An awesome little field watch... for spelunkers? Boldr Venture Wayfarer Titanium Automatic Watch

[@cartoonpete407]

Finally someone explains the reason I like having a 24-hr sub-dial - it helps with setting the date! :-)

[@flip97gt]

The 24-hour sub dial makes it a true field watch. As long as you're in the northern hemisphere and it's daytime, the 24-hour sub dial is a very effective solar compass. As long as the hand on the 24-hour sub dial is pointed at the sun, the 12 o'clock on the main dial points north.

[@spoonybard64]

Neat tip, thanks for sharing! Apparently you can do the same in the southern hemisphere as well but you do it backwards so you point the 12 o'clock on the main dial towards the sun and the hour hand on the 24 hour dial will point north.

[@adamcohen2924]

I own the exact watch with the green dial. You were spot on with everything you said. I was smart and ordered it with a standard black strap and it looks great.

[@eliakuiper4266]

I like it, not sure about the sub dial though, and the textured dial reminds me of a ceiling tile

[@terryloh8583]

Great review, and a really interesting, handsome piece... but as someone who has done a fair amount of spelunking, IMO tritium should have been used--at least for the hour and minute hands as well as the 12, 3, 6, and 9 markers, would certainly be worth a bump in price. Also, with all the banging around that goes on under ground ( at least when crawling through lava tubes), I'd want crown guards and I'd recess the crystal slightly, the the ability to attach a flip-up cover, though I suppose that could be a strap option. Oh, and I'd get that sucker as thin as possible due to the afore mentioned crawling around--having it catch on an outcrop could have unfortunate consequences, so sorry, but quartz.

[@barrettwbenton]

Agreed. Also, I'd want that 24H subdial hand lumed as well (which is the case with my Seiko 5 Sports Spacewalk). Tritium tubes, even better.

[@2adamast]

Tritium of course, because so many people crawl through caves without any light.

[@terryloh8583]

@@2adamast At least 3 lights. So... by your reasoning, the watch doesn't need lume at all. Just shine your light on it!

[@AleksiJoensuu]

Yeaah tritium. What watches do spelunkers actually use? I've never done it but my instinct says I would pick a square G-shock, one of those with the automatic electroluminescent backlight that turns on when you tilt the watch. Always perfectly legible without having to use two hands to press a light button, also light, relatively thin and the closest a watch gets to being indestructible.

[@terryloh8583]

@@AleksiJoensuu Well, I have done a fair bit of spelunking. And I mostly agree with you. A 5600 is tougher, and more accurate. I've mainly gone through lava tubes, which are quite rough, so wearing gloves is a thing, and when not wearing gloves, your hands (and most every other part of you) can get really grimy. Also, I prefer a hand-held flashlight over a headlamp (which I also ALWAYS take with me). So finding the light button can be easier said than done. All that said, if your life depends on knowing exactly what time it is at any particular moment... I don't do that kind of caving. Too much of a chicken.

[@peterc3700]

I don’t use the 24 hour hand but like it on this one! I agree with all your points. You don’t have to need it to love it! Nice watch and Great review!

[@crh7742]

Saw this watch on a website and was intrigued. Glad there's a cool review on it. Think I'm gonna treat myself.

[@vincentjack735]

I like the aesthetics of that Boldr.

[@sabeaniebaby]

As a permanent nightshift worker, I like a 24-hour clock. Preferably, I would have a watch that is simply a 24-hour dial along with a day of the week complication (because we night shift workers NEVER know what day of the week it is). I like the look of this watch. Thanks so much for introducing it to me.

[@WatchWitt]

Beautiful textured white dial and handset. 24 hr dial is useful if you’ve been trapped in a bar or casino for hours on end!

[@markbyrum4743]

Nice watch. This would have been a great opportunity for Tritium hands and markers (if you are in a cave long enough to need reminders of day/night, the lume will have long ago died out - but Tritium would keep on glowing!) Good review. Keep at it!

[@Carlsonrufer]

Why would you enter a cave without flashlights?

