All black watches have that mystique that surrounds them, the black-out stealthy look of a tool watch, for many, is a great option. My days of covert operations are behind me now, and time telling in low light can be problematic.
But what is it that draws us towards these black beauties?
The allure of black watches stems from several factors that appeal to our senses and preferences.
Boldr Odyssey Black Dragonfish GMT - Credit WatchGecko
Firstly, black is a timeless and versatile colour that exudes sophistication and elegance. Its simplicity and neutrality allow it to complement a wide range of styles and outfits, making it a go-to choice for many watch enthusiasts.
Additionally, black often evokes a sense of mystery and intrigue. The dark colour creates a striking contrast against the dial and hands, adding depth and character to the timepiece. This allure of mystery can captivate our imagination and create a sense of fascination with the watch.
Moreover, a black watch is often associated with modernity and sophistication. Watches with black dials or cases convey a sleek and contemporary vibe, appealing to those who appreciate minimalist design and cutting-edge technology.
Boldr Odyssey Black Dragonfish GMT - Credit WatchGecko
Furthermore, they can also symbolize strength and resilience. The colour black is often associated with power and authority, evoking a sense of confidence and boldness. This can make black watches particularly appealing to individuals who seek to make a strong statement with their watch.
Overall, the draw towards black watches can be attributed to their timeless elegance, mysterious allure, modern sophistication, and symbolic representation of strength and resilience.
So let’s dim the lights and allow these black watches to disappear into the shadows, whilst we talk about the Black Dragonfish GMT from Boldr.
Boldr Odyssey Black Dragonfish GMT
Boldr Odyssey Black Dragonfish GMT - Credit WatchGecko
This Titanium watch is minimalistic, to say the least. The dial is completely free of clutter, with no indices, numbers or date, it’s all gone. Instead, you have the blackest of blacks on the dial, 3 hands, a rehaut with time markers and a lumed pip at 12 on the bezel. On paper, this watch doesn’t seem to offer much, however, when you put this on your wrist, your opinion may quickly sway.
This is Boldr’s third watch from the Superkuro Musou black series and a great addition it is. With a 40mm DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) Titanium case and matching bracelet, it offers great potential. The multifaceted case offers an abundance of corners and edges, this is an intricate and elaborate design. Yet as it’s so black, it can be hard to uncover all these details.
The dodecagonal, 12-sided unidirectional-bezel features 120 clicks and a flat lumed marker at 12. The rehaut offers 24-hour markers, instead of the more traditional 12 that we are used to, adding to its combative look. The hands offer a distinctive look, with the hour and minute featuring a split tapered parallel design, whilst the GMT has a broad arrow and second-hand a signed counterbalance and lumed dual prongs. These, as well as the hour markers and bezel pip, have a BGW9 Super LumiNova coating. Telling the time during the day is simple and in low or no light, it’s just as easy, as the lume has that stunning almost turquoise colour to it.
Boldr Odyssey Black Dragonfish GMT - Credit WatchGecko
The dial offers something clever here, as the paint used absorbs 99.4% of light, allowing the hands to pop in both day and night, making it one of my highlights of this watch. This really helps with legibility during a full 24-hour day.
The case is water-resistant to 300m, which although isn’t as generous as some, is still enough for most of us desk divers. The screw-down exhibition case back has a custom piece of artwork printed across it and although this is a design choice, it does slightly hamper viewing the rear of the movement.
The watch is powered by the Japanese Miyota 9075 calibre, renowned for its precision and reliability. As it’s a GMT, it offers convenient functionality for travellers navigating different time zones.
With its user-friendly design and versatile functionality, the Miyota 9075 calibre enhances the overall experience of wearing the watch, making it an ideal companion for frequent travellers and watch enthusiasts alike.
Boldr Odyssey Black Dragonfish GMT - Credit WatchGecko
The matching DLC-coated bracelet, tapers from 20mm down to 18mm at the clasp. This push-button signed clasp features a tribute to the iconic Wave of Kanagawa, symbolizing BOLDR's dedication to ocean-conscious horology. There is also an on-the-fly micro adjustment, to help with that perfect fit on hot days when your wrist swells.
As black watches go, this, the overall design and finishing is nice, but personally, I would have preferred a more matte finish. The contrast between the black and white during the day works exceptionally well, although it’s when the lume comes to life this watch sings. You can’t help but keep turning your wrist to admire the case as the light hits it, as it looks different from every angle.
The bracelet works well, but my preference would be to team this up with a contrasting-coloured rubber or 1973 Military strap, a very bright one too. Overall, this is a great-looking watch and I have yet to add a full blackout piece to my collection. It wears pretty well but my preference would be to swap to a rubber strap. It’s definitely worth checking out and at £769.00 is pretty well priced.
Specifications
- Case: 40mm titanium brushed finishing with DLC coating
- Movement: Japan-made Miyota Cal. 9075 automatic, 28800bph, 42 hours of power reserve
- Water Resistance: 300m (990ft) / 30ATM
- Crown: Embossed BOLDR logo
- Dial & hands: Superkuro Musuo Black with custom hands with Swiss Super-LumiNova®
- Bezel: 120-click unidirectional titanium bezel featuring a Swiss Super-LumiNova®-filled marker at 12 o'clock.
- Lens: Double-dome Sapphire crystal with Super AR-coating on top & bottom
- Bracelet: Integrated titanium bracelet with quick-adjust buckle and screw-in links.
- Case thickness: 12.5mm without glass, 13mm with glass.
- Lug size: 20mm.
- Lug to lug: 48mm.
- Weight: 130g / 4.58Oz
- Case back: Single-piece exhibition screw-down caseback with custom artwork print
- Price: £769.00
