Lately, I can’t go more than a day without seeing reviews of the new Spinnaker Bradner from many of my favorite YouTube watch reviewers. This model was just released in August of 2018 and has been getting a lot of buzz. All this fanfare piqued my interest in the watch because so many people were reviewing it. Once I found out that the Spinnaker Bradner has a low purchase price of only $285, I had to see one in person. As luck would have it, Spinnaker offered me one for review with a beautiful blue dial.
The Spinnaker Bradner is a vintage style dive watch with some modern style cues
Spinnaker is not necessarily a household name yet so don’t feel bad if you have never heard of the company. As far as I can tell, ย Spinnakerย is not a watch company designed to revive some long-passed horological heritage. The company did not buy a defunct brand and start making designs under the auspices of continuing the work of another era. They are a wholly modern phenomenon that is picking up steam in the affordable watch market. That is my take on it anyway. We all have to start somewhere, and not every company can be a 240-year-old Swiss watch manufacturer like Breguet.
Browsing the user-friendlyย Spinnaker website does not reveal too much about the brand either, but I’m not really here to talk about heritage. Spinnaker is clearly a ย new kind of watch company that is making original designs at a high level of quality at a reasonableย price. This $200 to $300 price bracket includes some of the hottest microbrand watches being made today that often rival established watch brands for excitement and collectibility. Before I get a bunch of hate mail about how a $285 watch cannot compete with a Rolex, let me explain what I mean by that last sentence.
www.spinnaker-watches.com
I am not claiming that Spinnaker watches compete with blue-chip Swiss watches that cost several thousandsย of dollars each and represent the highest ideals of horology. What I am saying is that it is possible to get excited about a watch in this affordable price bracket, and enjoy it for what it is. This concept might not work for bow-tie wearing collectors that have every Omega Speedmaster ever made and can recite the full model number “off the top of their head”. For the rest of us, Spinnaker might provide us with some good cheap thrills… and I mean that in the best way.
Spinnaker Bradner’s retro styling
Like many collectors, I have a mishmash of expensive watches and affordable watches sitting next to each other in my watch box. I have a democratic outlook on collecting watches and I like what I like, no matter who makes it or the price. Truth be told, I can get the same giddy excitement of handling a $2000 watch as I do a $200 watch. Granted, those priceย points represent a world of difference in what you are actually getting, but the feeling as a collector geeking out about a new watch can be eerily similar. A good watch is a good watch and an honest collector will be able to enjoy it for its own merits. Now that we got that out of the way, let’s look at the Spinnaker Bradner.
Spinnaker Bradner is a great outdoors companion
Concept
To some degree, most watches look like something else that came before it. Even the most famous watch designs can have hints of features borrowed from other watches. Microbrands are famous for doing this sort of homage to the point where their watch practically looks like a rebadged “famous watch”. Perhaps these companies think “if you like a classic watch that is no longer available or out of reach (for the average consumer), then you might really like our watch at a much lower price.”
Spinnaker Bradner is a joy on the wrist
However, I have to admit that the Spinnaker Bradner does not really remind me of any famous watch specifically, and that is exactly why I like it. It feels like it is doing its own thing by cherry picking a little from this and a little from that and then adding its own brand flavor on top. The Spinnaker Bradner feels fresh and for that I am thankful.
Case Design
This watch will most likely be compared to “compressor style cases” from the 1960s, but that would be in appearance only with the double crowns. There is not likely to be any true compressor water resistance features, though this case is rated to an acceptable 150 meters of water resistance. The signed crown screws down for better water tightness, but the second unsigned crown for the rotating bezel does not lock.
Spinnaker Bradner uses a compressor style case
Spinnaker Size Chart
The Spinnaker Bradner is built to fit a sweet spot of wearability and should make people with a wide range of wrist sizes happy. Instead of going for an oversized case aesthetic that is becoming less fashionable, Spinnaker kept the Bradner dimensions to a reasonable 42 mm width. Including the crowns, the maximum width is 45mm. ย Not bad for a watch with twin crowns, which are neatly tucked into the case.
The lug-to-lug distance is 50 mm, and this dimension determines how comfortable the watch can feel on the wrist. If a watch is too wide in this dimension, then it can overhang a narrow wrist and feel bulky. It can look ridiculous too, but I’m not stopping anyone from wearing a 50 mm watch. Do whatever makes you happy. The lug horns turn down sharply so that the straps fall along the sides of the wrist. This gives the best fit for most wrists.