[@CyberBeep_kenshi]

Many many watches have a 24h indicator, it's nice but i find it a tad expensive imho. I use the indicator for setting too:) Tip: i had a 99 euro similar looking Citizen, with the sand strap. Changed it to the well known nato strap with black grey stripe and it really made it pop.

[@xgford94]

Have spent many hours in caves . I can definitely attest to loosing any sense of if the sun is up or not …especially if you start your decent at night

[@juniorjohnson5961]

Wow 😲 that's cool 😎

[@zillsburyy1]

love the 80s music that you edit in your videos.

[@VOIDVIDS]

One of my favorite brands my Boldr Expedition Sinai is my most worn watch

[@ryejack]

The Boldr Venture series is one that's been on my buy list. I'll probably spring for a Wayfairer, since it had the date and 24-hour complications. I really dig how these watches look and the use of titanium on the case, though I'd go for the carbon black version. I do wish the movement was a bit better, but it's good enough for what it is.

[@yukonthornsaengsanoh7942]

Very clean design and very bright lume

[@NorthenSoul]

Good review and a pleasure to see you again on the small screen.

[@kaveman_4242]

The 24 hour helps when "Calling timeout" before a surgery. The time recording part at least.

[@Alias_Anybody]

I like 24h indicators but it shouldn't cut into the indeces. Should be possible to make it more subtle.

[@loganholmberg2295]

I like them cause they're great for military time. I have friends that use it. Also, they are awesome if the movement allows you to turn that second dial into a GMT if you need it. Somehow I don't this watch does that.

[@madar427]

I really enjoyed the video, as usual. Great watch and very fair assessment . The 24 hr feature could come in handy even on the surface, especially winter time if you get an afternoon nap and you wake up at around six and it's dark outside.Happened to me. I know this is not very often. I like the watch, but I would buy it with the bracelet. Tritium would have been a huge asset. Keep up the good work. This is my favourite watch channel. Cheers from Canada.

[@troubauk]

A GMT 24-hour dial would be more useful form me. Every time you check the time, it reminds what time of the day is back home. Great for expats

[@davewade8312]

This watch is really cool, the 24h would come in use every month I would think.

[@Shabec2982]

The watch is beautiful with that nato strap

[@mikebutler3846]

Good review! I think that Boldr watches are a solid choice. I don’t have one yet, but I going to drop some hints to my wife when she asks me what I want for Christmas. She is good about supporting my hobby as long as it doesn’t cost too much! 😉

[@craig2100]

Great looking design and well done video. Surprised that they didnt use tritium on a spelunking time piece. You need constant lume when in a blackout or light challenged areas. But well done Dave, nice share! One side note...your bottom tshirt white with skeleton print is mismarked..it says $2 and should be $22. It corrects itself upon check out, but wanted to point it out.

[@JusttheWatch]

Thanks for pointing that out! Turns out that one size and color was incorrectly priced at $2. Would have been a bummer if someone ordered it at that price!

[@davidwarburton8890]

I think they put together a good product for the money. Seriously considering one of their GMTs

[@WesWatchRoom]

I do really like a good boldr watch and this is no exception, absolutely awesome. Big fan of this textured dial and even the sub dial. Very nice work with the review 👍

[@gregs.8895]

Great review. Thanks for showing it on the rubber strap. Just before you did that I was thinking "I wonder what this looks like on a leather strap", something to make it a little more office (not dressy) friendly. The rubber game me the idea. Also am a sucker for orange straps anyway.

[@steven3379]

Very nice ! I do like the 24hr subdial, great content BTW! I would look for a single pass or a regular 2 piece strap..👍

[@navykip]

This watch is really good looking. I like everything about it. Reminds me a lot of my favorite watch, which is the Orient Defender, which also has the 24hr subdial. Great review as always Dave.

