Vaer is a promising new microbrand founded in 2016 when friends Reagan Cook and Ryan Torres pooled their savings to create a dive watch prototype. These guys were not just watch enthusiasts; they loved the ocean, and their watches were tested both in the real world and in the lab. When their first watches successfully withstood 10 atmospheres of pressure, they knew they were ready for the market.
In 2017, they released their first watches and after some initial success, decided to move all operations to the USA. Their first American watches were released in 2018 and were fully crowd-funded. This has been part of Vaer's tradition from the start, and it's something they continue to do today. Another tradition that continues is their love for the ocean and stylish watches that can truly handle sea excursions; Torres still starts every day on his surfboard.
In 2019, Vaer made another big leap and started producing automatic watches in addition to their main quartz line. Vaer has just announced the release of new mechanical dive watches, the D5 Tropic. I had the opportunity to try one and got a good sense of how they feel and function. Here's what I found.
Dual-Tone Diver Dial
The Vaer D5 Tropic features a dual-tone dial that is truly unique in the dive watch market. I've seen many bezels but never anything like this. The inner part of the dial is a deep black, while the wide outer ring is cream-colored. Where they intersect, cream lines go down to form indices. Black Arabic numerals listing the minutes at every five-minute position are positioned on the cream ring. The inner dial is also appealing, with a large cream triangle at the “12 o’clock” position, as well as the Vaer logo and the words “Automatic 20ATM” at the “6 o’clock” position.
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This unique profile looks great at night as well. In darkness, the Super Luminova index transforms into a stepped index encircling the central part of the dial. It's not every day that watchmakers surprise me with their design choices, but this is one of those days. The date window at the “6 o’clock” position also has an unusual design with alternating colors. For the first four days of the month, it’s black and white, then shifts to red, and so on.
Robust Case and Bezel
The D5 Tropic's 39mm stainless steel case is exactly what you would expect from a quality diving watch. It is waterproof up to 200 meters and features a screw-down crown and case back. The case back itself is transparent, with sapphire crystal of the same quality as the main crystal. The only significant difference is that the main crystal has a double-domed coating with internal and external anti-reflective coating.
The bezel is as good as expected. It is made of ceramic and features a 120-click rotating design that adjusts easily and precisely. Luminescent markers are placed at 12, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 o’clock, making it easy to use in the dark.
Miyota 9015 Movement
The D5 Tropic uses the Miyota 9015 movement, which is a popular choice among microbrands. First released in 2009, it is an improvement over the older caliber 8215. Its accuracy is -10 to +30 seconds per day when it leaves the Miyota factory. However, it can be further regulated, and Vaer tunes the D5's accuracy to -5 to +15 seconds per day. This matches what you would expect from most watches in this price range. Moreover, the hacking feature allows for easy setting. Pull out the crown, and the second hand stays put while you adjust the minutes as needed.
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The movement performs 28,800 vibrations per hour and has a built-in shock absorber to maintain accuracy even in challenging conditions. The power reserve is 40 hours, which is plenty for a short weekend. Overall, this is a reliable movement that exceeds expectations for such a young brand.
Strap and Additional Features
The D5 Tropic comes with a 20mm stainless steel strap with three links. The strap is flexible enough for comfort and feels pleasant and secure. Yet even so reliable, it is easy to remove, thanks to the quick-release clasp that can be opened with two fingers. If the fit is already “close enough,” you might not even have to take it to a jeweler for adjustment. The clasp housing has four adjustment points built in.
As with all Vaer offerings since 2019, the D5 is assembled in America and comes in an attractive gift box. The watch is backed by a 24-month warranty that guarantees 200 meters of water resistance.
To explore all Vaer offerings, visit their official website.
