There's Something Special About the Straton Speciale & Syncro

[@grahamwallace]

In a watch world when everything is so samey, these are refreshingly different.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Absolutely.

[@fragzzone]

I've been looking into those sapphire bezel inserts for a while but would like to know how practical or fragile they are before I mod any of my dive watches.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

I've actually got a watch with a sapphire bezel that is similar to this one, which I've had for quite a while (2 years). It's holding up well, no issues at all. s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Af2Mt7 kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnSraqCMqN6rias

[@felo6035]

Great review James 👏 I really like the speciale... hopeto add to my collection one day. Cheers mate.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Cheers mate 👍 You and me both.

[@datilderek1]

Straton makes some really nice watches. The intensity of the colors on their dials is amazing. They also have a good handle on design and capturing a retro vibe.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

You're absolutely right.

[@gunjja13]

I really love Straton watches. Super interesting designs. A lot of retro vibes going on with them. I would go with the quartz I guess. It's a little to chunky looking with the automatic because of the square case. I think I'll buy soon the STRATON YACHT RACER QUARTZ with the black dial with red/light blue.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

That's why I love the look of their watches too. The 70's style retro designs. Nice. Do you have any other Straton watches in your collection already?

[@gunjja13]

@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR Yes the Straton Classic Driver with the green dial. Bought it from a friend who didn't like it after buying it. My luck :) I think after the Yacht Racer I'll buy the STRATON COMP DRIVER also with the green dial.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

@@gunjja13 That worked out well then.

[@JasonTheWatchGuy]

For your grail you'd have to go for the Valjoux! If you're going to do it, go the whole way. The purple really does it for me, it's quite speciale 😉

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

That's a good point actually mate. A grail watch should be Speciale after all 😉

[@johnmuthan286]

Nice choice of music for the wrist views. As for the watch, I can understand some might like it's originality and rebirth of 70s styling, but not the design nor the chronos in general appeal to me.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Cheers mate. I enjoy doing those outdoor bits.

[@angelherrera6820]

Really like both of these. Definitely like that these aren't the same old dive watch homage/copy of something else. I would own both. Would like to see them both with automatic movements. Great reviews. Cheers!

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

The Speciale is the automatic version. But, they don't do one for the Syncro though. Thanks. I'm glad you liked them.

[@WesWatchRoom]

Very nice mate, definitely a big fan of the green one, not so much the other though. Love the insert and retro race styling, definitely a cool one for sure.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

They certainly have a distinct style don't they?

[@AlexanderB.]

Straton is one of the brands with a very special and distinctive design language and some of their offering are surprisingly affordable given the design effort that went into these watches. The Valjoux version of the Speciale is just ridiculously chunky. This yellow sunburst is actually the colour I would go for.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

You're absolutely right, they stand out from a lot of the other microbrands due to their designs.

[@paulandrews7622]

Really funky 70's vibe. That yellow dial is stunning, I'm a sucker for yellow btw. The 7750 version is just too high though, so if I was in the market for a "Huggy Bear" timepiece, I'd go for the Quartz I think. Both lovely watches though. Nicely different !!

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

I love the 70's vibe too. Style and music. Do you mean too high in price or physically too high, as in tall?

[@jasonbostock408]

great unboxing they remind me of my childhood days in the late 70s which is a look many now seem to appreciate great watches overall well worth a look

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Thanks mate. I'm definitely one that appreciates the 70's style, as well as the music too.

[@jasonbostock408]

@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR glad to see you looking better mate and your subs are going really well you deserve them to keep me entertained and yes I am still buying too many watches )

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Cheers mate. We're edging closer to that magical 10k.

[@paulhiggins8774]

Love the blue one, still a tad expensive for a quartz watch if you compare it to the Accurist retro watches

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

The blue does look good. You're paying a bit extra for the unique design I guess.

[@seeker7679]

They all look great, if a touch large. I think the VK is the way to go on the yellow variant it's just too thick otherwise, as well as better alignment and a bucket full of cash cheaper. Cheers bud👍

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Yeah they are pretty chunky.

[@fooshman5163]

I’m a bit late to the party but a great review matey. Love this brand 🙏

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

@@fooshman5163 Well, you know what they say... Better late than never. Cheers mate. They do make some really interesting pieces don't they?

[@fooshman5163]

@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR Ha ha no worries bud…yeah I’ve had my eye on a Syncro for quite some time (the Green one you reviewed is probably my favourite) but I’m very reluctant to buy new as I actually think they’re a bit expensive and what with all the import tax on top as well. The trouble is they just don’t come up preowned much do they? I guess might have to stop being tight and just bite the bullet on a new one. 🙏

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

@@fooshman5163 I know exactly what you mean there. I've been doing the same myself 😆

[@Andrew.W75]

I think these are really nice & that the Valjoux is worth the extra expense, especially if you plan to keep the watch in the long term. Most watchmakers can service a 7750 & Valjoux has a long history of making great chronograph movements!

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

That's very true.

[@stephenhuber1079]

I love the design, perhaps a bit to thick, but I'm drawn to the square-ish shape of the case, dial configuration, color ways, and straps. If it were under 12 mm thick it would be an awesome watch. I like the day-date better though, so that would be the auto and it is like a Chunky candy bar, lol.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

It is a little on the chucky side. But you do get used to it.

[@stephenhuber1079]

@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR plus its not a watch I would wear every day. It looks so COOL!

[@rodpanhard]

I'd love a Straton Speciale, the brown one especially looks straight out of the 70's, I can afford the quartz one but I'm holding out until I can get the automatic.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

We're in the same boat then. Is it the all brown one or the brown and off-white one you want?

[@rodpanhard]

@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR I intitially thought the brown and white but there is a wrist shot of the all brown on the Straton sales page and it looks fantastic so I'm now leaning towards this. It's just a bit more expensive than I usually go on a watch, £500 is usually my upper limit.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

@@rodpanhard I think I know which one you mean. It does look good... They all do.

[@PpaStrmpf]

Read the article from Fratelowatches about three alternatives to Moonswatch and stumbled upon Straton in that article. Guess which one I eyed. The all brown off white. As I checked were all sold out.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

That's definitely the one for me.

[@gmotionedc5412]

I’ll take quartz all day. I bet servicing that auto won’t be cheap!😲

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

No, it's probably not.

[@BCallum]

I really like that yellow!!! It is speciale!!!

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Very Speciale 😉

[@MaroMarenio]

First comment?

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

Yes it is.

[@MaroMarenio]

@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR nice 👊

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

@@MaroMarenio What do you think of the watches then?

[@MaroMarenio]

@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR I prefer the green one.

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

@@MaroMarenio Would you go with the green if you were getting one then, or a different colour?

[@grahamburgess8456]

I think they tend to all look similar...a bit of a one trick pony

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

They definitely have a certain style. I take it you aren't really a fan then?

[@grahamburgess8456]

@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR they look ok but not really for me, but just my opinion

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

@@grahamburgess8456 That's fine. They won't be for everyone.

[@toughguy2186]

Stolen design from: “MINERVA INCABLOC”

[@HonestWatchReviewsHWR]

I had no idea. I'd not heard of this before.

[@toughguy2186]

@@HonestWatchReviewsHWR There is one available right now on eBay, I would’ve buy it if I didn’t have already two of them 😂😂😂