Nordic Marine SØVÆRN: These Danish brands are coming out swinging!

Launching its second offering, Nordic Marine Instruments is once again punching above the $450'ish price point with the SØVÆRN.
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More info available here: nordicmarinein...
You can see the Light Blue version from our friend ‪@PeterKotsa‬: • Nordic Marine Instrume...
Screwdriver, Spring Bar Tool and Potential Strap Pairings:
Wera 1.2mm Screwdriver - This is my go to for bracelet adjustments. Very inexpensive and high quality. I recommend keeping a couple on hand: amzn.to/3jQV6pj
(Recommend watching this video with sizing tips - • How to Easily Size Wat... )
Alternative Screwdriver - If the above version is sold out, this Wera is great too, just a little bit more expensive - amzn.to/3spF2ho
Bergeon Spring Bar Tool - amzn.to/3O0xqM7
Helm Canvas Strap - Excellent quality and sufficient rigidity for heavier watches. Highly recommend and several colors and 20/22mm available: amzn.to/3ddWD60
Ritche Canvas Strap - Many colors and sizes: amzn.to/3vyo4PO
Helm FKM Rubber Strap - Another fantastic bang for buck offering from Helm. Available in several colors and 20/22mm: amzn.to/3fKK438
Nordic Marine Instruments sent this watch to the channel for review. I did not receive compensation for filming this review. The statements contained within are only my opinion.
Pics of the other colors belong to Nordic Marine Instruments.
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[@JonathanTReviews]

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[@NordicMarineInstruments]

Hi Jonathan, Thank you so much for your fantastic review of the Nordic Marine SØVÆRN! We truly appreciate your keen eye for detail and for pointing out the results of our MØRK finish on the case. Your description really captured the essence of our craftsmanship. We're also glad you highlighted the flat case back, which is indeed perfect for engraving and contributes to the watch's sleek and flat profile. It's great to see how well it suits your wrist. Your comparison to other similar watches was insightful and we're thrilled that our NMI stands out in your eyes. ☺ Thank you as well for the constructive criticism about the lugs/end-links and quick-release pushers, we will take all of it in to our considerations for future models. For now, we think the female end-links help the watch with it's NMI typical lug design sit quite comfortable on the wrist, and the pushers of the spring-bars may look prominent, but don't influence the wear experience. So far, none of our Østersøen customers (same bracelet) have complained about it. Thanks again for your support and for showcasing our work so wonderfully. 🙂 For the audience: Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to secure our pre-order deal, launching 06.06.2024. Best regards, The NMI Team 🌊

[@JonathanTReviews]

My pleasure! You've again put together a very nice offering and I'm happy to help share it with the community. Cheers

[@dritzzdarkwood4727]

2:55 I always appreciate, that you take the time to really narrow down details and offer comparisons we can all relate to instead of just saying "it has a nice green colour" as other reviewers might do 👍. In Danish, we have a saying, "gøre sig umage", it roughly translates to "making the effort".

[@JonathanTReviews]

Thanks so much ☺️ Cheers

[@PeterKotsa]

Wow that is a very interesting green tone indeed, I especially like the orange accents to compliment it Good to see the side by side comparisons with the other brands Excellent review as always Jonathan👍

[@JonathanTReviews]

Absolutely. The moss tone goes so well with the field styling and orange really does set it off nicely. The light blue you reviewed is striking as well (can't wait to check it out further). Thanks buddy, you're too kind 🥂

[@indooze]

Hey guys, what would you choose between these and HA Vesterhav?

[@JonathanTReviews]

@indooze That seems to be a popular comparison, as I've had others ask the same. I'm sharing my thoughts below (from a prior response): Both are very solidly finished for the price point. I can't say one is a stand out leader between the two, but would probably give the edge to the Vesterhav. It's pretty exceptional. In the end, I know you said design aside, but I'd let that be the primary deciding factor. For me, both are great, but I'm partial to the Vesterhav. It's extremely refined, striking and I love the color options. You can't go wrong either way. I hope this helps. Cheers

[@lancehashida6909]

Color matched date wheel with a beveled window is surprisingly clean and elegant, easy to overlook. Spot on comparisons yet again!

[@JonathanTReviews]

I really like the incorporation as well. Thanks so much buddy! Cheers

[@jaredstephenson6468]

Love the case. I’d have loved some more fun colors for the dials but otherwise, I’m very pleasantly surprised-especially given the asking price. Pretty impressive.

