British WWII Field Watch Re-imagined for 2023 - Vario 1945 D12

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[@VARIOeveryday]

Thanks for the feature! We're working on a 40mm A11 Solar based on same case design for next year's launch but likely all brushed for a more utilitarian look.

[@justinjohnpalmer]

that sounds rad !!!

[@MyRetroWatches]

Love Vario and Ivan the owner is such a genuine and nice guy. His company is borne out of his passion for vintage watches. This 1945 D12 is a brilliant tribute to the originals. Great review Dave.

[@donutheist]

Yes, Ivan is an amazing dude.

[@OlsenTheWonderDog]

Thank you. Another KZbinr mentioned the Vario watch as a last minute add-on to his 20 Field Watch review. But I was intrigued and went to the Vario website. Then I looked up specific Vario reviews and found yours. Your review was comprehensive and I appreciate the details of your review. While I’m overall inclined to getting the Vario 1945 watch, I am disappointed in the short duration of the luminosity. That said, the sapphire crystal and the 100 meter water resistance make it a better buy than the Bulova Hack at about the same price point.

[@boxwoodgreen]

I bought three of the Vario leather straps made for the Casio AE 1200 ... The Royale. I'm very happy with the quality, perfect fit of the straps, and the customer service of Vario. One of their WW1 era commemorative watches is at the top of my wish list.

[@FreedomFox1]

Any favorites? Leather seems like a cool way to transform the look of a Royale.

[@boxwoodgreen]

@@FreedomFox1 Yes, my favorite is the Pecan Brown on one of mine with a gold color bezel. I modded the bezel myself with Goo Gone to remove the black "World Time" and "Illuminator" print off the bezel. It looks cleaner. The leather has held up very well for at least a year and a half. No color changes, no wrinkles even at the clasp point. It still looks new.

[@davidteer80]

The watch comes with a decorated 82s5 movement, Vario does offer a see-through for an additional $30 or so. If you buy the see-through case back Vario will install it and ship the original case back as well.

[@tedfish9498]

Vario is a great brand. I've several of their straps and have been tempted by several of their watches--this one perhaps most of all. It looks great and has great specs and I'm confident in the quality. I just can't see adding another field watch to my collection right now. I've got like 6, including a CW Sandhurst, Boldr, SWC, a couple of Vaers and I recently picked up a Baltany "dirty dozen" homage, which is quartz, but looks amazing for the price and with the small second hand, the "quartz tick" isn't so obvious. But I appreciate the review and he chance of look at this watch more closely.

[@larrydalton2205]

Nice review and very nice looking vintage military style watch. If I was wanting one this would be on my short list. I love all my Vario straps.

[@timeandnourishment1961]

The caseback shows the British surrender of Singapore, which is a, er, bold choice given that most military style watches are a bit more triumphant (think the boneheaded dial designs on cheap Komandirskies, or the Zero West Dambusters cashgrab). Having said that, it's a beaut, other than the 4 o'clock crown. Great review, Dave. Thanks and have a cracking weekend! Cheers 🍻!

[@lc4n333]

And using Japanese movement

[@timeandnourishment1961]

@@lc4n333 The irony...

[@VARIOeveryday]

Thank you for your comment. The lessons learnt from the Fall of Singapore was beneficial to Singaporeans today. We've learnt not to rely on others to defend our land. Even though Mr Lee suffered under the Japanese rule, he visited Japan as he believed there's lots to learn from them. I didn't want to go too much into politics as it never ends up well (Ivan)

[@OlsenTheWonderDog]

@@VARIOeverydayRather than try to defend the use of the British soldier carrying the flag of surrender at the fall of Singapore on the reverse cover of the watch, you should silently absorb the feedback you are receiving and incorporate that into a possible redesign. Perhaps remove the humiliation of the surrender of Singapore from the watch while still incorporating a design feature that harkens back to WW2 or more specifically to 1945 (given the model design name of your watch)…try to think of something that occurred in 1945…maybe the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay…that comes to mind….

[@c.s2001]

Yes I tend to agree with the comments about the position of the crown at 4 o’clock. Would prefer the 3.

[@rickrounds2173]

Thank you for that video. A really nice looking vintage piece.

[@reynardovernon5847]

Love pretty much everything about this Vario. They so great things with watches and their straps. Sized below my comfort zone so rules me out but it looks absolutely fantastic.

[@artswri]

Great watch, great video. Thanks much!

[@EarlyNai]

I love it except that crown placement.

[@bluesdog645]

I really like the canvas with leather accents you used. Very nice. Fun video.

[@happy030]

Awesome T-Shirt, interessting DESIGN!

[@gerardoarellano7698]

I’m really diggin’ this one👍🏼

[@UltraDoug]

Love the Zune in the background, considering the context. 😎👍🏼

[@williamhill7312]

Great review

[@supapornchanchai4282]

Hi Dave, For a British watch lover living in Thailand the surrender of Singapore holds some very unpleasant memories. Thirteen thousand British and Commonwealth soldiers as well as thousands of Asian workers were literally worked to death in Kanchaburi province under duress from the Japanese Army. I like the look of the watch but believe Ivan should have refrained from using the image of a British soldier in respect to all those that gave their lives. Alastair Murray

[@VARIOeveryday]

Thank you for your view. My motivation was the lessons learnt from the Fall and we've built up a credible defence force since, hence the modern Singaporean soldier that juxtaposed the British soldier.

[@robertfeast7691]

The dial looks great but the crown at 4 o'clock looks terrible. Case size is perfect. An NH Seiko movement would have been better.

[@MichaelMitchell-vk9lk]

Vario has many interesting designs and are priced well

[@donutheist]

The D12 did not have its crown at 4:00. I love Vario, but prefer the Praesidus offering.

