![]() With the Contrail 39, you’re getting a 200m-water-resistant watch that wears smaller on the wrist, so for smaller guys, this could be the Goldilocks timepiece. I would imagine, however, that the idea for producing a fixed-bezel variant of the watch is that this one can appeal to those who wouldn’t otherwise use the bezel, but still want a robust tool watch. The depth also seems to make up for the absence of a rotating bezel.Īnd why would you not want a rotating bezel on an otherwise dive-rated tool watch, you might ask? I don’t know - I’d definitely want one! I was excited by the 12-hour variant of the Contrail, as 12-hour watch designs are generally in relatively short supply, but unfortunately by the time I spoke with Nodus, these were nearly sold out. The sunburst dial texture and depth to the date window and rehaut truly bring this dial to life - you can’t quite get a sense of it from a head-on photo, but once you see it, there’s an “aha” moment, the “aha” being the realization that you’re getting a well-thought-out product for your money. The dial is further adorned with the Nodus logo, the word “Nodus” in white, the word “Contrail” in red, and “automatic” in white - just the right amount of interest and contrast are present to keep the wearer engaged. All lume is done in green C3 SuperLuminova, which, when not glowing, is a creamy, vintage hue. It’s well-designed, handsome and striking, featuring a sand-like black texture, applied indices, cut-out date window at 3 o’clock, thin, vaguely sword-shaped hands with a white, counterbalanced second hand, and a beautiful rehaut with minute/seconds track and 1/5th seconds track. What drew me into the Contrail 39mm was most definitely the dial - I wasn’t sure what to expect when I opened the box, but I’m happy to say I was pleasantly surprised. You also get drilled lugs (praised be the Watch Gods!). ![]() Lug diamater is 20mm, and you get a screw-down case back and crown and Viton gaskets for 200m of water resistance. Including the flat-top, box-shaped sapphire crystal with AR-coated underside, the watch measures 13mm tall (11.8mm without the crystal). The watch features a 39mm stainless steel case with a fixed bezel, and all surfaces are brushed except for the lug chamfers and part of the case back, which are polished. Review: There are four colorways of the Contrail 39, and I received the Black Sand for review (there’s also Mute Grey, Laguna Sand and Ballistic Green). II, based on the famed A-11 military watch, also features a fixed bezel for $650, but again, you’re not getting a bracelet. If you can find a Halios Seaforth with a fixed bezel floating around on the secondary market, those were originally pre-sold at a similar price point (though it seems they’ve since appreciated somewhat in value). Model C Field Explorer for $590 immediately comes to mind: you’re also getting a fixed bezel and 200m of water resistance as well as a distinctly tool watch-feel, all for under $600 (though you’re not getting a bracelet, here). Kind of ties the utilitarian room together, if I can mix both metaphors and Lebowski references.Īlternatives: The Seals Watch Co. On the other hand, having a crown that looks like a spare part from the floor of an automotive shop on a watch that’s made for heavy duty use ain’t such a bad thing. “Rolex-buttery-smooth” it ain’t, so if that bothers you (or if vertical play in the crown along the stem bothers you), you should beware. Watch Out For: One thing that somewhat annoyed and yet simultaneously charmed me on this watch was the crown action - it’s distinctly a utilitarian crown in that you can feel the threading and the movement if you hand-wind the watch. Both newbies and diehard watch guys could easily get plenty of use out of the Contrail 39. Who It’s For: This is a pretty versatile watch, and while the lack of a rotating bezel precludes its use as a traditional dive watch, you’re getting a tough, 200m water-resistant tool watch on a steel bracelet for under $600. This is a simple, wearable tool watch with good proportions and a bracelet that isn’t yet another Osyster derivative. However, since what we’re dealing with here is a fixed bezel watch, there’s nothing to fuck up in that regard. “Great, yet another bezel that doesn’t align properly” is a frequent refrain coming from the Watch Desk. The Good: We see lots of microbrand offerings here at GP, and quite frankly, we can become jaded and snobbish about them. Their most recent offering, the Contrail, is available in two versions: one with a 12-hour bezel, and one with a sunburst-brushed fixed bezel, which we got to check out recently. The brainchild of co-founders Cullen Chen and Wesley Kwok, Nodus offers steel tool watches at affordable price points that are designed and assembled in L.A. Nodus is a young brand based in Los Angeles, CA that began producing watches in 2017.
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