[@lionel170]

The Orient Defender is a badass watch 👍🏽

[@felo6035]

Great review Dave! I really like this watch specially on the orange strap you featured. I like the 24 hour complication as my wife being Nurse Practitioner is always referring to time in 24 hours. Thank you again for your wonderful work. All the best 👍

[@MyAlan999]

I am a fan of Boldr , i had both the Venture and Expedition 2 but i would like to see them do something new , feels like this is about the 10th version of the Venture

[@alexc.3727]

I think, as a young brand, they're still in search of their style and identity and at the same time trying to secure their place on the market. They'll come up with something new, I'm sure. But hey, what about Odyssey, especially the new Regatta behemoth? That's something different, I reckon :) I'm a fan of Boldr myself and a proud owner of Venture automatic in blue

[@MyAlan999]

@@alexc.3727 I like the look of the Odyssey but it's far to big for my skinny wrists , i know the guy who owns RZE and HVD watches used to work for Boldr , can't help but think he was there only designer as since he left his new companies have released 3/4 new models while Boldr keep remaking the Venture a million different ways

[@markgrieves1307]

Hi Dave. Great review. Can't sleep so you're keeping me company. I'd never heard of spelunking but in any case I can't see any caver or troglodyte actually wearing one of these. Maybe Bilbo or one of the Dwarves. There's a hint of fashionable-ness about it rather than being totally utilitarian. You'd need something really industrial. It had a ring of the Vario to it ; too pretty for the trench. That white dial though makes it a really lovely watch for just the the thought of crunching through snow. 24 hour dials on the right watch are extremely useful. I'm still considering the Vostok and doubt I'd ever need that. Thank you. Goodnight from old geezer, England. 🙋🏽‍♂️⌚

[@M3LTUP]

The Boldr watches are nice. They are right sized(40 and under). And the titanium case keeps the weight down. And last , they use Japan movements. Which are ultra reliable.

[@younusimam-thesalamproject6340]

Shift worker here. 24 hour complication would really help. They really need to increase the lume in order for it to be useful though.

[@leland303]

I just bought the Navy color.

[@Hashkatina]

Love the white. I really don't like when they cut off the numbers on the dial. If they did the white and not cut off the numbers, I would be interested. Aside from that, I love field watches and really enjoy your content. Cheers from Maryland, USA.

[@rockthewatch]

These are great little watches. Great review Dave. Keep Rocking those Watches 🤘🏻

[@stavros_katsopr]

24h dial = best compass... as long as the sun shines! 😏😋 PS Yet another Boldr watch that i go "Ehhh.... nope". As usual.

[@Synic08]

This seems to work with a 12hr one too... there’s a way...

[@stavros_katsopr]

@@Synic08 Ikr mate, dead easy on 24h... as long as the sun shines!! lol

[@mikesomerset6338]

Nice looking watch.

[@TomasWatchReviews]

looks sweet. Not sure about the orange.

[@stevefox8605]

I like it, cheap enough too. Shame its a bit small imho. Cheers Dave 👍🏻👍🏻

[@thomaswright7270]

I can see amature radio operators using this. when a ham does a compatition such as field day, they track the contact with a zulu time.

[@timelesssneakersandwatches]

Great piece! Awesome video bud!

[@rayray..3349]

Great Video Dave Thank u. If u put the NATO strap on the watch UPSIDE DOWN ,,,,It will lower the Overall Height.

[@khronokraze]

I pretty much never a 24hr sub dial. That's why I sort of don't like it when most mecha-quartz chronographs use the version with the 24hr sub as it's pretty useless for me. Prefer the mecha-quartz that doesn't have the 24hr sub and uses another complication for the chronograph function.. I forget the movement ref#, but it's out there and much less commonly used. Anyways, I agree, the most useful use for a 24hr sub is to quickly reference am/pm so u know if u are in the danger zone for setting date or not. Otherwise without one, I'd cycle through the hours to check when I actually cross 12am before attempting to set the date.

[@VersedNJ]

Only real downer and deal killer is the use if ab 8000 series Miyota, I'd me more interested, have two regular ventures which use an NH35 movement, probably why the case is 12mm. If they used a 9000 series I'd be far more interested. Boldr makes a great for the money watch, have two Expeditions which use Selita. All of them are well made. A single pass NAT0 would be what I used if I was to get it. I do like the subdial great idea. Thanks for the review.

[@ozludo]

Nice video Dave. And I'm jealous of that Strap Mill band. Hmm. That's a good colour combination, and I really like the textured dial. It's the thoroughly modern great grandchild of a trench watch :-) Not a fan of the NATO though - would much rather see it on 2-piece. I don't think I'd use the 24hr dial, but I like Boldr's GMTs. They're really purposeful.

