Draken Aoraki: a New Zealand field watch so good I paid over retail for it
Geth bought a twerp
Don't worry, it's not another Marinemaster review. I've actually bought a watch for the first time in over two years. It's a Draken, second-hand off eBay from a gentleman called Robo 78, but it's absolutely mint. The bund strap has never been worn.
Presentation is excellent. A lovely little box, a manual, a hand-signed card, a velcro pouch, and a hand-done bamboo-feeling case. Look at this. This makes me smile. Draken is a chap named Michael, a South African who lives in New Zealand, and these are assembled in New Zealand, which I think is really wonderful. Aoraki is the Maori name for Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain.
Four dials, 100 of each
There were 400 made in four variants, 100 of each. This is the Vector dial, the one I wanted. I'd have bought this or the Flieger. The Milspec and the Zulu I didn't really like. New, it was $399 delivered, £302.96 today. They're no longer available, and when I emailed Draken they said no plans to make more for at least a year. So when one popped up on eBay I bought it the same day. I paid £330. Over retail for a used microbrand, which I said I'd never do. I think it was worth it.
Extremely legible, for the beach
39 mm case, 12.6 mm thick, 46 lug to lug, 20 mm lugs, 100 metres. A field watch, all brushed, no polish. Very wearable on my 19 cm wrist, though the bund makes it sit tall. Flat sapphire with AR and a slight blue hue, matte black dial, very little on it: the dragon logo and Made in New Zealand. I don't need to tell you, it's extremely legible. Printed Arabics at 12, 3, 6 and 9, batons done very nicely, and a sector small seconds with a circular pattern. Look at it go.
Inside, a faraday cage, fully antimagnetic, and the Miyota 8000-series at 21,600. With the small seconds you can't even tell it's beating slower. Crown at 4:15, so you Seiko people will be very happy. Knurled. And fully lumed. Do you like loomed crowns, bro? I do. X1 C3 on the hands and indices, BGW9 on the numerals. Pretty impressive, right?
The bummer, and the bund
The only bit of a bummer is the Draken on the side of the case. I wear it on my right hand, so I'll never see it. You get a green Zulu and this calfskin bund, well made, the kind of leather that's going to look great when it gets older. Bunds are despised by a lot of people and I don't really like them either, but I've been very impressed. And it's single pass, so pull the bund out if you like. Mr Jun hates this watch. He hates me for buying it. Someone had to buy a watch, and it wasn't going to be him.
Verdict
It's nothing fancy. It's not going to win any design awards, and it's not groundbreaking, but I know that, and the execution here is excellent. I still want a Sinn 556 or an 856, but I don't have the money. This was £330, and tell me it doesn't look at least half as good. I do love this watch. I really am very happy with it. Stay freaky, never give up.
