1. The flowers in the engraving? They’re poppies. Remembrance Day (or Veteran’s Day) symbol. A personalized engraving is available for an extra cost. 2. The red 12 is a turn-of-the-century style for watches. If you look at the history of Seiko, you can see that their original Laurel from the early 20th century *also* has a red 12. 3. This particular style is known as a trench watch. There are luxury brands that make this style that cost in the 4-figure range, and is based on the watches that existed during World War 1. The only other model that competes is from Timex, available as either the “Welton” or the “Midget”, and I’m not sure if they still make that model. 4. I have a model with “aged radium” color lume and I’ll agree with you about the lume’s efficacy. Because it’s based on a historic design, it’s my go-to watch as part of my “steampunk” outfit (along with a pocket watch in vest).

The origin of the red 12 was to ensure there was no confusion as to orientation. Seems trivial today but many early wrist watches had this feature as most folks wearing them were more accustomed to pocket watches which could very commonly have the crown at 12.

Thank you for the feature!

The flowers are poppies. In some countries it is a symbol of remembrance which comes from the poem In Flanders Fields.

I have the brass version with the cream dial and absolutely love the vintage design of this watch. I was lucky enough to get it while there was still a discount, so the price stung a bit less. I agree, this is a watch that either immediately speaks to you, or it doesn't. Vario is creating some very interesting designs and it'll be fun to see what they come up with over the next year. It sounds like they're working on a dirty dozen military-style watch, so I'm really looking forward to that release.

As a watch guy, I really like this! It looks like a pretty reasonable recreation of a WW1 watch. (Disclaimer: I'm *not* a history guy). The mediocre lume doesn't come as a great surprise. For a mechanical watch, the price is actually not that bad, at least in Australia.

I have the forty millimeter brass version that doesn’t have the 6 cut off by the small seconds with cream dial and orange numerals, I like it

Hey I own one of these! Sans the bund strap. I like how Vario is doing things a little differently in the microbrand world (instead of another diver). The enamel dial is a neat touch. I did pick it up during the Kickstarter, so it was a much better value then.

Haven't even started the video and I'm in love. Usually don't do white or cream-colored faces, but damn it compliments that beautiful strap and those shadowboxed numbers well. I really want it. I'm going to cry when I do watch this, hear the price, have an exstitential "why did I ever get into watches" moment, then start down the rabbit hole of modding out the imperfections just to keep ticking that cost up, rinse and repeat, then maybe, just maybe, cave and buy it.

The flowers are poppies, which are a WW1 symbol as the result of the poem "In Flanders Fields" written by John McCrae

I've had the Timex Midget on my wish list for a while now, though they've gotten harder to find. Similar design, as this and the Timex are both homages to the same WW1 watches (though admittedly I think Vario pulls it off a bit better), plus Indiglo, which I love. Yeah, it's quartz, but that means it should be more accurate than the Vario, and much less expensive.

In Flanders Fields, the poppies grow Between the crosses, row by row

I love it I’ve been wanting one since I saw it. I’m getting the Brass case though. I completely agree it’s about the style and it is going to be a welcome unique watch in my collection. Can’t wait to get it in on my channels. Great review 👍🏻

First, I love this watch. It's pointed right at me like a gun. It's vintage, military, and it's pretty darned accurate (there's a guy on ebay--been awhile, but he restores original trench watches, always wanted to support him for what a great job he did, and I gotta tell ya, this thing with the red 12 and...well just about everything REALLY looks the part). I can understand how someone might not like the engraving, but I love it. It's not like you're waving around a flag--it sits on your wrist, and nobody will see it unless you WANT them to. The sticking point for me is the price. At that price point, miyota is...mmmm ok, but....like Nick is saying, it's a bit high. If you can afford this beautiful watch, I don't think you are getting ripped off. It's beautiful, does EVERYTHING right, the movement with that second hand is perfectly acceptable...as for the seconds per day, true fact, I'm currently wearing an NH35A, and it does lose a little time...I set it by my PC's seconds, and checking right now, it's about 8 seconds slow since I set it on whatever the day was we fell back from EDT to EST. Lume is disappointing at price point. If my financial situation was a little different, I would get one of these and it would get a fair amount of wrist time. But, I'm not where I was financially when I put together most of my collection (couple of eco-drives, couple of casios--gshock riseman tough solar and a 10-yr-battery), couple of ETA 2824/2836 Swiss autos, and a couple of Japanese autos--so 8 watches...I would buy the watch because those varios reasons are pretty darned good for me...that crystal, the vintage look, the case back homage to WWI, absolutely. But at my current situation, I look for specifics and for value. This NH35A I'm wearing pretty much has retired all my other watches except for very specific circumstances. It's on par with this Vario (not as unique or stylish though) and ran me $96. It has a ss mesh bracelet that is the best fitting/most comfortable thing I've ever had on my wrist. I think the Vario is worth the money if you HAVE money. These days, I'm an Escapement Time kinda guy. I'd like to plug Vario for another reason though, and that is the comfort of their elastic nylon NATO straps. VERY nice, also game changers if you have never been really happy with leather straps or ss bracelets...and they would work with this trench watch if you don't mind a compromise with the vintage look. In fact Nick, if you're up for an inexpensive challenge, go to Vario's site, and get 2 elastic nylon straps (about $30, puts you in free shipping)--get the gray one with the white line through it and the black one with the red line through it, and try this watch with those two straps. I'll bet they win it a little more wrist time for you both for the comfort and the aesthetics.