[@dusty265]

Great content, the 24 hour sub dial is not something I personally would go looking for, with that said I don’t know that I would not buy the watch because of that. All in all I would put it in a “okay” category for a field watch.

[@blackfirehouseof3159]

Very beautiful i want it

[@rangersmith4652]

I served on a nuclear submarine, and often we were submerged for weeks. That would seem to be an ideal situation for using a 24-hour sub-dial. But we operated on GMT regardless of our actual location, so that sub-dial would be "wrong" most of the time in daylight and darkness terms. It would be unnecessary for normal 24-hour time as the boat's routine makes it impossible to confuse AM for PM and vice-versa.

[@patrickford5793]

Great stuff. I honestly like the look but the 24 hour dial wouldn’t be handy for me.

[@Mrtellitlikeitis]

Nice looking but at 38mm its too small for me

[@Synic08]

I would wear the heck out of this... but it’s getting to the price where I would be inclined to take special care of it...

[@NathanChisholm041]

Looks ok id wear one!

[@mrjasonrowland]

Nice little watch. A desk spelunker?

[@simonwright6882]

For me it doesn't work well on the nato, maybe a single pass would be better. Definitely looking cool on the orange rubber 👌

[@helmiabdullah2271]

Cool watch 👍

[@brianmsahin]

Excellent review, but with experience of watches with diashield hardened titanium cases, used in my two activities, scuba diving and mountaineering, titanium is NOT the best of materials. Though it's tough, it's not scratch proof even with a protective coating, and mine look pretty bad after just a few uses. Hit an ocean bottom rock, or a dead coral, a quartz stone when climbing, it will scratch very quickly where brushed stainless steel will be unmarked. Titanium is only good for a desk watch. The 24 hr complication would definitely be good for caving. I've only did a little bit in New Zealand, but a G-Shock is the go to watch for spelunkers. And this will definitely get scratched up in caves.

[@AleksiJoensuu]

"...d20 in my hand." Hohoo yeah RPGers represent!

[@JamesBond-rv1kk]

Spelunking is the one activity I would absolutely refuse to do, especially after reading about the guy who got stuck upside down and died.

[@scatterbrain9490]

I fell asleep at 5pm the other day and woke up at 645pm thinking it was almost 7am and in a panic thinking I was late for work. I would use this watch for telling am vs pm lol

[@cowboycody8094]

In the United States Forest Service we write the amount of time we worked down with military time. So it helps me with that or the occasional scientific study.

[@rockymntdan1]

people here keep saying you "need" tritum. You don't use a headlamp when caving?

[@finesse49]

The 18 hour index doesn't line up with the 9 index. That would drive me crazy. I found the strap on my Venture is much too stiff and it hasn't softened up.

[@williamhill7312]

Great video

[@Aaron48219]

Sharp watch. So many watches, not enough money.

[@erpa6668]

Beautiful white dial. Get rid of useless tiny date window and 24h subdial It would be great dial for the sandstorm

[@strandvaskeren]

Imagine if the 24h subdial worked as an independent gmt dial instead.

[@Danielo197]

What about the venture Earth

[@mosytube]

Accuracy tolerance?

[@Mister_Phafanapolis]

I find 24 hour and day/night complications to be some of the least useful features a watch can have. Make it a 24 hour movement if you really want this information. Now _that's_ a cool feature. If Boldr made a ~10mm titanium field watch with a date then I'd be all in. Have the first gen quartz and it's just OK: lume is terrible (even for a field watch), coarse brushing on the very flat, undifferentiated hands is somewhat hard to read, registration on the ticks is consistently off. Unless I was dead set on a titanium watch, I'd just get one of the (new) Seiko 5 field watches instead of the current Boldr Venture.

[@JC-vp2pm]

Did you sold or keep it, Dave?

[@juniorjohnson5961]

Wasn't the Explorer 2 from Rolex made for Spelunking ?

