We all like a bit of adventure – especially since most of us can’t actually leave the house right now. Wanderlust has never felt so intense. Yet even we, cabin fevered as we are, don’t wear the love of adventure on our sleeves as wholeheartedly as TWELF-X. The Singaporean, American-inspired watch brand doesn’t just enjoy the outdoors; it’s built into their very DNA.
The name says it all. The twelve doesn’t come from the hours on a clockface like you’d expect from a timepiece, but from the total of the world’s seven continents and five oceans. Theirs is a brand that aspires to be the ultimate globe-trotter. The X is even more significant; the eagle-eyed might notice that the X of the logo is made from two tents, emphasising the nomadic nature of the brand.
It’s far more than just aspirations though; both of their watches – the seafaring Ocean 1908 Deep Wave and the Sky 1914 Auto Flyer – are built to survive any adventure.
That’s achieved first and foremost with TWELF-X’s unique stepped case, a construction that balances elegance with ruggedness by taking some of the bulk out what would otherwise be a substantial chunk of metal. The same thinking goes for the three-toothed bezel edge, designed for easy grip in any environment, with or without gloves.
Oh and if the font for the lume-drenched 12 and six looks familiar, you’ve been watching plenty of macho films; it’s the same used for The Expendables and The A-Team, just modified a little for a watch dial.
The Ocean 1908 Deep Wave, named in honour of the decompression table invented in 1908 by John Scott Haldane, is every bit the underwater tool, with a unidirectional rotating diving bezel and 200m water resistance.
The Sky 1914 Auto Flyer on the other hand, references the invention of the autopilot, far further back than we thought possible. In keeping with air travel, it’s a three timezone watch, with a GMT hand and rotating bezel. It’s also water resistance to 200m, but with more happening across the dial than the seafaring equivalent.
Both are equipped with Japanese Seiko movements, every bit as accurate and reliable as their Swiss counterparts, but far less expensive. The result is a pair of incredible well-designed watches suited to the rigours of adventure for a fraction of the price you might expect: $285 for the Ocean 1908, $329 for the Sky 1914.
Better yet, use promo code ‘FREESTRAP, TWELFX10OFF’ now through to June 30, 2020 to receive a 10% discount and an additional free strap. Now you don’t even need to be horologically adventurous for to take the plunge.
More details at TWELF-X.