Bradner Spinnaker side view
The real party trick of the Spinnaker Bradner can be seen in the case design when viewed in profile. This watch is 14.2 mm high, but I think that it wears a bit lower. ย The case is visually split into three distinct sections. The most distinct middle section looks like a bridge created by curved lugs and mid-case span slightly over 5 mm in height. This is what your eye sees more than the tapered top and bottom case sections. The resulting illusion is a less-tall looking watch.
A Multi-level Dial
While dimensions are important, most people judge a watch by the way it looks. Let’s be honest and admit that even the most comfortable watch will not be worn if it is not visually appealing. Luckily, The Spinnaker Bradner is a handsome timepiece. This model has several color variations so there should be something for everyone. I got the blue sunburst dial and it is spectacular. Bravo Spinnaker!
The sapphire crystal does not appear to be coated and slightly domed on the edges adding to the visual feast that can happen with even the slightest twist of the wrist.
Like many sunburst dials, they are the blue model Bradner SP 5057 is highly reactive to the environmental conditions, sometimes looking black and other time dusky blue. It’s this kind of visual interest that might keep you staring at the Spinnaker Bradner.
Spinnaker Bradner has a wonderful design
The applied slab indices are polished on the edges and generously filled with Superluminova lume that takes on a slightly mint cream appearance in daylight. Indices like these work in any light situation for excellent legibility. I particularly light the half-light situations when the lume is just starting to glow and the reflective edges of the indices are on full display!
Spinnaker Bradner with lume starting to glow
I found the blocky motif of the indices to carry throughout the rest of the dial including the brushed baton hands that have been modified to have a complex rectangular block shape on the hour hand. There is no known name for this style that I could find. If someone knows, please leave a comment. The one place without a block motif is the second’s hand with a small lumed lollipop. Delicious!ย The date window is rimmed at the 3:00 position and takes the place of one of the indices. The date wheel appears to be unobtrusive white on black. Nice!
The Spinnaker Bradner looks great from all directions
The polished silver Spinnaker logo is tastefully small and so is the only other text on the dial “AUTOMATIC” and the water resistance in a darker secondary color. I appreciate this because Spinnaker could have just printed in one color to save a step. It’s little details like this that make the Spinnaker Bradner charming.
Zoey knows the Bradner well as a walking companion
Rotating Inner Bezel
The inner bezel is unlike any that I have seen before. It appears to be made of dark gray plastic that has been molded with 3-dimensional numerals and indices, some of which are painted in Super-Luminova. Combining this feature with the sapphire crystal that is slightly rounded on the edges gives the internal bezel a slightly magnified appearance and the optical illusion that the bezel is a convex doughnut ring made of crystal. This just looks incredible and also helps to read the numbers easily. Cool distortion effects are on display too.
Spinnaker Bradner has a lot of great design details
Additionally, there is a fully graduated minutes/seconds track printed in the dark gray bezel on a lower level and it looks as if it has been circularly brushed to change the sheen. Whoever designed this did a great job of providing interesting details for the owner for years to come. This design is a bit “OLD”ย plus a bit of “NEW” and should stand the test of time.
All Spinnaker Bradners come on a vintage style leather strap
Other Details
Other highlights of the Spinnaker Bradner include a wonderful 20mm leather watch strap that tapers to 18mm at the signed buckle. The leather is thick and wears nicely. The contrasting stitches near the lugs and strap-end add some vintage flair.
Spinnaker Bradner display case back with custom rotor
The Seiko NH-35 movement can be seen through the case back’s display window. The and you can see that the spinning weight has been decorated with Spinnaker’s logo. You really cannot go wrong with a Seiko workhorse caliber like this.
I could probably go on and on about the Spinnaker Bradner, but to wrap up, I can fully recommend this watch as one that looks more expensive than it actually is. It appears to be well-made and has many thoughtful details that differentiate it from other watches in this highly competitive price bracket. The Spinnaker Bradner is a small wonder of modern production and design and thoroughly enjoyable on the wrist. I have enjoyed mine and I have received favorable remarks from other watch nerds who were impressed at the bang-for-buck factor or the Bradner.
Spinnaker Bradner is a little bit of magic
If you want one for yourself, head over to the Spinnaker Web Store to pick from five Bradner colorways, or check out Spinnaker’s other watches and accessories. Iย noticed a 15% OFF discount sometimes appears on the screen. Just wait a few moments and it will pop up, making an already good deal great! Happy hunting.
15% OFF discount