[@juniorjohnson5961]

Forgot to mention great review and a good looking watch 👌

[@BobMarley-pm1xb]

If you are LEO or Military, SAR, etc. you will have 24 hour time drilled in you so thoroughly that you never forget. Unless spelunking with NO experience in the military, knowing the 24 hour time “complication” is totally worthless. I will ALWAYS prefer a 12 hour totalizer. A genuine usable function.

[@OuijTube]

24-hour dials are useful in situations where you still need to keep standard time but have no external daylight reference (caves, submarines) or where your daylight reference is no longer in sync with a 24 hour period (low earth orbit). In the latter case, Mercury program Astronaut had his Breitling Navitimer modified to use a 24-hour dial. Where you can see the sky, a 12 hour dial is fine.

[@BobMarley-pm1xb]

@@OuijTube Yes Sir. As I noted…”Unless Spelunking ….,”

[@OuijTube]

@@BobMarley-pm1xb I mean, people get frivolous complications all the time. Some folks pick up Glycine Aviators with 24h dials just for a laugh.

[@AliasEveWatches]

Are the shirts shipping out of the US or are they shipping out of Japan?

[@JusttheWatch]

I'm using a print on demand company, so there's a few different printing locations around the world. It'll ship from the closest one. Seems when I order them for myself they ship from the US or Europe to Japan.

[@AliasEveWatches]

@@JusttheWatch Just ordered a shirt to my US forwarding address! hopefully it wont take long if it ships out of US. 😁

[@mfrankel8321]

Hi Dave, excellent review. I really like the design of this watch this watch, as well as the titanium materials . Is my issue whether though is the movement. They should have selected 9000X series Myota instead of that entry-level movement. It is hard to justify a buy at their price point.

[@rumatadestora]

well, the movement could have been better. 8217 is basically same as 8205 or 8215. The watch has nice design but it's too overpriced. I like the 24-hour dial but not at that price

[@chrisb5986]

Too bad the 24H dial is not independent, then it instantly becomes an appealing travel watch too. I agree with the tritium comments. Opportunity lost.

[@ziadalzeni7386]

How many inches is your wrist?

[@mrjasonrowland]

I believe he said 7.5 inches.

[@brinx8634]

I don't hate it, but an obvious question is, why would this be marketed to spelunkers? Without lume on the 24hr hand it's quite useless for its stated task.

[@2adamast]

All spelunkers bring a few lights with them

[@johnshropshire3399]

👍👍👏

[@keithsaval9588]

I would consider 38mm a women's watch. I would think if you're going to dwell in a cave for days, that you would want a tritium lume. Isobrite, Armourlite, and Luminox all make very nice tritium lume watches for less money than this watch. But they are quartz watches. Deep blue makes a tritium dial automatic watch that you can get on sale for $300.

[@loganholmberg2295]

The 24-hour dial is a bit useless for spelunkers if you're not going to loom it...Oopsy, poopsy boldr? I think you messed up.

[@thenotanclan]

Tritium should have been used instead of lume - what good is lume that fades after a few hours if you’re in a cave for days? Date windows - WHY??? - just about every watch has them and what’s the point? So small, usually poorly executed and redundant - please manufacturers- start making watches with no date options - great looking watch with good specs otherwise

[@branflakee4257]

You can use a flashlight to charge the lume

[@thenotanclan]

@@branflakee4257 until your batteries run out

[@DanRC69]

It's a great looking watch, but its just ridiculously small, it looks like a childs watch. If they did a 42mm or more, it would be perfect.

[@2adamast]

Classic Rolex sport watch: 34-36mm

[@kevingilhooley2064]

Like the vid.....but not the watch.

[@armandocardenas6094]

Why can't watchmakers make 40 mm watches, what is wrong with them, are they that disconnected from customers and reality?

[@acecarolino101]

Like the watch. "BOLDR" branding however -- hmm, looks like a millennial or a gen z named it, like Flickr, Tumblr, Grindr, Whatevr.... ticks me off

[@Bob_Smith19]

Watch is to thick. And why lume? You want tritium in a cave. Don’t see many using it for that but if you’re going to market it as such then use tritium.

[@GK-rw2op]

What the hell is spelunking ?

[@Ukepuke95]

Did he really do a 10 minute review without showing the back of the watch? 😅