and sweaters), it solely took a pair instances carrying the watch to recollect the oft-repeated statement amongst watch collectors: No one notices your watch, even a brilliant, shiny purple one. However you’ll actually discover it in your wrist.
The hue chosen for the NEON III is a royal purple, which is becoming contemplating it’s complemented by gilt palms and utilized indices. That is most likely the factor that I’d be most skeptical of on paper. But, it’s improbable. As at all times, images exaggerate the impact of those parts. On the wrist, the gold tone is refined however gives a heat that wouldn’t have been achieved with silver palms. In distinction, the sky-blue seconds hand stands out towards the purple and unifies the design, tying into each the bezel and the minutes markers. The palms, hour marker, and bezel indices are all stuffed with Swiss Tremendous-LumiNova BGW9, which shines good and white in the course of the day and light-weight blue at night time with loads of depth.
Purple, gilt, and sky-blue are hardly the one colours you’ll discover on the NEON III. The minutes palms additionally alternate with teal, orange, and darkish blue. In my thoughts, this actually shouldn’t work, but right here we’re, and I adore it. It’s simply the correct amount of funky for my style. If you wish to follow a purple dial, however tone issues down a tad, the Nordsø Cosmic Purple restricts the colour accents to the sky-blue. Be aware that there are many different colorways within the lineup, together with pink, black, white, ice blue, and meteorite, should you’re not feeling so adventurous.
I requested Schødt in regards to the design inspiration for the Nordsø, and why he selected to lean so closely into purple. Because it seems, Schødt spent almost twenty years in 3D animation (he really bought his animation studio to launch Henry Archer), and far of the colour concept for what works in 3D animation instantly translated to his design sensibility in watches. Purple pops in 3D animation and is extremely dynamic and versatile, taking part in properly throughout the colour wheel. Simply check out the minute markers for proof. Schødt defined that the NEON III represents his design style all packed into one watch and reflecting a cyberpunk aesthetic.
There’s nothing actually groundbreaking in regards to the design of the dial or bezel of the Nordsø (or the watch, typically). It’s a traditional skin-diver design that we’ve seen many instances. However the colours and general execution of all the weather collectively flip it into one thing that feels contemporary and new. The bezel is unidirectional and 120-click, although one gripe is that the grip on the knurling is slippery and never straightforward to realize buy. It’s a little bit of a disgrace because the crown has the identical knurling design, however is sweet and grippy. Hopefully, that’s one thing that may be remedied in future iterations. With no numerals on the shiny ceramic bezel, it’s not going to be probably the most legible, both. That mentioned, it’s laborious to think about anybody buying this look ahead to critical diving, despite the fact that it does sport 200m of water resistance.
Given the wild shade decisions, protecting the case design conservative and acquainted makes it really feel like a critical watch, albeit one with a extra adventurous model. At 40mm in diameter and 47mm lug-to-lug, the Nordsø matches proper within the Goldilocks zone for sizing, and the slim 10.5mm case peak hold it carrying mild and comfortable (for reference, my wrist is 6.75″). Given the watch’s sub-$500 price ticket, the ending on the case is stable. No, the sharpness of the chamfers and the fineness of the brushing gained’t compete with one thing from Tudor or Omega, however the ending does really feel a reduce above most choices at this value level. Plus, you get a show caseback for viewing the Miyota 9039 automated motion. This Japanese motion beats at 28.8kbph with a 42-hour energy reserve. Although some may favor a Swiss motion like a Sellita SW200, protecting the value down with a Miyota motion was a sensible alternative, as staying underneath the $500 value level makes the acquisition of a wild purple-dial watch extra of a consideration than it would in any other case be. The one draw back to the Miyota motion (and one thing that shall be acquainted to those that’ve owned one) is that the rotor is extra audible than another actions. Give your arm a swing and you’ll hear and really feel the rotor. It’s not horrible by any means, but it surely’s price mentioning.
The Nordsø comes with two choices for a bracelet: a typical three-link oyster-style bracelet or a beads-of-rice bracelet. Look, should you’re going to purchase a brilliant purple watch, you may as properly go all in and decide the beads-of-rice. I’m a sucker for a beads-of-rice bracelet, and this one is simply as snug as you’d anticipate. Good articulation, slim sufficient to not overwhelm the watch, a little bit of taper from the 20mm on the lugs, tool-free fast launch, and a properly machined on-the-fly micro-adjust clasp. What extra are you able to ask for? Actually, it’s watches like this that get us, as reviewers, so pissed off with watch manufacturers that provide low cost folding clasps on watches 5-10x the value. The micro-adjust isn’t as refined as one thing like Tudor’s T-Match clasp, but it surely undoubtedly does the trick.
For $499 USD, the Henry Archer Nordsø NEON III is an absolute blast. The colours are the star, actually, however the construct high quality of the whole watch is greater than aggressive. Whereas the NEON III may not evoke the early 90s in fairly the identical means because the Zodiac x Worn & Wound Super Sea Wolf Laser Tag, it nonetheless provides that neon pop that outlined the period, together with a palpable cyberpunk aesthetic. Although the NEON III is a protracted bus journey away from the Bauhaus faculty that impressed a lot of Twentieth-century Danish design, there’s one thing tangibly Scandinavian in Henry Archer’s restrained strategy. Perhaps it’s simply the “ø” in Nordsø. Both means, the Henry Archer Nordsø NEON III is a enjoyable, reasonably priced watch that gives wonderful worth in a colourful bundle. For extra data, please go to the Henry Archer website.
Crucial Information
>Model: Henry Archer
>Mannequin: Norsø NEON III
> Value: $499 USD
>Dimension: 40mm diameter, 47mm lug-to-lug, 10.5mm thickness, 20mm lug width
>When reviewer would personally put on it: I discovered myself carrying this extra typically, and in additional settings, than I anticipated. That mentioned, it’s an awesome watch to wear down in town or as a dialog starter.
>Buddy we’d advocate it to first: Somebody trying to combine up their assortment of black-dialed watches with one thing utterly completely different at an reasonably priced value.
>Greatest attribute of watch: Gilt palms and indices towards the purple dial.
>Worst attribute of watch: Lack of grip on the bezel, comparatively loud rotor.
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