[@NordicMarineInstruments]

Thank you for your positive feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you love the case and find the watch impressive, especially considering the price point - make sure to get the even better special pre-order price beginning on 06.06.2024 😎 Regarding the dial colors, we actually offer six different dial options, some of which are quite fun and vibrant. We aimed to cater to a variety of tastes while maintaining our minimalistic Nordic design approach. We appreciate your support and hope you find a color that suits your style perfectly! Best regards, The NMI Team 🌊

[@JonathanTReviews]

The Light Blue is a nice vibrant option that may be of interest. Peter Kotsa has a video on that version if you want to see more. I saw Mark of Average Bros dropped the full lume version yesterday too. Cheers

[@jaredstephenson6468]

@@JonathanTReviews I saw! Great watch. They killed it!

[@zillsburyy1]

ordered the full lume model

[@JonathanTReviews]

Nice, that should pack a punch!

[@benferris3252]

Excellent review, of the dials I have seen so far this seems like the one to get. Thank you for your thoughts and camera shots

[@JonathanTReviews]

Thanks so much! It's my favorite variant too. Beyond the unique shade, it complements the style nicely. Cheers

[@dadmodswatches]

That is a very nice watch. Very smart of them to not step too far outside the box. Nothing really groundbreaking here, and that's a good thing. It all looks new, yet familiar at the same time. Well done Nordic Marine! Great review!

[@JonathanTReviews]

Thanks so much! Agreed, sometimes (relatively) minimalist language executed very well is just the right recipe. Cheers

[@cheesychester9647]

Awesome. I saw these on Reddit last week. Really like the grey colored dial.

[@JonathanTReviews]

That color suits the field style well too! Cheers

[@benjaminvis]

This is really quite attractive. A smart looking case for a field take on a steel sports watch kinda works well and I agree it sits right with this colour. On promo shots, I feared that the green would too washed put. Certainly not a moss (though there are many shades) I'd think of. In your footage it's still more an olive drab to me, but a more saturated one and that helps with contrast, which seems of little concern here. It helps shed the feelign that the hands and markers may be just a little too thin. This now becomes reduced to a question of preference. I agree with the critique on the lip of the bracelet and in general this woudl likely jabe improved with just a touch more lug curvature. On you wrist I don't think it has the best fit because of this, which is a pity and seems unnecessary. I also regret they went with what seems like a pretty long clasp, which is never my favourite. A butterfly would not suit the concept here, but for wearing it I'd still prefer it. It is also a little disappointing that the bracelet has none of the recognisable character of the watch. It's a pretty boring par for the course construction and the watch would benefit from something more characterful. Still, it is bery unlikely to offend anyone. I agree that between the two Danes, they bring a lot of good stuff. On the whole, probably the Henry Archer just brings a concept closer to how I'd wear it. This is more toolish. I also know how well refined HA execution has become. So would I add a steel sports watch, I'm not sure it would be this one, but it's great to have choice of excellent quality and I do think NMI brings something memorable. Having seen the green in footage, I also think this is now my preferred colour for this watch. For many it should be worthy of recommendation.

[@NordicMarineInstruments]

Thank you for your detailed and thoughtful feedback! We're glad you find the watch attractive and appreciate the design. The green dial can indeed be subjective; in person, it tends to show a more saturated olive/moss drab, which many find enhances the contrast and legibility. We understand your points about the bracelet and clasp. We aimed for a practical and sturdy design, that's why we chose to have a buckle with on-the-fly adjustment system, which was very well received by customers of our previous dive watch Østersøen. Maybe for a dress watch we can have a butterfly clasp one day - but not for our rather toolish watches. It's great to hear that you find the overall quality and concept of our watches memorable. We're always striving to bring something unique to the table and your insights help us grow. Thank you again for your support and for sharing your preference for the green dial-it’s a color we’re particularly proud of! Best regards, The NMI Team 🌊

[@JonathanTReviews]

I was pleasantly surprised with the moss green coloration in person too. It's fairly dynamic and a unique shade. Really accentuates the field vibe. Like you said, the whole package walks the line well of a refined field/sport vibe. With just a touch more lug curve, it would be excellently dialed in for my wrist, though it was still pleasant to wear. Cheers

[@gab24092409]

I have room for one watch...Design aside, do you have a preference on the fit/finish/build quality between this and the vesterhav?

[@JonathanTReviews]

Both are very solidly finished for the price point. I can't say one is a stand out leader between the two, but would probably give the edge to the Vesterhav. It's pretty exceptional. In the end, I know you said design aside, but I'd let that be the primary deciding factor. For me, both are great, but I'm partial to the Vesterhav. It's extremely refined, striking and I love the color options. You can't go wrong either way. I hope this helps. Cheers

[@cykotronic]

Seems similar to the Henry Archer, which is an excellent watch. Wonder if the same guy is behind this one, too?

