The Wren Vessel: A Surprisingly Wearable Integrated-Bracelet Watch For The Future

After the 41mm Diver One and the fan-favorite Diver 38 Seafoam, New York-based Wrist Enthusiast founder Craig Karger is back with a new Wren watch. Karger felt there were already too many vintage-inspired integrated-bracelet sports watches, so he asked designer Max Resnick to help him develop a future-oriented one. However, there was one challenge: Karger wanted a watch with a faceted sapphire crystal that wouldn’t suffer from distortions too much. The result is the 39mm Wren Vessel, featuring an uncommonly faceted crystal, as well as an integrated bracelet with a proprietary quick-release system and on-the-go micro-adjustment.

It’s quite a jump from the more conventional Wren Divers to this new Vessel. However, like dive watches, integrated-bracelet sports watches are also very popular. In that sense, then, it’s a logical next step. I also like how Karger took a different approach in designing the Vessel. Let’s see what the result looks like.

The Wren Vessel

When you look at the new Wren Vessel, you immediately notice it’s different. It’s not round or square; it’s somewhere in between. The angular cushion case measures 39 mm wide, 39 mm long, and 10.6 mm thick. On the left and the right are the 904L stainless steel brandcards, and in between is Karger’s masterpiece, the faceted sapphire crystal. This was the most important design feature that Max Resnick had to work around. It has facets on both the top and the underside, making it very tricky to manufacture. That’s why you don’t see similar crystals very often on watches.

The top and underside facets result in very little distortion, even at the corners, allowing a great view of the dial underneath. I went hands-on with the meteorite-dial version, but there’s also a steel sunburst dial. Both feature luminous plots marking the hours on a chapter ring, and the hour and minute hands also have a healthy amount of lume for better readability in darker conditions. The aqua-blue seconds hand is a nod to Wren’s first watch, the Diver One Aqua.

The Wren Vessel with the steel sunburst dial

A proprietary integrated bracelet

Another highlight of the Wren Vessel is its integrated bracelet. Designed and developed by Karger and Resnick, it follows the Vessel’s peculiar case shape. The first three links continue the case’s recessed flanks, and the entire bracelet is brushed with two polished bevels, just like the case. Visually, it’s obvious that the bracelet was made specifically for this watch, and the two form a lovely pair. However, it’s also very easy to separate them and exchange the stainless steel bracelet for an integrated rubber strap.

That’s thanks to a proprietary quick-release system with a push-button on the underside of the case. With one push, the first link detaches from the case. It’s also just as easy to attach the rubber strap, and vice versa. The bracelet’s butterfly clasp even offers a few millimeters of toolless adjustability on each side. When you look at the “naked” case, it’s clear that it consists of a mid-case sandwiched between two metal plates. But you’ll also notice that it tapers toward the back. We’ll come back to how this benefits the Vessel’s wearability in a bit.

With the push/pull crown at 3 o’clock, you can operate the Sellita SW300-1 movement that powers the Vessel. It runs at 28,800 vph, features 25 jewels, and has a 56-hour power reserve. Through the case back’s sapphire display, you’ll see a circular skeletonized rotor in Wren’s signature aqua blue.

A “vessel” on the wrist

Honestly, I didn’t think the Wren Vessel would wear well on my 17cm (6.7″) wrist. The name made it sound bulky, and the watch’s faceted, cushion-shaped design didn’t contradict that impression. However, because of the slight taper I mentioned and how the case back mimics the sapphire crystal’s facets, the Vessel sits surprisingly low to the wrist, and the bracelet wraps around it gracefully. Even the first links follow my wrist’s shape perfectly, something I didn’t experience with Ebel’s new wave bracelet.

So, while the Vessel initially looked like quite a vehicle to wear, once I put it on my wrist, it fit very well. Plus, the links quickly get thinner, which also improves wearability. On the optional rubber strap, you see the same principle applied, and I love that it comes with a simple pin buckle instead of a folding clasp. Still, swapping the strap for the bracelet, or vice versa, almost couldn’t be easier. The only finicky element is the bracelet’s micro-adjustment mechanism. There’s not much room for adjustment, and the different positions aren’t well defined. Other than that, the bracelet feels sturdy and can be sized using the screws on the inside.

Limited edition of 300 pieces

Of course, I can’t imagine what watches will look like in 50 years. However, if Karger aimed to design the integrated-bracelet sports watch of the future, I think he and Max Resnick did a good job. The Vessel doesn’t really look like anything else on the market, mainly thanks to its impressive faceted sapphire crystal. The case shape and construction also feel unique, and the bracelet features all the expected user-friendly options. If I had to choose, I’d probably go for the sunburst dial, simply because I think the Vessel’s overall design is already special enough without the meteorite.

The Wren Vessel is a limited edition of 300 pieces. These include 150 units of the sunburst-dial model, which costs US$2,900, and another 150 of the meteorite-dial version, which retails for US$3,400 (both prices excluding taxes). No matter which you choose, you get a remarkably original watch with a highly impressive sapphire crystal and a ton of wrist presence. If you’d like to know more, check out Wren’s official website.

Let me know in the comments below what you think of the new Wren Vessel.