NEAT Watches: Autumn Ember Review

NEAT Watches, based near Washington D.C., was started from a simple idea: “Timepieces should stand out, not blend in.” They design their watches to tell a story, to show “moments, moods, and movement captured in design.” I recently found NEAT through an Instagram post showing different “numberless” watches, meaning the dials have no numbers but still effectively tell time. I immediately fell in love with their concept and approach to watches. Their current lineup is based on the four seasons, Spring Bloom, Summer Blaze, Autumn Ember, and Winter Frost. Being an almost Halloween baby, Autumn has always been my favorite time of the year. They graciously sent me one of their Autumn Ember models to review, thanks go out to NEAT for sending this over and you can order your favorite season at the link above.

Packaging: The watch comes in a black metal cube shaped box with “NEAT” and the company logo raised on the lid. Inside, the watch is held snuggly in place with a fitted cut out foam block. There is a small black hang tag on the watch band, with a QR code and “Welcome to NEAT” printed at the bottom.

First Thoughts: The solid black coloring of the packaging makes the colors on the watch pop when you open the box.

Design: Each of the four seasons is themed to the specific season it is named after. Since mine is Autumn Ember, the perimeter of the watch face is decorated with leaves in shades of red and orange. The dial is a blue sky with a large cloud in the middle with a swallow in flight. Around the swallow, a yellow leaf marks the hours and a red and black butterfly mark the minutes. The effect is done seamlessly without hands as the leaf and butterfly appear to sit on translucent rotating disks. There are no other complications on the watch so a single knurled push/pull crown sets the time. The 20mm “ultra-soft” black strap is beautifully done with contrasting white stitching and the holes allow sizing from wrists 6 ¼ – 8 ½ inches. The closure is a simple pin buckle with “NEAT” engraved on the buckle. The caseback is a snap on or press fit and is engraved with: “NEAT” and the company logo in the center. Around this are two concentric rings with “Japan Movement” and “Water Resistant.”

The watch is water resistant to 3ATM which gives protection from rain, splashes, and washing your hands, but not suitable for showers or swimming. NEAT’s watches are powered by Miyota quartz movements, so they will be reliable and accurate. In addition, the crystal is mineral glass which gives good scratch resistance and protection, but you might not want to wear it rock climbing or on the construction site, but it is perfect for pumpkin picking and hayrides.

Price: $143 USD

Overall: I think the four-season theme was beautifully executed across the product line. The Autumn Ember perfectly captures the shift from Summer into Autumn, when the leaves start changing, the wind gets a little chillier, birds start migrating or nesting down for Winter, and nights get longer. I live in the Mid-Atlantic region, so this change is always a beautiful time of the year, and this watch grabs a snapshot of it beautifully. I initially thought it would be challenging not having the number indicators on the dial, but I quickly adjusted and found the watch easy to read even at a quick glance. The included strap is very comfortable and fits my larger wrist well. The crown is easy to pull to adjust and set the time, as a tip, I waited until the top of the hour to set it to help with alignment. I wore this out and about a number of times and always got compliments on it. My daughter (8) has already claimed this watch for when she is older as well. If you have a favorite season and want a watch to match, this is the watch series for you.

Specs:

Name: NEAT Autumn Ember              

Design: Art watch

Movement: Japan Miyota Quartz     

Case Diameter: 41 mm

Case Thickenss: 9.5 mm

Water Resistance: 3ATM (100ft)

Crystal: Mineral glass

Strap: Adjustable ultra-soft strap with holes

Closure: Pin buckle