![]() ![]() It’s actually quite surprising to get such a customised date wheel at this price. The numerals are lumed and in a which is really cool, and it’s black to match the dial. The date wheel is also something that’s clearly been thought about. ![]() The hands are a pleasant unusual alternative to what you usually se on a diving watch. The second hand has a diamond near the end, a red tip and a thicker end for the counterweight. The majority of the hands are a matte finish, to match the sandblasted case, with the minute hand having a red border to the top section to inject a splash of colour and to help make differentiation between the hands. The hour and minute hands are an aggressive, chunky sword shape. There is also a subtle minute track surrounding the outer edge with white markings. The printwork is fine and precise – with the logo in the centre of the top half, and in the bottom half is Tugela in red and automatic beneath it. The hour markers are all fairly unique in shape a mixture of triangles and trapezoids. The crown has a great knurled grip and a very impressive and accurate engraving of the Draken logo on the end.Įverything on the bold, legible dial is flat and printed. This is much deeper than I’ll ever need to go, and I’m sure that’s the same for most of you too – so it’s great to know that you’re really covered. The Draken Tugela has a pretty insane 300m water resistance. The AR could do with being a bit better, but it’s nice to see it there. The sapphire crystal is domed on top, with a bluey anti-reflective coating. Various specs are deeply engraved surrounding this. The quality is really impressive and not really something that you’d usually see on a watch of this price. The screw-in caseback features a splendidly detailed deep-stamped landscape illustration. There’s also a small chip of paint missing by 7, which is barely noticeable. It has a minuscule amount of wiggle at the bottom right corner, by 5. The bezel is the only real negative I’ve noticed with the entire watch. It provides a very tool-like appearance too, and will no doubt prove to be hard-wearing. I find a sandblasted finish is always a nice alternative to the regular brushed. This means they have a much higher temperature and chemical resistance. The Tugela utilises viton gaskets – a synthetic rubber that is more resistant than the regular gaskets used in many watches. It provides a good amount of wrist presence whilst not being too ridiculously huge. The size is comfortable with a 42mm diameter and a reasonable 13.5mm height. Draken likens this to the opening of a flower – and indeed Mike takes a lot of inspiration from nature and his homeland, New Zealand. ![]() The bezel and case flows through together to create an outward singular shape. The case is a lovely example of simple elegance. Movement: Swiss ETA 2824-2 automatic with hacking and hand-windingĬase: High-grade 316L bead-blasted stainless steel, 43mm diameter, 22mm lugs, 15mm thick, 52.3mm lug to lugīracelet: Tapered 316L bead-blasted bracelet.Dimensions: 42mm diameter x 13.5mm height x 48.5mm lug to lug Read more about the Bengula in our Blog post: The tool watch with the spirit of the Dragon The custom date wheel is also luminous, ensuring legibility even during the twilight hours.Įach watch comes standard with a bead-blasted bracelet with a micro-adjust clasp, and a natural rubber strap, perfect for water sports of any kind. X1-Old Radium Super-LumiNova® is used for an incredible nighttime glow. The dial is precisely crafted with slabs of bead-blasted steel, set on top of a sandwich dial, for a display with incredible depth. Turn the watch over to see an incredibly deep and detailed engraving of a sea monster, inspired by the Paper Nautilus myth from South African folklore. The hooded lugs give the watch a great wrist presence while eliminating the need for SELs (solid end links) so that bracelet installation is a breeze. At 2 o’clock is the HEV (Helium Escape Valve), designed to equalize the internal pressure of the watch when returning from extended periods at extreme depths. The case features an offset knurled crown at 4 o’clock, tucked away for comfort. The Benguela tool watch has all the features you would expect to see from a professional diving instrument but adds some details that are rarely seen in the genre. ![]()
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