VARIO Watches began in 2016 with the focus of “Vintage-inspired timepieces and accessories, helping you express and expand your unique style through thoughtfully designed watches.” The founder Ivan started the company after developing fatigue from using his phone to check the time and then getting distracted by notifications and social media. Pulling out watches he had previously used, he noticed the bands had broken down over time, so he began designing new bands, which grew into a successful kickstarter campaign, and VARIO was started. In short order, Ivan began designing and making watches for the company as well. They have a current line up covering Automatic, Manual, and Quartz watches as well as straps in various sizes and materials for various brands, and watch accessories and storage options. Ivan generously offered to send me a watch to review, and having a love of history and military history, I requested the 1918 Trench watch. I thought it fitting that this review is being released on 11/11/26 on Armistice Day. Thanks go out to Ivan and team for sending this to me, and if you would like to explore VARIO and find a new watch for your own collection, please see the link above.
Packaging: The watch comes in a grey zipper clamshell watch case, with a warranty card, informational card, cleaning cloth, and “10 years of VARIO” thank you card. The watch case doubles as a carrying case as it is rigid and offers protection for the watch as well. On the back of the case is a tag which reads “VARIO.” One little touch that I like on the case is that the zipper is red, offering a little pop of color on the case. Inside the case, there is a padded top and bottom, a small, netted area allowing you to carry a few accessories if you choose, and most importantly, the watch.
First Thoughts: The watch and strap are a perfect color combination, just simple, clean, and beautiful.
Design: From the website, “VARIO 1918 Trench (see link for the history on the development of the wristwatch/trench watch) is a re-imagined WW1 Trench watch with upgraded specs such as a robust modern enamel dial; anti-reflective sapphire crystal, a marine grade stainless steel case with thicker wired lugs for added security, 100m water resistance, non-radioactive lume and a hacking Japanese automatic movement. This watch tributes the birth of wrist watches for men in the early 20th century.”
I requested the 40mm version of the watch as I prefer a larger watch, but it is also available in a 37mm with the only visual difference being the subdial partially covers the 6 on the 37mm version. The 1918 Trench has a traditional field watch design with the crown sitting at the 4 o’clock position. There are a variety of color combinations for the indices and the dial, I chose a cream dial with orange lume. The large Arabic numerals are easy to read and have black minute indices between them. The recessed second hand subdial is located just above the 6 o’clock position and has 10 second marked intervals (10, 20, 30, etc), larger indices for the 5 second marks (5, 15, 25, etc), and small second indices as well. The second hand moves almost in a sweep but has a slight stop and start marking the seconds. Lastly, below the 12 o’clock is “VARIO” in black lettering.
This model comes with a Bund strap in a variety of colors; mine came with the cinnamon version which I think goes well with the lume and dial coloring. The buckle has “VARIO” engraved on it which sits in front of two leather keepers. The band is secured to the watches wire loops on either side with a screw that goes through the front of the band and is secured on the back of the band. Since this is a Bund strap, there is a wide leather section that sits under the case back, also stamped “VARIO”, connected to the band through keepers, which protects the caseback and your wrist from the engraving. As a side note, you can remove this section if you choose and just have the watch on a normal leather band. The leather for the band is soft and flexible but thick enough and stitched so there is no worry about it fraying. It began to form to my wrist after wearing it for about two weeks. The caseback is engraved in several places with information about the watch; “Stainless Steel,” “11.11.1918,” which is Armistice Day (the end of WW1), “Automatic,” “Sapphire,” “Singapore,” and “10ATM.” This all surrounds and engraving of a WW1 soldier holding a rifle, with poppies, and surrounded by a ring of barbed wire.
Price: $388 USD
Overall: This watch design and features are very well thought out and make a wonderful tribute to the trench watches and soldiers who wore them in WW1. I think the variety of color options for the lume, the dial, and the bands gives a watch option that can meet everyone’s taste and preference. With three weeks of daily wear, I noticed that the watch had picked up around 30 seconds, which is not an issue, and in my opinion part of the charm of a mechanical watch. The rotor offers an audible “whirring” sound when it is moved and winding the watch. Since the model I received has a solid caseback (they offer a presentation caseback as well), it is a reassurance that the watch is winding while I am wearing it. I absolutely love this watch and the design, and I find it well worth the price and am glad to have it in my collection.
Specs:
Name: VARIO 1918 Trench
Design: WW1 Trench watch
Crown: Screw down
Movement: Adjusted Miyota 82s5 automatic gilt movement (Côtes de Genève) with hand-winding and hacking seconds. 21 jewels 21.6kpbh more than 40 hours power reserve
Case Diameter: 37mm or 40mm (I reviewed the 40mm)
Case Thickness: 10mm
Water Resistance: 10 ATM
Crystal: 2mm double domed sapphire with inner AR applied
Strap: Crazy horse leather with bund pad (75mm/120mm) or single pass (270mm)
Closure: Pin buckle
