This was obviously a review I looked forward to and I am especially glad that for the most part the Somerset really lives up to that quite amazing first impression. Perhaps the biggest surprise is that the Delugs strap disappoints. Personally, I quite enjoy the subtle tonality of the taupe strap and fear that many brownish and blacks make the watch more mundane than its true character. I was pleasantly surprised by the red strap. That dialled the eccentric dressiness to eleven, but it would truly not be for daily wear. I must admit that while the white has all the versatility required and I enjoy the two small details of truly strong contrast (the coordinated black seconds hand tip and pinion cap), I do also recognise that the sense of personality grows when looking at the little colour accents that the black and blue benefit from. The white is the smartest of them and beguiles more gently, but possibly the blue is the most arresting. You called this bonkers, and really it is anything but. What is bonkers, perhaps, is the level of care, detail, and distinction Tennet sought to implement here in an already highly individual overall design. What is really not bonkers is how it unquestionably comes together and even manages to look subtle from many angles. Sure, the horned and excavated lug design is quite exuberant, but it sits incredibly cohesive within the posture of the case and corresponds well to the concave bezel. Because all elements are distinctive in shape or the multiple finishes, the result is really rather balanced. Each element as strong as the next. That is quite a design feat. Still, among those perhaps the most idiosyncratic to me is the crown. Never have I seen a similar knurling, if that is even the right word, and yes I'm all here for it. The fact that it is also still functional is all the better. It is nonetheless remarkable that it would be so hard to come up with peers to compare this to. Part of me wonders if that has something to do with the entirely unnecessary 20atm water resistance. If you ask me, it's actually an inconsequential feature that has no business on this watch. 5atm would have sufficed for the genre, 10atm would have been appreciated. Perhaps the combination of a Swiss handwound movement with 20atm is even rather. But it feels slightly sad that such a unique design comes to sit out on a ledge for its feature set. Considering it's also definitely a more expensive microbrand debut, my key criticism is arguably its market position. It would have been far more compelling at its 800usd launch price with a pedestrian 10atm. I am not suggesting that the additional water rating costs and additional 300usd, but I am suggesting that this would be much more convincingly situated sub 1000, and even then it could be a difficult sell. Only the sheer abundance of finishing in a refined singular design is what sells this time-only dress-to-sports watch, but looked at it like that the competition is actually tough and varied, often at much lower prices. Naturally, behind every critique on price hides disappointment on the part of the commenter that the watch isn't more affordable to add to one's collection. That disappointment certainly applies here. Would I have spotted the Somerset at the launch price (and prior to other purchasing decisions) it is entirely possible I would not have been able to contain myself. In that sense, you are right that the marketing footprint is small and does not match the positioning aspirations.
As a reviewer I always try to place less importance on the subjective criteria of design (while categorically emphasising the choices that are consistent with a theme or a purpose) and get more into the conversation of why. Also, fit and finish are, I believe, more important to the viewers, as they cannot experience the watch the way I do. Do specs overpower the idea of the watch? I can see that, but, again, it's the brand's choice to go that way, and having the expertise to achieve such water resistance, for example, has to be a key point of the review, even if, in real world, it amounts to nothing. To be completely honest, I am not sold on the beadblasting, especially when the little brushed accents are indicative of great manufacturing. Also, if I get to speak about the lugs, to me they are a bit too much and I would definitely opt for a smoother transition by tapering them deeper and closer to the case. As for the dial, there are 5 different surfaces but they sort of blend together for a rather tern look. Regarding the marketing, the only reason you and I have noticed this watch is Royce understanding he's not particularly good at promoting the brand forward and hiring Wanyu for this purpose.
@@themicrobrandexpert for me, most times, my liking and understanding of a watch starts and finish with the aesthetic design choices. Yes, Royce has gone all in on this one, and on the basis that virtually every element stands out as somewhat unique and unusual, things like the arguably odd choice of bead blasting, or five dial finishes, alongside lugs that are much more pronounced than unusual and a handset and crown I have never seen, it all amounts to a surprisingly balanced whole. I tap my hat to that and think I'd probably enjoy that design exuberance for quite some time. And, of course, on this silver white version, this is actually toned down a little, hence my sudden doubt whether I would enjoy a stronger colour like the blue more with in this context than the more subtle and moody blue. I also think it is important to recognise when multiple finishes just seem there to make a point or almost shock, or when in all its complexity one still sees the watch as one. For me the latter applies. The water rating: I am making the assumption it will have been hard and more costly to achieve this here. For the proposition this is entirely unnecessary, and may have pushed the watch ever more premium as a debut. I'm just not sure that makes sense in a watch that's all about handling multiple finishes and textures at close quarters. I totally agree that reviews are most helpful when they talk about on the wrist experience and finishing. No footage will ever completely convey that, so that's why we enthusiasts watch them. For me the point about the marketing footprint is that when pushing for premium (and Royce has) than probably it makes sense to invest in this quite significantly. Assuming this was also costly to develop and produce, that needs to be recuperated. So that fact that the watch barely got to surface beyond, presumably, the Singapore scene on launch, means the rest now slowly waking up has to consider this new brand on the much tougher price point. I understand that product developers are not necessarily the best marketeers, but when you want to sell, you need to make noise at the right moment and to the right crowd.
