Aragon Regeneron 45mm Dive Watch
I was trying to scale back my watch purchases, but when this watch was launched at the ridiculous introductory price of $99, with a RRP of $400 (plus shipping & import duties) which totalled just about £135 and seemed to address many of the issues that ‘niggled’ me about my previous Aragon Divemaster (which I still do love to wear) I bought one. As with all Aragon ‘Sale’ watches, they do offer phenomenal value for money – in this instance in sheer weight alone as sized for my 7 ¼ inch wrist (4 links removed) it weighs in at a not inconsiderable 244grms! This is no doubt partially due to the 5mm thick stainless steel bracelet, though there is no getting away from the fact that the watch head itself is a substantial beast; nearly 17.5mm thick, with a diameter of 45mm (and if that’s not big enough for you they do a 50mm version – well it is Aragon after all). Lug to lug I measure a shade over 53mm, which again may seem long, but given the case design, combined with the bracelet’s recessed centred/drop end links, it contours beautifully to the wrist.
I decided to go for the green dial version as I don’t currently own a watch of this colour (well actually I do but my youngest son has commandeered it as his) though as again this is a Aragon, there are loads of vibrant colour options to choose from.
So what were the features that this has that let down the original Divemaster? Primarily the handset, the original had a very stubby hour hand which I found difficult to see where it was actually pointing in low light, the handset on the Regeneron is superb, though I'm not too big a fan of the Aragon logo used as the counterbalance on the second hand. Next the bezel insert, was Aluminium, and mine has accumulated quite a few scratches, even though I consider myself to be quite careful with my watches. Now with this model a vastly superior lumed (blue) full stainless steel bezel, it has a really nice design, feels totally rock solid, but at the same time very easy to turn thanks to the knurled edge.
I decided to go for the green dial version as I don’t currently own a watch of this colour (well actually I do but my youngest son has commandeered it as his) though as again this is a Aragon, there are loads of vibrant colour options to choose from.
So what were the features that this has that let down the original Divemaster? Primarily the handset, the original had a very stubby hour hand which I found difficult to see where it was actually pointing in low light, the handset on the Regeneron is superb, though I'm not too big a fan of the Aragon logo used as the counterbalance on the second hand. Next the bezel insert, was Aluminium, and mine has accumulated quite a few scratches, even though I consider myself to be quite careful with my watches. Now with this model a vastly superior lumed (blue) full stainless steel bezel, it has a really nice design, feels totally rock solid, but at the same time very easy to turn thanks to the knurled edge.
So after a week on the wrist, what do I think of the Regeneron? It is definitely comfortable to wear given the size and weight, thanks to those dropped end links, but this also has a slight downside in that visually it’s a bit ungainly looking insomuch as the bracelet being 5mm thick, it looks very ‘gappy’ at that end link where it drops down the wrist. Visually the watch is never going to win any prizes for elegance, having a purposeful; angular, industrial look especially with the heavy knurled finish to the centre section of the bracelet, bezel edge and superb chunky crown.
This is a very attractive watch – as long as you’re into the chunky industrial style – it is very well put together and finished. It has a vibrant sunburst dial which I only have one issue with, the top edge of the steeply angled rehaut ring contains minute/second markers, but these are virtually unreadable in normal use, whereas if they’d been moved to the lower edge they would have been far more ‘useful’ although the lower edge does contain cut-outs for the applied hour baton markers, so would have been more difficult to print. The outer edge of the dial itself has four raise concentric lines with the hour batons sitting on top of these giving a nice 3D effect. The day/date window at three is pleasingly framed in a gloss metallic red matching the second hand. Dial text is minimal with just Aragon (looks applied) at 12 and automatic & W R 200Mat 6. Both are exceptionally cleanly executed and again add to the air of quality you get with Aragon watches. The flat K1 crystal is slightly higher than the outer 120 click rotating bezel, which has a wonderful action and is easy to grip. With bezel itself slopes downward from the crystal with fully lumed markers, then more steeply again (with deeply machine five minute markers) as it transitions to the nicely knurled grip at its outer edge. All the facets of the watch case are very finely brushed – another Aragon quality trait I really appreciate – again adding to the elegantly industrial look of the watch. Crown guards are a bit minimal, but the crown itself is big bold, easy to operate and has a lumed Aragon logo on its face, which I feel is a bit pointless but I know some like this being done.
The back of the case is again superbly finished but does have a totally pointless exhibition back letting you see the rather basic and plain Seiko movement and rather than the more traditional recesses around the case back to aid removal, here we have six large recesses covering most of the circumference with six periodic lugs. You can see the bracelet has solid end links as usual for Aragon watches, but equally as usual only a pressed clasp, which in this instance is quite beneficial as it will not only keep the already substantial weight down but also ensure the thickness of the bracelet is kept minimal against the wrist, so I’m OK with that. The bezel, as mentioned is well finished and has a great action with no back-play, it is also radially brushed so depending on the light can appear a different tone of grey to the main case almost dark grey at times which add to the visual attractiveness of the watch. Al in all this is a wonderful watch at the introduction price, if a little on the heavy side with the really chunky bracelet, but at least in this instance (unlike the earlier Divemasters) there is a good gap between the spring bars and the case so easy to change straps – though given the weight of the head it may just be too top heavy without the balancing element provided by the bracelet. Either way I’m happy to leave mine on the bracelet for the time being at least and enjoy its rather wrist dominating looks!
