Audentis Fortuna Juvat, a famous Latin phrase, translates literally as Fortune Favours the Bold, or in this case, the BOLDR. And the proverb is highly appropriate when we look more closely at BOLDR watches. Their intended buyer demographic is adventurous souls with a discerning and contemporary taste in functional tool watches.
Boldr Venture Wayfarer - Credit WatchGecko
The history…
We have to go back to 2015 to see the birth of Boldr. The inception team created an outdoor-friendly ‘clever watch’ on Kickstarter called the BOLDR Voyage. Back in the early days, smartwatches had feeble batteries and Leon Leong, the founder and still driving force of the company, was determined to create a watch that could survive a full day in the outdoors. The only way to achieve this was by utilising a traditional analogue watch battery. It's fair to say the Voyage had a rocky route with as many highs and lows as you would expect to find during any great expedition. Despite setbacks, the team stuck it out, and travelling full circle to 2023, we find BOLDR now a hugely respected outdoor tool watch company with an impressive portfolio of innovative and capable dive, field and adventure watches.
Boldr Odyssey - Credit WatchGecko
The arduous road to achieving their position has shaped the company's philosophy. In their own words: “Buffs and scuffs simply tell your story, and every story starts from scratch. We don’t build chunky divers and faithful fielders to sit in cupboards and collect fine dust. They are made to see the world, interact with multiple environments, toughen up from stressors, and develop their personalities.”
What an enviable and refreshing attitude to watches!
Model breakdown
The current BOLDR collection is divided into five prominent families, each with a unique design ethos and inspiration but all with unmistakable BOLDR DNA. They are Venture, Expedition, Odyssey, Voyage and Safari. Each name is evocative and hints at the watch's design and intended use.
Venture & Wayfarer
Boldr Venture - Credit WatchGecko
The similar Venture and Wayfarer ranges represent classic field watches offering specifications far beyond the price point. Especially when you compare them to some of the more ubiquitous field watches on the market.
Ventures are available in 3-hand, GMT and Specialist Medic variants. Most models are automatic, utilising bulletproof Miyota movements, while the Wayfarer GMT is quartz. The cases are titanium, which adds a touch of class and high functionality. Lume patterns and legibility are exceptional on well-designed dials, and the case design lends itself to 1973 Military Nylon style straps.
With the range starting at just £299, it is hard to justify why you would go for a watch like the Hamilton Khaki, which offers lower specs and costs more than £600. We have run some fascinating comparisons in the WatchGecko Magazine which you can check out here:
Odyssey Freediver GMT
Boldr Odyssey - Credit WatchGecko
The Odessey is a quintessential modern dive watch. At 44mm in diameter but just 12.5mm in thickness, this latest model from BOLDR is a ‘true’ GMT movement in a 300m surgical steel case. All Odyssey come with two straps, a stainless steel bracelet and a Druber® strap, each equipped with quick-release for effortless strap changes.
Powering the range is a Miyota 9075 calibre, a hi-beat GMT movement. Adjusting time zones is achieved by jumping the hour hand in the first crown position, independent of the GMT and minute hand. This keeps uncompromised timing as it does not interfere with the running movement, while the date also corrects itself either forward or retrograde as the hour hand is wound.
The striking dial has a gradient effect inspired by varying light activity visible to a submerged diver. A translucent dial centre, which gives tantalising glimpses of the inner movement, represents increasing ocean depth.
Boldr Odyssey - Credit WatchGecko
As with all classic sports timepieces, the combination of dive-ready and travelling credentials makes the Freediver GMT an adventurer’s trusted companion. Fitted with a scratch-resistant two-tone ceramic bezel, divers can utilise the 120-click unidirectional wheel for tracking elapsed time underwater while travellers monitor up to three time zones. The bezels come in three classic colour options: black & moss green, black & chocolate brown, and black & crimson red.
The case back features custom artwork of the Cuvier’s beaked whale. The famous Japanese Great Wave of Kanagawa inspired the artwork, reflecting the brand’s tribute to its Japanese movement and the freedom of being in the ocean. A full field test from a professional diver gives much more detail:
Safari
A relatively new release the striking Safari range is a collection of 40mm stainless steel tool watches with a contemporary twist. They have custom commissioned artwork on the case back and half-Arabic, half-Roman numeral dial designs set against on-trend, eye-catching colours.
Despite the unique designs, BOLDR DNA is prevalent in all models. The cases have convex grooves and a redesigned screw-down crown, creating a tactile watch. BOLDR has released seven variants in non-GMT and three with a GMT complication. Display casebacks are embellished with a series of classic safari animal species, adding to the adventurous feel of these latest designs.