[@skoki121]

Thanks Dave. Very good info for a new watch enthusiast like me. I am moving to Tokyo next week for a three month contract. Would be grateful for some direction on where to browse/buy older, affordable and interesting watches. Brad

[@chickenporkadob0]

it's 4 o'clock crown because it's default of the movement not really Vario chose to put it in 4 o'clock.

[@TheMegaPhilko]

Great video - as always. I am a huge fan of your content, so keep your good work going on! One thing for you and guys like me with a bit bigger wrist (higher than 7inch): Wear this or similar field watches on a 'bund strap'. Makes the style of watches far more wearable and looks very cool too! I've even tried this on 34 diameter watches like the old field watches from Hamilton or my fathers Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date and these watches are far more present with a bund strap, if you otherwise find them too tiny... Just a suggestion from me. Wish you all the best!! Best wishes from a big fan of your art from Hamburg, Germany!!! :-) Greetings Philip

[@modmod392]

More great content incoming 😊

[@sciencefollower]

Very much appreciated. Had you shown inside machine would have been better. If you can find a watch that was fixed on the front panel of wireless set number 19 used in second world war please.

[@Strideo1]

They should've put the crown at 3 o'clock.

[@Jasebha]

Seconded. I love Vario's watches - I have an Empire and have been thinking about buying a 1918 for some time. And I really like this one, too - but that crown is a deal-breaker. It has to be at 3 unless there's a very good reason not to, for me. It just makes the watch look unbalanced.

[@MrBacchus18]

The oversized crown at 4 is an absolute eyesore. It's a dealbreaker for me.

[@Strideo1]

@@MrBacchus18 Yeah, for me it really spoils the vintage looks and a 37mm case is compact enough that a 3 o'clock crown isn't likely to get in your way anyhow.

[@duckrutt]

Blame the Miyota 82s5. The small seconds is offset so do you want the crown at 4 or the small seconds at 4 'cus those are your choices.

[@finesse49]

He shoild have picked a movement with the crown at 3 and tbe sub-dial at 6. The current configuration ruins the look. No thanks.

[@nierka99]

They do so good job and ruined everything with the crown. And wtf is that lume on vintage watch

[@FiremanFrach]

Nice watch, but, like you, I prefer a larger watch, regardless of whether or not smaller sizes are coming back.

[@larryfromwisconsin9970]

I don't really know but I would bet the original watch had Radium illumination. My understanding is that most of those WWII watches were destroyed in the 1970s.

[@shawnlavigne9069]

Yes, it's nice.

[@cedarcanoe]

Amen

[@Gabriel.0307]

The dial is a cheeky exact copy of the Hamilton Pilot Pioneer. A superior watch in every sense and with a simply spectacular "cushion" style case. A special watch. For that dial alone, it's an interesting option.

[@JamesAlexander14]

If the basic design is to British military specifications then all watches claiming to be following those specs will look similar. By the way Hamilton pilots watch with cushion case is based on 1970’s specs not late WW2 specs!

[@davidteer80]

In that case Hamilton copied the original D12 specifications. All of the D12 watches look nearly identical because they had to follow the specs provided by the British government. I love Hamilton watches and wish they made a D12 but they do not.

[@stanb.5261]

No, it's not (an exact copy)- and I own and love both.

[@justin_hall]

Vario is one of those wonderful British brands we should all support, stunning attention to detail and heritage. They really do care about their customers too. Dave thanks for putting the spotlight on them.

[@SnorttySnortSnort]

its a singaporean brand. he mentioned it in the video.

[@DC-uf6ve]

Ha, do you actually have experience of this brand or have you formed this opinion in the last ten mins after not watching the video properly?

[@justin_hall]

@@DC-uf6ve i have a second hand one, want a photo? why's everyone so salty here?

[@DC-uf6ve]

@@justin_hall Are they still a great British brand though?

[@justin_hall]

Did you have a really bad day? Or are you just wandering the internet looking for an argument? It's a 100% homage to the original WW2 British Watch worn by icons including Bletchley Park's Alan Turing - I live 15 minutes away and I'm a huge fan. Why be so hostile?

[@miamimo70]

The Crown 😆

[@terencehakuei5494]

Btw the microphone capsule is on the sides, not on the top..

[@GVSolo]

Very nice watch. Embossing the Vario name into the dial was a genious detail.

[@sonrigo4832]

Is the rotor noisy every time you move your wrist?

[@stanb.5261]

Yes- if you glue it to your ear, otherwise you'll never hear it... yes, I own one.

[@mpgingdl]

Miyota movement? Not making that mistake again.

[@dude28405]

I have an 8 1/2 plus size wrist so that watch is a no go for me

[@shamelessplace11]

Im i seeing a Zune on your desk???

[@7omA]

this redoubles my interest in what you think about the kuoe lineup

[@IlyaSolodky]

Kingsbury watches produce similar ( not the same) DD12 watch with the same movement and larger dimensions, for half the price

[@DC-uf6ve]

Who?! Exactly....

[@Strideo1]

I couldn't find it. Closest thing they had is the MS4 Regiment which uses the NH38 movement.

[@IlyaSolodky]

@@Strideo1 I own this watch which was purchased assume 1.5 year ago.

[@Strideo1]

@@IlyaSolodky Maybe they've discontinued it.

[@jim2950]

My Omega 1943 World War 2 watch runs beautifully . No improvement is needed.

[@DC-uf6ve]

Big whoop mate

[@AmitDixit13]

too small

[@mikewinston8709]

‘Reimagining’……stupid language; as is the 4 o clock winder. Btw, Singapore was a massive humiliating defeat. How very odd indeed….🇬🇧

[@cylentone]

First? 😎

[@mermerac9610]

Well hello my Christmas present to myself 😁👌🏻