Hands-On With The Briston Clubmaster Legend Diver Ocean
Listen up because today, we’re talking about another new brand on Fratello. Briston, a small French brand, was established in 2013, but it’s seemingly ready for the big stage. Frankly, after going hands-on with several of the company’s pieces at Time To Watches in Geneva, I think they’re worth a look. Happily, we start our introduction with the Clubmaster Legend Diver Ocean, a decidedly different take on the usual dive-watch form.
Let’s face it: it’s not easy to create a new watch brand and stand out in a crowded field. Sure, there are smaller companies with watches that are nice, but are not overly different from their competitors. These can still be successful. However, what I like to see is when a new marque tries something different and executes it well. That was my takeaway after spending some time with Briston and the new Clubmaster Legend Diver Ocean series. Let’s find out why.
The Briston Clubmaster Legend Diver Ocean
While a cushion-shaped dive watch isn’t new, the form isn’t exactly common. The Briston Clubmaster Legend Diver Ocean has a 40 × 40mm case, and its makeup is where things get particularly interesting. Some like watches made from a traditional material, and there’s an option with the Clubmaster Legend Diver Ocean. The watch comes in a brushed 316L stainless case with a 200m depth rating. Features include a unidirectional external bezel with a sapphire insert bezel and a signed screw-down crown. A 2.6mm-thick domed sapphire crystal stands atop the watch.
Tortoiseshell is something special
Now, let’s say that the idea of another stainless steel dive watch strikes you as a bit too normal or pedestrian. Well, Briston has you covered with something quite out of the ordinary. I still remember looking into the brand’s showcase in Geneva and spying something rather unusual. The Clubmaster Legend Diver Ocean is also available with an Italian-made tortoiseshell-style cellulose acetate case. If you’re at all familiar with this material, you’ll note that Italy is a stronghold for this craft because of the eyeglass frame industry. While acetate clearly won’t take the same beating as stainless steel, the overmolded construction on top of polished stainless is quite durable. And, after seeing and trying it on for size, I can confirm that it’s damn cool.
A wave-patterned dial
The Briston Clubmaster Legend Diver Ocean has a highly textured, laser-engraved wave-patterned dial. The steel example we had came with a blue dial, and the tortoiseshell model was paired with a white visage. For the record, other combinations of dial colors and case materials are available. The dials are adorned with round steel Arabic numerals and Super-LumiNova C5 dots marking the hours. An outer minute ring is light blue with Super-LumiNova C3 on the triangular and square-shaped markers. Naturally, the central hands also contain luminous material. A slim sweep-seconds hand comes in a contrasting hue. Finally, a small white-on-black date wheel sits at 3 o’clock with a brushed rectangular stainless steel frame. All told, the watches look fun and ready to take on everything from daily wear to poolside activities.
Powered by the Miyota 8315
The Briston Clubmaster Legend Diver Ocean has a clean-fitting, screw-in stainless steel case back with six notches. The brand, its logo, and the model name are featured in the center of the flat surface. Other information, including the case material and depth rating, is inscribed on the case back’s outer edge. Below the hatch, we find the Miyota 8315. This is an automatic movement with manual winding and hacking seconds, a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour, and 60 hours of power reserve. This well-known 5.67mm-thick caliber helps give the watch its 13.4mm profile.
The Briston Clubmaster Legend Diver Ocean on the wrist
There’s no doubt that a cushion-shaped watch, especially one with moderate dimensions, fits the wrist beautifully. Well, at least it worked perfectly on mine! There’s obvious balance and symmetry with this case style, buoyed by a flexible FKM rubber strap. I was quick to try the tortoiseshell model and found that the material worked well with my skin tone and felt comfortingly organic. That was surprising, but it actually carries some thermal warmth.
That’s not to say the steel version wasn’t excellent as well. It felt high-quality and was delightfully noticeable on my wrist thanks to the cheery color palette.
General thoughts and availability
The Briston Clubmaster Legend Diver Ocean is currently available on the Briston website. The stainless steel version retails for €875 / US$950, while the tortoiseshell reference sells for €850 / US$925, including delivery. That was a surprise to me, as I thought that the acetate model would cost more due to processing. Regardless, the numbers are close, and both watches felt like they were priced accordingly. It’s an interesting time to grow a brand, but I think that Briston has come to the table with a proposition that’s distinct enough to turn some heads. Between the design, materials, and cost, I think this brand is on the right track.
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