You have probably never heard of the Bridge Watch Company.
They aren't available on Amazon, they did not launch a Kickstarter
campaign, and they have even kept a low profile on the watch forums, but
they are producing some cool watches at very affordable prices. This
puts them right in The Time Bum's wheelhouse, so I reached out to them
and secured their latest release for review: the Cape, a three-hand quartz with some charming details that sells for the absurdly low price of $99.
Bridge is the brainchild of Paul Lewin (@thepaullewin
on Instagram), a product and interior design consultant who happens to
be a dedicated watch enthusiast and co-founder of the Chicago Red Bar
Crew. He is also no stranger to The Time Bum, to whom he has been a
reliable watch exchange partner and Guest Bum.
I'd promise you that my affinity for Paul had no effect on my critical
eye when preparing this review, but you probably wouldn't believe me, so
read on and judge for yourself.
Paul describes the Cape as a fresh take on the simple watch, taking
inspiration from vintage watches and using color, texture, and usability
to establish its personality. It has a 42mm stainless steel case with
long, tapered lugs extending to a 52mm total length. Historically, this
would be considered a large watch, but it is now probably the most
common men's size. The case is polished along the sides and bezel, and
brushed on top, adding some welcome dimension with a little flash. It
has a 6mm push-pull crown positioned at 3 o'clock. It is coin edged but
unsigned. The case back is similarly uncomplicated, etched with the
simple and perfect suspension bridge logo. Water resistance is 50
meters.
The Miyota GM10 quartz may not be the sexiest movement, but it is a
reliable workhorse that gets the job done without fuss. It has three
hands, a black-on-white date wheel, and a 3-year battery life. Most
importantly, it is a wafer-thin 2.71mm, which in conjunction with the
flat mineral crystal, keeps the Cape's overall thickness to just 10.5mm.
A skinny case and lugs that curve gently downward allow the watch to
wear easily and unobtrusively despite its relatively broad diameter.
The
dial is where the Cape really stands out. Long printed darts represent
the hours, piercing the ring that surrounds the guilloche center, and
the index is represented by dots. All are a beige color that matches the
fill on black fence post hands. The color was a smart choice. It is
more subtle than white and creates a warm, vintage feel, particularly on
the black dial. The Bridge name is printed in gold at the top of the
dial, the logo at the bottom. It is all neatly
detailed but not overdone. It works beautifully – until the lights go
out. That beige paint is not luminous. This is my only issue with the
watch. I know the watch leans to the dressier side of the style
spectrum, and I understand that a proper coating of "Old Radium"
SuperLuminova would have increased the price, but I still miss it. That
one addition would have made it a true all-'rounder.
The Cape comes on a 22mm soft leather strap with contrasting white
stitching. It tapers to a signed buckle. I wore it cinched to the last
adjustment hole so it will work fine for those with larger wrists but
those under 6.5" will need to find something shorter. The blue strap on
the blue dial is a nice look, but the way the brown strap goes with the
mellow color of the markers on the black dial makes it my favorite
combination. The dressy guilloche and slim profile make it a good choice
for weekday wear with a coat and tie while the sporty darts and good
water resistance pair nicely with jeans and polo on the weekend.
I
really enjoyed the Cape. You can tell that this is a watch created by
skilled designer and not just someone picking parts out of a catalog. A
bit of glow on the hands would be ideal, but it is an easy compromise
for the outstanding price. The Cape is clean, clever, and wonderfully cheap with just about everything you need for a nice, everyday timepiece. You can buy one for just $99 direct from BridgeWatchCompany.com.
Pro: Great dial
Con: No lume
Sum: A sweet watch for an outstanding price. The Time Bum approves.
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