Excellent review and a very special watch 👌 So many cool details to explore and to discover. Stunning timepiece and i would love to see this one on a distressed blue leather strap 😎
Thank you! If one tries hard enough, one will find an area of the dial the strap matches, but having heard so many good things about DeLugs, this first contact is underwhelming…
Great review on a really bonkers watch, in materials, finish, execution, specs, etc, etc, BUT (yup, a big one) rather - allow me to say - dull dial. Don't want to be harsh, nor disrespectful to the designer and all his (amazing indeed) effort, but struggle to imagine this watch will stay long in someone's collection. I could be wrong, just take a minute to think about it. PS I could be wrong, twice, i think red strap makes it look WAY better! PS2 I could be wrong, thrice (😋), lugs bring out something of the new era front spoilers of racing motobikes...
I agree and I agree. And interesting! I would say that the final verdict should be given once the bracelet is out - I have a feeling it will go long ways into spicing it up even more. But yeah, of the 3 cariants, this one's the most understated, to the point of being almost plain.
This was obviously a review I looked forward to and I am especially glad that for the most part the Somerset really lives up to that quite amazing first impression. Perhaps the biggest surprise is that the Delugs strap disappoints. Personally, I quite enjoy the subtle tonality of the taupe strap and fear that many brownish and blacks make the watch more mundane than its true character. I was pleasantly surprised by the red strap. That dialled the eccentric dressiness to eleven, but it would truly not be for daily wear. I must admit that while the white has all the versatility required and I enjoy the two small details of truly strong contrast (the coordinated black seconds hand tip and pinion cap), I do also recognise that the sense of personality grows when looking at the little colour accents that the black and blue benefit from. The white is the smartest of them and beguiles more gently, but possibly the blue is the most arresting. You called this bonkers, and really it is anything but. What is bonkers, perhaps, is the level of care, detail, and distinction Tennet sought to implement here in an already highly individual overall design. What is really not bonkers is how it unquestionably comes together and even manages to look subtle from many angles. Sure, the horned and excavated lug design is quite exuberant, but it sits incredibly cohesive within the posture of the case and corresponds well to the concave bezel. Because all elements are distinctive in shape or the multiple finishes, the result is really rather balanced. Each element as strong as the next. That is quite a design feat. Still, among those perhaps the most idiosyncratic to me is the crown. Never have I seen a similar knurling, if that is even the right word, and yes I'm all here for it. The fact that it is also still functional is all the better. It is nonetheless remarkable that it would be so hard to come up with peers to compare this to. Part of me wonders if that has something to do with the entirely unnecessary 20atm water resistance. If you ask me, it's actually an inconsequential feature that has no business on this watch. 5atm would have sufficed for the genre, 10atm would have been appreciated. Perhaps the combination of a Swiss handwound movement with 20atm is even rather. But it feels slightly sad that such a unique design comes to sit out on a ledge for its feature set. Considering it's also definitely a more expensive microbrand debut, my key criticism is arguably its market position. It would have been far more compelling at its 800usd launch price with a pedestrian 10atm. I am not suggesting that the additional water rating costs and additional 300usd, but I am suggesting that this would be much more convincingly situated sub 1000, and even then it could be a difficult sell. Only the sheer abundance of finishing in a refined singular design is what sells this time-only dress-to-sports watch, but looked at it like that the competition is actually tough and varied, often at much lower prices. Naturally, behind every critique on price hides disappointment on the part of the commenter that the watch isn't more affordable to add to one's collection. That disappointment certainly applies here. Would I have spotted the Somerset at the launch price (and prior to other purchasing decisions) it is entirely possible I would not have been able to contain myself. In that sense, you are right that the marketing footprint is small and does not match the positioning aspirations.
