Going Hands-On With The Brand New Farer Integra Viridis With A Malachite Dial
What I love about Farer is that you recognize their watches instantly. Over time, the English brand has developed a collection with a very distinct style. The dial colors, the font types, and the colorful overall presence of the watches have gained Farer many fans. The latest addition to the line-up is the new Integra series, which consists of four different models with their own names. The watches are part of the popular category of modern sports watches. It’s become a crowded space, but as you would expect, these new Integra models immediately stand out as Farer models. I had a chance to go hands-on with the Farer Integra Viridis. It features a beautiful green malachite dial that immediately stands out. Let’s find out if first impressions last.
When I first got the press info that Farer was launching a sports watch with an integrated bracelet, I must admit that I raised an eyebrow. This popular category of watches has seen a massive influx of new models over the past few years. More affordable brands have especially jumped on the bandwagon after the Tissot PRX set the standard for affordable integrated bracelet watches. The results have been mixed, in all fairness. So how does this new Integra series hold up against its peers?
The story of the Farer Integra series
Typical for Farer is that the brand has a unique name for all its different model variations. But let’s first discuss the name of the new collection. The word “Integra” is Latin and is a declension of the word integer, an adjective that means “whole” or “complete.” It’s also the origin of the English word “integrated” and therefore a fitting name for the series. The collection consists of four models with a 38.5mm stainless steel case that is a nice 10.3mm thick and 42mm long.
It’s a modest-sized case that flows nicely into the integrated bracelet, which tapers beautifully from 24mm at the case to 16mm at the butterfly clasp. The brand has chosen a clasp with an on-the-fly micro-adjustment system that allows the wearer to expand the bracelet by up to 3mm on either side with a simple pull.
Additionally, the H-link bracelet features screw-pins, so it’s easy to size. Lastly, the bracelet is easy to remove thanks to the quick-release spring bars. Overall, the bracelet is the perfect modern bracelet for a watch like this. It has all the features that you would want to make it a comfortable daily wearer.
Farer pays great attention to detail
I have come to know Farer as a brand that pays attention to all the little details, and the bracelet is perfect proof of that. Regularly, we see integrated bracelets that do not taper or taper only slightly, resulting in rather wide bracelets. I would not call them chunky, but they have too much presence and aren’t as comfortable as they could have been. Farer understood this perfectly, and the dramatic tapers work miracles in wearability and refined presence.
Speaking of the presence of the four watches, once you see the tonneau-shaped case, they feel somewhat familiar. The new collection has that same friendly presence as Farer’s Cushion Case series. Obviously, the actual case shapes are different, but the square-shaped silhouette of the cases and the recognizable dial designs do link the two series nicely. That also makes the new series feel less of a stretch and a natural progression for the brand’s overall collection.
The four dial variations that make up the Farer Integra collection
But back to the watches. As mentioned, Farer introduced four different dial colors for the Integra. All of them feature a horizontal pattern of lines that mimics the horizontal lines of the individual links of the bracelet. It’s a clever design trick, creating a track pattern that flows around the watch.
The first of the four models is the Perlarum and features a white mother-of-pearl dial. It has applied numerals and markers that feature contrasting black lume. The second model is the Tenebris, which has a deep ink blue dial; the third is the Cuprum, which has a salmon pink dial. Lastly, the Viridis we had in for review features a striking green dial cut from a 1mm thick piece of malachite.
These three models have a set of applied indexes and Arabic numerals filled with white lume. All models have a date window at 3 o’clock and a minute track on the rehaut. Located on the inside of the applied indexes is a circle that holds the brand logo. Additionally, it divides the dial into parts, as we have seen on more Farer models. It’s another clever design trick that prevents dials from becoming empty or undefined in their partitions.
