The perfect watch. American microbrand NTH
NTH Barracuda Watch
Friends, hello everyone. You are on the channel about Feeltime watches, Stanislav is with you as always, and in my store there is a new addition to the American microbrand NTH.
This is a brand I wanted to add back at the end of '22, but then the owner Chris Vale made it clear that they had a very small edition of watches and he wanted to make sure that the watches would end up in the right hands and place.
In fact, this is the right policy, since the brand understands that it cannot spread itself across everyone, so it supplies watches to its own, trusted dealers.
In any case, everything worked out for us and I am now the official distributor of the NTH brand in Ukraine.
About the brand
A few words about the brand itself. It originated in the USA in 2015. Owner - Chris Vale. The goal was to create a vintage, everyday diver's watch from the last century with ideal quality for the money.
And during the review process, I will try to convey to you that this is not just some cheap microbrand, but a truly serious watch that has been worked out to the smallest detail.
I have 4 models from the Barracuda collection for review. We will consider each model in detail.
Package
Let's start with the packaging. All NTH models have an image on the box of exactly the watch that is inside. These are already pleasant nuances. This is the first time I've seen this in a watch.
Inside you will find a nice quality travel case and a card holder with a warranty card.
Having unpacked the first watch, I immediately saw the removed links and was indignant: “Why did I get a watch that someone else already had?” But in the end it turned out that these were just bonus links. This is the second point. This is also the first time I have seen this in a wristwatch.
Design
The design of NTH watches is very recognizable. The models look really vintage.
I want to say right away that the bezel has an aluminum insert. And this is done not to save money, but in order to emphasize that very vintage.
The bezel is very confident. The grip is comfortable. Very juicy clicks.
By the way, clicking the bezel will be difficult. Look how tall the sapphire crystal is here, which rises seriously above the bezel. This, by the way, is another nuance. Not every manufacturer will put such a sapphire crystal into a watch for this money.
Stainless steel case and bracelet. Highest quality finish. The mirror polished outline at the junction of the surfaces is very unusual. On one side it goes completely along the entire body, and on the other side it wraps around these halves.
Very comfortable crown. It is under protective bulges and is designed in such a way that it literally barely goes beyond these protective bulges, so you can’t hit it, and it’s very convenient to grab onto.
The back cover is as simple as possible. In a combination of satin and mirror polishing.
Rice grain bracelet . The quality of finishing here is excellent. The geometry is excellent. The bracelet folds like silk. I would like to note that good watch bracelets are expensive, and people often skimp on them. There is no hint of these savings here.
Clapper clasp. Fully cast. When I saw this tab, I was immediately put off by the fact that I would have to pry it off with my fingernail, but it is so perfectly adjusted that other brands should learn how to make similar fasteners.
There are plenty of holes for additional adjustment to fit your hand.
Speaking of hand. On my wrist 18 cm. The girth of the watch fits perfectly. Dimensions: 40 mm diameter, 47 mm from lug to lug, thickness - 12.5 mm, weight 159 grams.
Dial in vintage style. Nothing extra. The hands and markers are edged in gold for excellent contrast. NTH logo on top, Barracuda collection logo on bottom.
Date at 6 o'clock. On a black backing so as not to attract attention.
Let's look at the Swiss Super Luminova.
The Japanese movement Citizen Miyota 9015 is installed on board the watch. What is noteworthy is that NTH calibrates each of its watches independently, so the mechanism error is instead of the base 20-40 seconds. per day reaches 10-15 seconds. per day.
And this is another pleasant moment for the brand.
Water protection - 300 meters. The head is screwed down for better sealing.
Almost every NTH model comes with a version of the classic bracelet and with rice grains. Here's a classic. Also excellent quality of finishing and geometry. Very thin and silky.
To be honest, I find it difficult to answer which one I like better. Write your opinion in the comments.
Results
Well, what do I want to tell you in conclusion?
Prices for this collection range from 30,400 to 32,300 UAH depending on the type of bracelet. Rice links are more expensive.
Of course, some might say that this is expensive for a microbrand.
And I’ll tell you that the brand doesn’t throw away discounts, doesn’t give above the established price, and that says something.
According to Chris Weil, their production costs increased by 10% in 2023 as they try to improve quality.
And this quality is visible in the details. Starting from the actual personalized boxes, ending with the quality of the watch itself, its finishing and a bunch of such nuances as bonus links, thick sapphires, additional adjustment of the mechanism, and our own check of the watch for leaks.
That is, in fact, this is not a mass product, and each copy undergoes thorough testing before it gets into your hands.
It can't come cheap.
Of course, you can always take the same inexpensive Swiss ones for the same money, but the quality there will be worse. And it will be missed precisely in the details.
And you can buy each of the watches shown in my Feeltime online store. Let me remind you that I am the official distributor of the brand in Ukraine. You buy a watch from me with a 2-year warranty.
That's all. Write your opinion about the watch, and Stanislav was with you as always. Until next time. Bye!
