Introducing: The New Farer Three Hands Series III Collection
Farer continues to roll out attractive and affordable watches packed with value. The British brand turned 10 this year, and I’m impressed with how it has matured. Plus, as someone residing in the UK, I’ve begun seeing an increasing number of the company’s watches in the wild. Positively, today’s new releases, the Three Hands Series III collection, should further increase the prevalence of Farers on wrists.
With all the talk about overpriced watches, it’s great to see a brand like Farer offering exciting and often colorful pieces with great movements at approachable prices. A decade ago, this was a fledgling microbrand with big ideas. Now, it’s a reasonably sized independent with a wide lineup. Still, with any brand, the bread-and-butter models must be executed flawlessly. The Three Hands Series III is arguably one of the most pivotal subcollections. Let’s see the results.
The Farer Three Hands Series III
As stated on the tin, the latest Farer pieces are straightforward three-handed watches sans date. The 316L polished and brushed stainless steel references come in 39mm by 45mm cases with an 11.8mm thickness. Each of the three models is adorned with a box-type sapphire crystal and the requisite inner antireflective coating. Best of all, these are everyday watches. All have a 100m water resistance rating, but to use it, remove the included 20mm suede strap and opt for rubber, nylon, or the brand’s optional €190 bracelet.
One aspect many of us likely take for granted is how Farer creates differentiation between similar models within a collection. For example, whereas most brands simply change the dial color or case material, Farer takes a different approach. Variant-specific dial surfaces, indexes, and hands are normally in play. Thankfully, the Three Hands Series III doesn’t buck this trend.
The Alert
The first Three Hands model, the Alert, sports a deep red gradient dial. It is stamped to achieve the textured finish, painted, and finished with lacquer. This dial is paired with simple, pencil-like white luminous hour and minute hands. The white details, such as the Arabic numerals and minute track, are printed with X2 Super-LumiNova. A shared design trait across all three models is the tip of the seconds hand, which is fashioned in the same shape as the brand’s logo. This watch is paired with a taupe strap and stainless steel pin buckle.
The Farer Three Hands Series III Venture
Perhaps red is a bit bright for some wearers. If so, the dark blue Venture model may be of interest. This watch also has a textured gradient dial. Once again, a stamping process creates this surface. It also partners with painting and lacquering steps. On this watch, the hands are similar to the Alert, but they are black with white luminous material. Also, instead of printed indexes, the Venture shows off large batons of Lumicast. This material is a compound of ceramic and Super-LumiNova. Apparently, these indexes are among the thinnest forms to use the material thus far. The Venture variant comes standard with a medium-brown strap.
The Aurora
The final new Three Hands Series III watch is the Aurora. This piece has a completely different style from the Alert or Venture. Instead of a textured gradient dial, this watch has a copper sector dial with a flinqué guilloché finish. As a result, it’s probably the dressiest of the three. Still, luminous surfaces are in abundance. The black dagger hands have a stripe of Super-LumiNova and match the black printed details on the dial. The radial-style Arabic numerals also use Lumicast. However, in this case, the centers of each numeral are coated in black. Finally, a black suede strap makes a fitting pairing with the watch.
The venerable La Joux-Perret G101 inside
As part of Farer’s intent to upgrade its watches, the Three Hands Series III references all use the La Joux-Perret G101 automatic caliber. Similar to other models from the company, these ébauches are the top-tier Soignée versions. This equates to better finishing and adjustment in four positions. Of course, the well-known 68-hour power reserve and 4Hz frequency are part of the package. A decorated rotor is on display through the case back’s sapphire display.
Downright approachable
Overall, the Three Hands Series III is a refreshing set of releases from Farer. It should work well for those who like a field watch but also enjoy color and details. One could say that these three models are possible competitors to typically monochromatic military-style watches. Perhaps the coolest news, though, is that these watches are relatively affordable at €1,185 / US$1,150 / £1,025 and include a five-year warranty. That’s competitive when go-to brands, including Seiko, are at this price or possibly even higher. I’d chalk this up as a win for Farer, and I hope to see more of the brand’s watches here in the UK.
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