Daniel Wellington – We all know smartwatches are making a big splash, but there’s absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t put a classic analogue watch in the mix of your collection, too. They’re all about style.
So let’s take a look at the Classic Bristol Watch from Daniel Wellington.
Strap
The Classic Bristol comes with a sturdy but sophisticated leather strap. The stan leather is incredibly supple and wears comfortably on the wrist.
Like any leather product, you’ll need to break it in a little before you find it will mould to your shape. It also looks better the older it gets.
The stitching matches the colour of the leather.
If you don’t like it, that’s fine. In your box you’ll find a tool that lets you remove the leather strap and swap it with one you do like. There’s a black Sheffield strap, a croc-leather York strap.
If you don’t like leather at all, DW offers some quirky coloured nylon straps. The Glasgow, for example, is striking; it’s a rich navy blue with a white accent.
It’s likely you’ll find that the tan leather strap will suit almost all occasions, but you have the option to swap and change to suit your mood.
Case, Crown and Dial
The Classic Bristol is offered in silver or rose gold. Some people feel the latter is more feminine, but if you like it, hey, there are no rules. If you really look at it, it’s more like brushed copper than a pink. The silver is a little more universal.
You’ll notice the colour bleeds into the face and dial. There is a matching hour and minute hand. There isn’t a second hand. There are also no numbers cluttering the face.
The crown is round and minimal. It has received some criticism for being tricky to pull out. It’s quite small so it’s hard to know if it’s been pulled out enough to be able to change the time.
Underneath the case is also simple. You’ll find the watch spec here, and the DW logo.
The case is 40mm and 6mm thick, which is about average. It’s therefore great for fitting in with many types of outfit and occasion. It’s small enough to be comfortable, big enough to easily read. It’s a perfect, unisex, ‘one size fits all’.
The whole thing exudes elegance.
Movement
Inside the Classic Bristol is quartz movement. This might cause some ripples amongst watch connoisseurs. It tells the time accurately and doesn’t slow over time, even if used as an everyday watch. Due to less moving parts inside than a lot of watches, it can be used during a workout too, if you like.
The Japanese quartz is responsible for making the watch tick every second. It’s a shame the watch doesn’t actually have a second hand, considering the type of movement.
Quartz watches are less expensive to make due to the lack of moving parts, so they’re typically more durable.
Of course you’ve probably got a smartphone. You should compare the time every once in a while and you won’t be disappointed to see that the DW Bristol keeps up well. Compare it with your oven and it’s unlikely you’ll see the same result. The DW Bristol won’t be seduced into freestyle timekeeping.
Japanese quartz, historically, meant a watch had less value but thanks to some dramatic improvements, the reserse is now true. There aren’t any legal barriers like there are with Swiss-made watches. But, we know Japanese products are sensational so you can expect the same quality here.
Price
In the watch market, the retail price could be a potentially touchy matter. Watches contain a lot of different materials. Some have some high-spec technology baked in. Some are made from titanium, some are made from plastic. All these things make a watch price vary greatly.
So, the price of this watch is $230. It’s mid-range. As mentioned above, some might call out the Classic Bristol as an expensive watch for what it is because of the uncomplicated Japanese quartz and minimal moving parts. Maybe this is subjective because fans will say this is a benefit.
$230 may be over-priced in some people’s opinion. The good news is, if you search online you will find the Classic Bristol for less than half of this. Amazon offers it for $110. This makes the taste a little less bitter.
If you can get your hands on one at the lower price, you should definitely add it to your collection. It’ll serve as a great watch that’ll do with a smart shirt or t-shirt.
Even at $230, this isn’t luxury level (considered to be $500 and up). If you think about jewellery, this price isn’t much. And a watch is an accessory, after all.
Whether you think it’s expensive or not truly depends on how much you intend to use it, how often and how reliable you’ll be on it.
Summary
It’s easy to fall in love with the Classic Bristol’s elegance and class, as well as the analogue element.
It goes with so many outfits, for various different occasions.
It’s nice that you don’t have to rely so heavily on a smartphone to know the precise time because the Classic Bristol will keep up precisely with any iPhone or Android. You won’t get your notifications on your wrist, of course, and there’s no alarm, but you can forgive that for what you get in style.
If you’re looking for something closer to the $100 level, but still want minimalist style from a traditional watch, you’ll absolutely adore Skagen. Check out our review here.
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Maygen is a multifaceted writer, proofreader and an experienced smartwatch industry writing and editing professional.