The Sellita SW300-1 powers the Integra
The style of the numerals is what immediately tells you it’s a Farer watch. As we are used to, the numerals are always substantial in size. For the Integra series, you could question whether they are too big. Usually, we would see smaller numerals and indices for this category of watches. Then again, it’s very much on brand. On top of that, I like that the style is different from that of the other players in this category. Overall, I would say that the overall style does feel seventies-inspired, but it has a modern-day relevance that keeps the Integra from feeling like a retro watch.
Inside the case, Farer equips the watches with the Sellita SW300-1. The automatic caliber operates at 28,800vph, has 25 jewels, and offers 56 hours of power reserve. Farer chose the Top Grade version of the caliber, which is adjusted in five positions. The caliber comes equipped with a bespoke full-circular rotor with cut-outs and a vapour-coated finish to match the dial colour. For the malachite green dial, it is a nice green rotor.
Wearing the Farer Integra Viridis
On the wrist is where the Viridus shines. At first glance, the design was on-brand but not really for me. I like the recent Lissom collection better because the Farer style seems a better fit for that series than this new Integra collection. But first looks can be deceiving. The first thing that stands out on the wrist is the brilliant proportions. The watch wears like an absolute charm. The modest 38.5mm size and the slim overall profile make it an excellent fit for various wrist sizes. Additionally, the nice taper of the bracelet and the clever finishing of the case add plenty of refinement.
I haven’t discussed that, but the little details are always a joy to explore on Farer watches. For the Integra, the case is brushed but features polished chamfers. The bezel features circular brushing on top, with polished sides. The bracelet also features a mix of brushed and polished surfaces to create an impressive overall presence. As always, the crown, screw-down for the Integra, features a bronze cap embossed with the Farer ‘A.’ These little details bring a smile to my face every time. I love that Farer goes the extra mile to give its watches those little details that connect you to the brand’s DNA.
The Farer Integra collection is a nice addition to the brand’s collection
Sizing the watch is easy, although you need a small flathead screwdriver to remove the links. But if you have one of those, sizing the bracelet is easy. Once sized, the bracelet wraps itself nicely around your wrist. The relatively small links make the bracelet nice and flexible, and the substantial taper brings extra comfort. Combined with the spot-on proportions, the Integra is an absolute joy to wear.
I have to say that it’s part of the secret sauce that will make this Integra attract a crowd of fans. Of all the different integrated bracelet sports watches, this Farer Integra is at the top of the list regarding wearability. There aren’t that many watches that wear this comfortably. And if you want to change things up, every Integra model comes with an additional rubber strap matching the dial color. I had great fun trying out the watch for a few days. In that time, I also got used to the design of the dial a bit more. And while the numerals are large, I can’t fault the designers at Farer for not creating a perfectly balanced dial. All the elements are perfectly in sync, making it easy for the eye.
Final thoughts on the new Farer Integra Viridis
But the true star of the show is that stunning green malachite dial. It gives the watch that extra visual attraction to make it stand out from the crowd. While I haven’t seen the other three models, I suspect the white mother-of-pearl dial is equally brilliant once you see it. The salmon dial version has a coppery hue that will also stand out, and a dark blue dial is many watch enthusiasts’ favorite, so I would say it is a solid lineup of models.
The four models come with different price tags. The blue Tenebris and salmon pink Cuprum models come in at €1,695, where the green malachite Viridis and white mother-of-pearl Perlarum models will be available for €1,825. It places the new Farer Integra in the price category of the Yema Wristmaster, the Christopher Ward The Twelve, the Nivada Grenchen F77, and the Frederique Constant Highlife. The Farer Integra is a great option in that list of competitors. The Farer Integra watches are designed with an excellent eye for detail, the build quality is solid, and they are a joy to wear.
While the new Integra models are far from revolutionary, these additions to the Farer line-up are a perfect option for people who love the brand’s style. After wearing the Viridis for a week, I can say that Farer has something to add to this popular category. With the Farer Integra collection, the brand made a series of watches that feel close to home yet are entirely fresh and new. That is quite the achievement in today’s busy landscape, and it deserves a big compliment.
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