I'm not one to disagree with a PhD when it comes to physics, but to clarify, would it not be the other way around with a 3 Hz movement yielding 6 ticks per second? Genuinely asking because I feel like this is often a point of confusion for people. Thank you, Nick!

I'm a knife guy, not a watch guy. However, I'm a WWI nut. $350? Maybe, but this certainly stood out as something I'd absolutely wear.

Thank you for this video. I really like the design but as a "fashion watch" I'd wish they'd do it with a quartz movement and sell it for $100, $150 maybeif solar. But as I see it most nice designs come with automatic movements only which is sad a bit...

I have the same dial variation on mine, allthough my case is in brass and I got the 40mm so the "G", I mean the "6" would'nt get cut off my the small seconds subdial. I also got the names of my three children engraved on the caseback instead of the standard one. They do also provide a transparent caseback if you want that.

Didn't mention anything about the enameled dial, which is a pretty rare thing for a watch of this price.

Nice looking watch.

When you flick out your latest pocket dagger in the lunch room and Edna from HR is diving under the table and the only thing you can hear in the room is the rotor of your wrist watch...

I really like this watch, I would put it on a leather/suede single pass or a nylon /seat belt strap though. Thanks for the video!

Ooh I really like the look of that… must… not.. get… (further) into watches…

I really like the look of the watch itself. I just don't like the extra back strap bit.

I actually like that that is a cool design I think I need one

G'day Nick, particularly good review mate. On the one hand, (pardon the pun), the basic design is quite compelling IMO, but on the other; give me accuracy any day, and I can count to 12, it doesn't need; A. numerals, (or at least over sized numerals for the dial) and yep either lum it, or don't lum it. And B. .......just put in a second hand, rather than some extra incomprehensible second dial. The back is fine IMO. (I reckon those flowers are poppies), and since mechanicals are only interesting if you can see the workings all the time IMO, again pardon the pun, i.e no great joy if you gotta take it off, to get off, lol. I reckon its another of those that could be a gem, but.................... Cheers Duke. P.S. FYI; the ol' Oceanus T200 is still going like a dream, I'm so grateful that you brought it to my attention and provided a purchasing option too, a la Seija Japan, (great service btw). Lets hope I don't ever need a local service, not sure its in any store over here sill, lol. It is nice to have something fairly unique, but what a wasted marketing opportunity IMO.

It's rare to see a watch that so clearly excels at getting a particular genre right, as this one does. Not to give the inaccuracy a pass here, but most watches are never one-watch collections. And I've got cheap quartz watches that are easily off by a minute or so when I get around to picking them up, assuming the battery isn't dead.

Looks good, band looks thick,I would buy a different strap!

This reminds me of the Pulp Fiction watch.

Nice to see something not a diver (you feeling alright)?

where can you buy this?

It’s G o’clock somewhere. You may want to consider adding some blue loctite to the Chicago screws to secure the strap. The fashion overrides the the practical but that is what fashion does best.

Have you checked out Swiss watch company Ark?

Da dis guy does nice reviews, ty!!

I have a Vario Empire tuxedo that is quite stylish and fashionable, but like the trench you reviewed, you buy it for the aesthetics, not for the utility. Then again, a dress watch is about aesthetics...

Oops , looks like you can't switch bands,but looks good still 👍

The poppy is the flower of Remembrance in the UK. They call their Remembrance Day, Poppy Day. That might explain the design on the back and maybe the red colour. I am Irish so take all this as an informed guess. We don't have a poppy day. I like the watch but all that leather means taking it on and off. I like a completely waterproof watch which I never have to take off because I am a forgetful dude.

I like it... I would like to find a vintage version of a trench watch

I need a strap like that. My skin doesn't dig metal.

The dial its called a DIAL

Do your homework on watches you review, it makes for us to believe in what you say

Plug on the dial..."beautiful" category needed?

Like the watch. Hate the strap. Would look nice on a nato.

you might be talking to fast?

Nick, have you considered putting your disclaimer as part of a prerecorded intro instead of repeating it with every video?

annndddd here i am with my seiko gaining about 1-2 mins a day

Hertz- Car rental (Oh buhaha, I made a funny, The Rat in Ninja Turtles) :>)

It’s so sad that Americans have forgotten WW1 to the point Nick doesn’t understand what the “flowers” are all about.

Dammit nick, you tell me not to get into watches and then show me this....😔

$375? not for miyota. the stutter is not noticeable with small seconds, but these movements with the center second hand look like they are about to stop. the miyota is often used on ali express el cheapos.

I honestly thought first: that is hell of an ugly watch... When nick put it on his wrist I was more like: holy crap that looks good...

I think a Timex looks much better than this

Might be time to stop complaining about "all watches are too big!" Many times when I see something I like the look of, it's too SMALL for my wrist. Get much under 40mm for me, and it feels like a toy. So, I'd give a hard pass on this one...and ask you to stop shrinking all of the watches! :P (Ok...You do have a point when it comes to those 45mm plus "clocks on a wrist"...so point taken).

That’s not a trench watch. There’s no blood on it.