As a reviewer I always try to place less importance on the subjective criteria of design (while categorically emphasising the choices that are consistent with a theme or a purpose) and get more into the conversation of why. Also, fit and finish are, I believe, more important to the viewers, as they cannot experience the watch the way I do.
Do specs overpower the idea of the watch? I can see that, but, again, it's the brand's choice to go that way, and having the expertise to achieve such water resistance, for example, has to be a key point of the review, even if, in real world, it amounts to nothing.
To be completely honest, I am not sold on the beadblasting, especially when the little brushed accents are indicative of great manufacturing. Also, if I get to speak about the lugs, to me they are a bit too much and I would definitely opt for a smoother transition by tapering them deeper and closer to the case. As for the dial, there are 5 different surfaces but they sort of blend together for a rather tern look.
Regarding the marketing, the only reason you and I have noticed this watch is Royce understanding he's not particularly good at promoting the brand forward and hiring Wanyu for this purpose.
@@themicrobrandexpert for me, most times, my liking and understanding of a watch starts and finish with the aesthetic design choices. Yes, Royce has gone all in on this one, and on the basis that virtually every element stands out as somewhat unique and unusual, things like the arguably odd choice of bead blasting, or five dial finishes, alongside lugs that are much more pronounced than unusual and a handset and crown I have never seen, it all amounts to a surprisingly balanced whole. I tap my hat to that and think I'd probably enjoy that design exuberance for quite some time. And, of course, on this silver white version, this is actually toned down a little, hence my sudden doubt whether I would enjoy a stronger colour like the blue more with in this context than the more subtle and moody blue. I also think it is important to recognise when multiple finishes just seem there to make a point or almost shock, or when in all its complexity one still sees the watch as one. For me the latter applies.
The water rating: I am making the assumption it will have been hard and more costly to achieve this here. For the proposition this is entirely unnecessary, and may have pushed the watch ever more premium as a debut. I'm just not sure that makes sense in a watch that's all about handling multiple finishes and textures at close quarters.
I totally agree that reviews are most helpful when they talk about on the wrist experience and finishing. No footage will ever completely convey that, so that's why we enthusiasts watch them.
For me the point about the marketing footprint is that when pushing for premium (and Royce has) than probably it makes sense to invest in this quite significantly. Assuming this was also costly to develop and produce, that needs to be recuperated. So that fact that the watch barely got to surface beyond, presumably, the Singapore scene on launch, means the rest now slowly waking up has to consider this new brand on the much tougher price point. I understand that product developers are not necessarily the best marketeers, but when you want to sell, you need to make noise at the right moment and to the right crowd.
Beautiful and elegant looking watch. I prefer the white variant to the black and blue.
The Lagoon version is gorgeous. Would love to see it featured somewhere.
There is an available review on YT.
Excellent review and a very special watch 👌 So many cool details to explore and to discover. Stunning timepiece and i would love to see this one on a distressed blue leather strap 😎
Thank you, Dick!
Tennet is doing really amazing in micro world I really loved the watch and the brand!! Amazing review done too!!👍🏻
Stunning timepiece!!!
Thank you so much for your high praise! I can only be thankful that I'm able to experience such great watches, even for a few weeks!
Bonkers is right. Thanks for introducing me to this brand and beautiful watch. All the besr Toni.
Excellent review! You are spot on about the strap. Nonetheless, it’s a gorgeous timepiece.
Thank you! If one tries hard enough, one will find an area of the dial the strap matches, but having heard so many good things about DeLugs, this first contact is underwhelming…
It definitely looks like a gorgeous watch, but it's a gorgeous $750 watch. I'd love to see it on bracelet at that price.
Thank you, Jared! I do agree the price is a couple of hundred dollars too high. As for the braelet, it's in the works.
Super elegant
Great review on a really bonkers watch, in materials, finish, execution, specs, etc, etc, BUT (yup, a big one) rather - allow me to say - dull dial. Don't want to be harsh, nor disrespectful to the designer and all his (amazing indeed) effort, but struggle to imagine this watch will stay long in someone's collection. I could be wrong, just take a minute to think about it.
PS I could be wrong, twice, i think red strap makes it look WAY better!
PS2 I could be wrong, thrice (😋), lugs bring out something of the new era front spoilers of racing motobikes...
I agree and I agree. And interesting!
I would say that the final verdict should be given once the bracelet is out - I have a feeling it will go long ways into spicing it up even more.
But yeah, of the 3 cariants, this one's the most understated, to the point of being almost plain.
It's a beauty but overpriced slightly in my opinion.
I would call it out of my budgett, but not necessarily overpriced, especially when compared to what else is there in the bracket.
not bad but it's not the best