If you need a watch that can withstand all outdoor adventures - from scaling mountain slopes to diving into cenotes - almost any modern watch can tackle this task and endure far more trials than we subject them to.
Nevertheless, the appeal of the right tool for the job cannot be denied. And in the Archimede Outdoor Protect 39 Black Forest model, this intent is embedded in the name itself.
The birth of field watches can be traced back to the trenches of World War I, where a sturdy construction and simple design allowed for easily readable watches capable of enduring battlefield abuse. In the years leading up to World War II, this design was refined, resulting in a model that became the archetype of modern field watches with Arabic numerals, luminous hands and markers, and railway minute tracks.
Despite the absence of strict rules defining what a field watch is, watches like the “Dirty Dozen,” issued by the MOD during World War II (and executed by renowned brands such as IWC, Omega, Longines, and Jaeger-LeCoultre), set basic design principles.
In recent decades, the addition of 13-24 hour numerals has become common for field watches (for example, the Hamilton Khaki), while other brands have reduced the number of numerals (such as the Tudor Ranger). However, this genre of watches is united by the simplicity of design, robust construction, and an emphasis on legibility.
The Archimede Outdoor Protect 39 is a modern and distinctly German approach to classic field watches, with more than enough tricks up its sleeve to make them truly special - and at a surprisingly reasonable price.
Housed in a 39mm case, the Outdoor Protect 39 matches the size of modern field watches, but thanks to the hooded lugs, the lug-to-lug distance is only 43.5mm. Add to this a thickness of just 11.2mm (not bad for a 200-meter water-resistant watch), and you get an incredibly comfortable watch to wear, discreet on the wrist, especially when paired with a NATO-style strap.
Unlike most field watches, the Outdoor Protect 39 is equipped with crown guards and a screw-down crown for added security. But what I like most is the 316-L stainless steel case, made by Archimede's parent company, Ickler, in Pforzheim.
The case undergoes a hardening process, resulting in a hardness of 1200 Hv - similar to Sinn's Tegiment treatment. For a watch intended for wear in the forest, a hardened case is more than welcome (at least for those of us who prefer our watches to look relatively new).
The Archimede Outdoor Protect 39 is available in various dial colors - from classic black or white to cream or bright red. Additionally, you can switch out the second hand if you want to create something unique.
Personally, I'm most drawn to the Black Forest model featured in this review, with its olive dial and old radium-colored lume. This color scheme looks at home in the woods and aligns well with the watch's intent.
While I'm not usually a big fan of artificially aged lume, in this case, the old radium is used not to create a false sense of age but rather to complement the olive dial's earthy tones. And in my opinion, it works.
As expected (since it is a field watch), the dial is highly legible, and if you're not a fan of traditional field and pilot watches with their large numerals, the Outdoor Protect 39 is exactly what you're looking for, as the numerals virtually disappear into the markers.
The matte dial, topped with a flat sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, means that glare and reflections are minimized. The only complaints about the dial - and they are minor - are that the hour hand seems too long, and the date wheel could have been colored to match the old radium lume, but the background is black, not matched to the dial color.
When it comes to straps, Archimede offers you several options: leather, silicone, or a stainless steel bracelet.
The silicone strap is comfortable, although a bit thicker and stiffer than I would prefer, considering the watch's petite size. The bracelet, which is not hardened, although you can purchase a hardened version for a small surcharge, is quite serviceable.
It's a standard three-link construction with a stamped clasp, which feels a bit flimsy considering the quality of the rest of the watch's components. I prefer to wear the Outdoor Protect 39 on an 18mm dark khaki NATO-style strap, which pairs excellently with the Black Forest color aesthetic.
Under the solid case back lies a Swiss-made Sellita SW 200-1 automatic movement. Archimede does not specify the brand, but the SW200-1 is known for reliably beating at 28.8 kbph and keeping accurate time with a power reserve of 38 hours, so there are no complaints.
The Outdoor Protect 39 is not the only watch in Archimede's Outdoor line. If you prefer a chronograph, Archimede has you covered. If you're looking for something larger and anti-magnetic, there's the Outdoor 41 AntiMag. Prefer titanium? There's the Outdoor 41 AntiMag Titan.
While I'm partial to the Outdoor Protect 39 model with its modest size and hardened case, it's nice to see that Archimede offers options in this line.
Considering that the watch is made in Germany by the renowned case manufacturer Ickler and features a hardened case, the price of the Outdoor Protect 39 is pleasantly surprising: it is less than $1,000 (€960 with VAT, €806.72 without VAT).
The Outdoor Protect 39 Black Forest, while a field watch, represents a clear evolution of the genre and at the same time feels entirely its own. To learn more about Archimede and the Outdoor Protect 39 Black Forest model, visit the brand's website.
Essential Data
- Brand: Archimede
- Model: Outdoor Protect 39 Black Forest
- Price: €960 with VAT (€806.72 without VAT)
- Dimensions: 39mm diameter, 43.5mm lug-to-lug, 11.2mm thickness, 18mm lug width
- When you will personally wear them: Hiking, camping, or fieldwork.
- The friend we would recommend them to first: Outdoor enthusiasts who need sturdy and reliable watches, free from babysitting and not thinking about it during forest walks.
- Best feature of the watch: Case shape, dimensions, and construction - especially the hardening process.
- Worst feature of the watch: The bracelet (especially the clasp) does not match the case quality.