[@JonathanTReviews]

They're both well finished, Danish brands, but different owners. Henry Archer (one of my favorite brands) is owned by Henrik whereas Nordic Marine is owned by Mick of Watch Bandit and in collaboration with RZE founder Travis. Cheers

[@darrenak9378]

Great review. To me the dial is nothing special, but the case looks wonderful. Thanks fow showing this off.

[@JonathanTReviews]

Thanks buddy and my pleasure! I agree, the dial itself is a pretty traditional sandwich dial, though this color is unique. The case finishing and cuts are excellent. Cheers

[@NordicMarineInstruments]

Thank you for your feedback! We're glad you enjoyed the review and appreciate the design of the case. Regarding the dial, we use traditional sandwich dials but with a special crystal blasted finish and a variety of unique colors. We do not aim to make avantgarde dials on this collection, as it should follow our traditional and minimalistic nordic design values. - For the case, we employ our special MØRK finish technique, which involves an exquisite combination of black polishing and brushed surfaces, creating a stunning and detailed look. Our Østersøen customers have particularly loved this aspect of our watches. - Stay tuned for our next Østersøen collection with many unique and breathtaking dials this fall 😉 Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts! Best regards, The NMI Team

[@gerard8174]

Thank you for this nice review; very handsome watch. The finishing of the case reminds of the lightcatcher cases of Christopher Ward.

[@JonathanTReviews]

My pleasure! Thanks for the support. I see what you mean, they do have similar touches. Cheers

[@AlexanderB.]

Very nice watch, it seems well finished and they chose the ideal movement for it. I just wish the lugs would curve down a little more. I'm not calling this a copy or an homage of anything but I believe they took a side glance at Longines when designing the watch. The polished little chamfer separating the chapter ring from the rest of the dial reminds me of the Longines Spirit. And the Longines even comes in a similar green.

[@JonathanTReviews]

I'm with you on the lugs. That little tweak would have taken it from very good to great on the wrist. I can see what you mean regarding the Longines nods as well. Overall, solid value and well finished offering that checks a lot of boxes. Cheers

[@leahleefernandez418]

Love the green

[@JonathanTReviews]

Me too! Really suits the design and it's a great shade. Cheers

[@leahleefernandez418]

@@JonathanTReviews love the in-depth reviews you do!

[@JonathanTReviews]

Thanks so much! I really appreciate the support 🥂

[@ginocolella6373]

I have the Vesterhav 👍🏻, very nice watch, and this NMI is really cool too, so I will have a look at it.. 👍🏻

[@JonathanTReviews]

Absolutely, both great watches. They share some of the same strengths, primarily finishing for the price. Cheers

[@ginocolella6373]

@@JonathanTReviews what price is it for the NMI?

[@JonathanTReviews]

Launch price is not yet confirmed but retail is $549.

[@Jobie86]

A really nice watch and an even better review. Thank you.

[@JonathanTReviews]

Thanks so much! Cheers

[@jerryjensen6430]

Maybe it’s just me but I prefer thicker easier to read Handsets because reading time should be easy.

[@JonathanTReviews]

Understandable. The legibility on this particular color is excellent (precision and at a glance), but a more bold handset could aid further (especially on the lighter dials). I personally tend to prefer a bit thinner on field/sport/dress and thicker on divers or more rugged tool watches. Aesthetic preferences and eyesight will always play an important role though. Cheers

[@ralphus555]

First! Who cares? Nice watch.

[@JonathanTReviews]

Haha! I care 😁🥂

[@danielcooke9974]

Sub 500 watches you are compromised on quantity of movement and so much choice even at around 200 . But this is a hair breath away from the cost of sekio Alpinist

[@JonathanTReviews]

I suspect the launch price will be a fair amount cheaper than retail and a pretty good chunk below the Alpinist. Personally though, even close to the same price, I prefer this one. The Alpinist will certainly be more recognized and storied though. Cheers

[@danielcooke9974]

JonathanTReviews The green certainly is nice . And would probably work better with differnt straps than what the Alpinist would

[@JonathanTReviews]

The green would be my pick too.

[@KillingTimeWithNorman]

That seconds hand is brilliant

[@JonathanTReviews]

I like the little touches too. Delicate but bold where it should be.

[@KillingTimeWithNorman]

That is a GORGEOUS watch!

[@JonathanTReviews]

Agreed, it is a sharp piece! Cheers