Farer Builds Off The Stanhope II With Three New Cushion Case Watches

British watchmaking is exploding. Whereas there are just a few high-end manufacturers, the majority are available beneath $5,000, providing an attractive array of watches for the fashionable Anglophile—or anybody on the lookout for a brand new watch with a little bit of character. As a result of if there’s one factor that appears to be true of all these manufacturers, it’s that their watches have character, whether or not it’s a splash of coloration, heritage, or a signature case. Farer is not any exception, and maybe greater than any of the opposite extant British manufacturers, it has little bit of enjoyable with its watches. Since its founding in 2015, Farer has launched a dizzying smorgasbord of colourful watches (and insisted on the complicated conference of giving each new dial a brand new mannequin title). Most not too long ago, Farer has simply expanded on its hand-wound cushion case Stanhope II (which itself was up to date earlier this 12 months) by releasing three new dials.

Three new dials are introduced: the silver Lethbridge, the two-tone salmon Durham, and the inexperienced Mansfield. The dials all function the identical common format: a vertically-grained base dial with a chapter ring, raised hour ring with utilized numerals, and tiered subdial with working seconds and a radial ring. Whereas the Stanhope II featured lumed syringe palms and lume pips alongside its sporty chapter ring, the brand new fashions put off the lume, introduce a color-coordinated alpha handset, and swap the sporty chapter ring out for a extra conventional railway design. The Lethbridge options Arabic numerals all the way in which round (save for the 6, which might be interrupted by the subdial), the Mansfield options Arabics alternated with baton markers, and the Durham options that very same alternation however with Roman numerals. Compellingly, Farer isn’t simply providing completely different colours, however completely different hour demarcations which create fairly completely different appears to be like. If I’m choosing a favourite, it’s the scrumptious lime of the Mansfield.

The case of the gathering falls someplace between a tonneau and a cushion case, that includes the midcase of the previous and the bezel of the latter, and mixing the 2 with comfortable transitions and lugs that finish in virtually pinched factors. At 38.5mm-wide and simply 10.8mm-thick, the watch is certain to put on simply. Brief, curved lugs and a 43.8mm lug-to-lug measurement solely additional its magnificence on the wrist. As a result of that’s what these watches are—elegant. You possibly can’t pair clear, lumeless dials with swooping strains and delicate transitions and get something however magnificence (I suppose one might, however Farer hasn’t). The case is completely polished, save for the pull-out crown’s embossed bronze cap, which options the Farer brand (early Farer fashions featured an all-bronze crown). Given the hand-wound motion and considerably traditional styling, its no shock that water resistance is just 50m, actually sufficient for many events the place the fashions may be worn. Every mannequin comes on a color-matched leather-based strap with quick-release pins.

Seen via a sapphire crystal caseback is a Sellita SW216-1.  Farer initially used the ETA 7001 within the unique Stanhope launch, however when it up to date the mannequin earlier this 12 months, it upgraded the motion from the 17-jewel, 21,600 vph ETA to the 24-jewel, 28,800 vph Sellita. The hand-wound motion options hacking and a 45-hour energy reserve and though the SW216-1 has a date perform, I’m glad to report that Farer has eliminated the additional crown place. The ornament contains blued screws and a customized bridge with an Escher-like design of interlocking Farer logos. Lastly, all of the actions are elaboré grade, with a quoted accuracy of -/+7 seconds per day, adjusted in 3 positions.

I like this path for this mannequin line. There was a sportiness to the Stanhope II that felt incongruous with its elegant case. These new fashions, alternatively, lean into that magnificence whereas nonetheless managing to showcase Farer’s penchant for providing selection and coloration throughout the identical assortment. Do I want Farer used a typical naming conference as a substitute of giving each new dial a brand new mannequin title? Certain, however that wouldn’t cease me from having fun with certainly one of these watches. The Farer Lethbridge, Durham, and Mansfield are all priced at $995 USD. For extra info, please go to the model’s web site.