A Classic Reimagined! Vario 1945 D12 Review

[@adk7962]

Thanks for the great review. As an avid AliExpress lover, I will be the first to say, it’s not fair to compare non AliExpress watches to AliExpress watches just based on specs alone. Vario makes some of the best vintage style watches out there IMO. And this one is no exception. Thanks!

[@entropicallydriven]

Great looking watch. Love the consistent Vario coverage on the channel

[@dixonjernigan1534]

New RT video! Today is going to be a good day!

[@RelativeTime]

Morning. Hope you like it!

[@dunderhay9169]

Great review and photography as always 👍. Vario have done a good job on this design, it looks good and is a sensible size. I would prefer the Miyota 8 series over Sea-Gull st1701 or a quartz which are the only other inexpensive small seconds movements.

[@teamhonn]

Thanks always liked the watch face and how clean it is.

[@VARIOeveryday]

Enjoyed your video. Thanks!

[@larrydalton2205]

Glad to have another of your reviews. Guess i was having withdrawal symptoms. I habe plenty of fantastic Vario straps and will some day get around to buying one of their watches.

[@Aliens_Gonna_Get_Ya]

Still luv’n ya style! Just bought a $20 Marvin The Martian talking watch… better than a Rolex… 👍

[@steven3379]

I won one of their "Eclipse" dress watches here on KZbin, and thats how I learned of the brand. They have several good designs and are on my short list. This is a nice piece, but I'm more drawn to the 1918 "Trench" watch. Thanks for sharing!

[@DavidUKesb]

Me too. That 1918 Trench is stunning.

[@tjfish9683]

I have been admiring this watch for awhile and ordered one just after the holidays as a gift for my son (the black dial). I don't have any watches with the 8000 series Myotas--I assume they are comparable to the Seiko N35--which are acceptable at this price). I hope the size fits his average size wrist. I got an email this AM saying it ships tomorrow. I was going to order some additional straps, but apparently Vairo straps are out of stock. Great review, as always.

[@levi9385]

I like it, but got the pilot watch instead. I look forward to your review of it.

[@Pehr81]

What is that strap? it looks gorgeous! (the brown/green one)

[@stavros_katsopr]

Vario must be the most committed brand to Belle Epoque! (as far as design language...)

[@PhantomObserver]

I have the black dial version of this. I agree that the lume sucks, but apart from that I like the size and legibility, and cordura makes great sense for a 10ATM WR watch default strap.

[@Bristol1]

That's a nice looking watch. I especially like the green dial version. It's a shame non fauxtina hands aren't an option. They may not work on this dial, but would pop on the darker ones imo. Thanks for the review!

[@Z-S-H]

While I think this watch is great I do like it, I have to agree about the lume and the hand set. My Draken Aoraki Zulu has a wider hand set which is one reason I purchased it, and the lume on my Draken is great I really love it. Edit: The more train track watches I see the more I prefer something else for a minute track

[@anthonydevono8833]

Looks great not sure how it would hold up doing a manual labour job but it looks quality

[@stanb.5261]

It's slightly chunky- and feels like a tank!

[@HVG67]

I bought the grey version, but ended up gifting it to my nephew because 37mm is really too small for me. Also the canvas strap it came on was super stiff and super uncomfortable 😣. Also it was not long enough either 😮. I replaced it with a really nice, comfortable grey perlon Zulu strap and my nephew is really happy with it.. I'm a huge fan of Vario watches, but I didn't realize this size was not for me. and yeah the stiff canvas strap was a huge letdown honestly...

[@stanb.5261]

I have the grey version as well, ordered with the grey leather strap- the softest, most plush strap I've ever worn... feels like pure luxury!

[@grahamliggat7193]

Lots to like but … I’m over 8 series Miyota movements. No more for me and, knowing what I know now, I wish I avoided them earlier. Like Vario too but not enough to go there.

[@zHumanfactor]

It's a nice one, Shane. I do like their Trench model.

[@davidlloydjones752]

Love the way the brand name is there ... but isn't🧐

[@RyanBofMKE]

IDK what's going on, but I just realized I haven't been getting you notifications for your videos. I have you, Jory, Jody, and TGV with notifications on, and I'm not getting yours. I unsubbed then resubbed, hopefully that takes care of it. I have some catching up to do. Only like 5 vids, but still!

[@Mauricio.Solorzano]

I love homage watches. Make a video about this compelling argument that I am hearing more often now, that there are some homage watches that are better than the watches they are homaging! I have two of those homage watches that homage watches that are hard to obtain (if you can get at all) and very expensive. I own the Steinhart OneOcean OVM (One vintage Military) Diver watch that homages the vintage 70's Rolex MilSub 5517 used by the UK Special Service Naval Forces (I inherited one by my step-dad) and I got to say that the Seinhart is MUCH BETTER ! It has double AR Sapphire crystal, better 28,800 VPH/ 4HZ movement, 300 water resistance, etc. while the MilSub is way too expensive (upwards of $200K) for a watch with an old Rolex Caliber 1520 at 19,800bph / 2.75 HZ, Acrylic (Domed) crystal with Tritium Luminous Hour Markers, Circled ‘T’ on Lower Half (which doesn't lume at all now), 200 Meters / 660 Feet Water Resistance, Bidirectional Timing w/ Aluminum Insert, which is NOT good for diving! Also I own a Addiesdive watch Homaging a vintage Seiko Capitan Willard, and again, it has characteristics of an old technology, outdated, and very expensive. What do you think ? 2

[@RelativeTime]

I've always refered to those as "Super Homages" Ones that come close to and in some ways out do the originals. I think I first started using that when the Ginault Ocean Rover came out years ago. Could be a good video, I'll have to think about what watches to include.

[@jackward-m2y]

Appreciate the American assembly of the watch, cool dial. But the hand color doesn't match the indices. And decorated movement behind the closed back? Why a decorated mvmt when ya can't see it? Lastly: just because watches are 'inspired by' an historical watch does NOT mean it HAS to have a closed case back. I never want a closed case back. If I didn't want to see the moment, I'd buy a quartz watch. Price: pretty high for a watch on a non SS band. The silly decision to put a decorated mvmt most likely lead to the high price. I'd like to purchase a vario, but never have due to the issues listed above.

[@stanb.5261]

You can order a see through back.

[@ivermec-tin666]

Three critical cons for this watch are the 18mm lugwidth, the fauxtina lume (when will this idiotic fad end?), and the failure to use a Miyota 9000 series movement. It is very difficult to best the VAER Dirty Dozen offering, which now comes in two sizes, albeit at a higher price point than this Vario watch. But, let's be honest here, you only need one dirty dozen watch. The choice is between VAER and Timor, IMO.

[@maidpretty]

I don't understand that "form over function" mentality that results in "vintage style" watches using superluminova "old fadium" instead of something like SLN "natural". "Natural" looks yellowish enough in the daylight and has a greenish tint in the dark, while being just 10-15% worse than GL C3 and BG W9 compared to "old radium" pigment having half of the capacity in comparison (and "dark orange" pigment on the hour markers has only 27% of C3 capacity).