Duzu Ningaloo Reef
Manufacturer: Duzu Watches | Price: $379 USD (€345 EUR, £305 GBP approx)
“The Ningaloo Reef is a custom dive watch rated to withstand 30ATM/300m of water resistance. A highly legible dial and CNC machined case with a combination of brushed & bead blasted finishing gives it a rugged tool like aesthetic. Every part has been meticulously designed, refined and engineered to the highest level, on par with many Swiss made timepieces“.
Specifications
- Dimensions: Case Diameter – 44.3mm, Thickness – 15.5mm, Lug to Lug – 51.6mm, Lug Width – 24mm
- Movement: Miyota 9015 Automatic, 28,800vph (4Hz), Hackable, Self Winding, 42hr Power Reserve
- Case Material: DLC Coated 316L Stainless Steel with Brushed/Bead Blasted Finish
- Bracelet: DLC Coated 316L Stainless Steel, Solid End-Links, Screw-Pins, Signed Clasp
- Crystal: Domed Sapphire, Multiple Anti-Reflective Coatings (Inner)
- Bezel: 120 Click Unidirectional, DLC Stainless Steel, Matte Ceramic Insert, Fully Lumed
- Extras: Waterproof Leather Strap, Leather Watch Roll, Strap Changing Tool
- Water Resistance: 30ATM / 300m / 990ft
- Lume: Swiss Super Luminova® BGW9 (Multiple Layers)
- Crown: Signed, Screw Down Caseback: Screw Down, Etched Duzu Logo
- Warranty: 1 Year Where to Buy: DuzuWatches.com
- Options: Case Finish: DLC, Stainless Steel | Dial Colour: Black, Blue, Orange
Duzu Watches - The Company
Duzu Watches have a clear vision: to create a range of bold, yet uniquley exquisite watches which are hard wearing yet reliable timepieces. They endeavour to remain true to their design statement, “Redefining Original”. In a world filled with homages and vintage watches, Duzu Watches identified an opportunity to step outside the fashionable norm and create their vision of contemporary tool watches. Duzu Watches core philosophy is to create affordable watches for the urban warrior with a sense of adventure, tool watches that are equally at home in the boardroom as they are in the wilderness or the depths of the ocean.
Case & Crown
The Ningaloo Reef has a water resistance rating of 300m / 30 ATM, thanks to the screw-down caseback & crown. The proportions of the watch, in my opinion, are friggin’ huge for my 7″ wrist. The Ningaloo Reef wears just too large for me but would probably suit a wrist size of 7¼ inches (minimum) and above. The crown is very good though, with absolutely zero wobble when the crown is at its fully extended position.
Bracelet / Strap
The bracelet supplied with the Duzu Ningaloo Reef is of decent quality. It does have solid end links and screw pins for resizing. However, I think you all know where this is going… yup, you’re right, a bloody pressed clasp! That’s a pity as it’s obvious where the cost cutting has taken place as the spec of the rest of the watch is phenomenal for the asking price.
Thankfully though, the watch also comes with a rather nice waterproof leather strap. Just as well really as the watch has a lug width of 24mm and I doubt many prospective buyers have many of those size spare straps just lying around. I know I don’t! I have a truck-load of spare straps and only 1 of them is 24mm. Anyway, as previously mentioned, the strap provided is of great quality with nicely done stitching, double keepers as well as a matching signed DLC coated buckle.
Movement
The chosen movement for this Duzu is the smooth sweep, high beat, Miyota 9015. This is a slim Japanese made 28,800vph, 24 jewel movement regularly compared to the Swiss ETA 2824-2. Checking the accuracy after running the Duzu for a couple of weeks, mainly on my wrist and occasionally in my Barrington Watch Winder, I was extremely happy with the results, with the Duzu showing an average of just +4.7spd, which is just within Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC) certification.
Dial, Bezel & Lume
As you can see in the images, the hour and minute hands are of quite a chunky, if not rather plain style but they are very legible on this blue dial version. My favourite part of the watch though has to be the lume, everything is pumped full of lume! Disappointingly though, is the seconds hand, it just looks rathy weedy in comparison to the rest of this big chunky watch. It’s way too thin in my opinion with no defining lumed arrowhead or lollipop marker on it, just a small lumed section at the tip. The lume used on this Duzu is Super Luminova® BGW9 and there is plenty of it.
Conclusion
Overall, I found it quite difficult to try and rate this watch from Duzu. It has some great points but also a few bad points. The original design I like and the case kind of reminds me of my old Meccano set from when I was a kid. I do think the watch is oversized though, especially with such a slim movement and I feel Duzu could have easily made this around 40-42mm with a lug to lug of well under 50mm. Maybe Duzu Watches could offer a smaller size in the future? Who knows. The bracelet too is also disappointing as previously mentioned but then again, they do supply that very nice leather strap with the watch.
Wayne @ Duzu – 7.5 out of 10. Still a great watch – It’s just not for me though. Can we have a slightly smaller version with an upgraded bracelet? I’d certainly love to see that.
