Aaron C.
Simply put, I was serendipitous upon finally holding the Wave Racer in my hands for the first time. All those thoughts and smells and feelings that come along with a brand new high quality timepiece we’re all in place; that makes the overall experience exciting sure, but when a piece just misses the mark as well as when a piece comes closer to the perfect bi-compax Chronograph for example, it’s obvious but isn’t there always that one exception that naturally tends to prove the rule. Well, before I sing the many praises of the Oceaneva Wave Racer (Gen2), let me first and briefly just mention this. Regardless of where on the price spectrum a timepiece may fall, even the most expensive to the high quality value buys that will stick around and function adequately for just as long - there seems to be one trait of a high quality watch at any price and that is the adjustment method for metal bracelets like jubilee or oysters, and that without question makes for a consensus among horologists that becomes best practice from first principles, and this is the one and only point of fact where In my opinion Oceaneva made the wrong choice. When attempting to fit a metal bracelet, most people will have to remove links and this is usually done in terms of the highest quality regardless of price pieces by small screws. These small screws can be easily removed without causing collateral damage to other parts of the Watch or bracelet and that’s the route that they should have gone with the Wave Racer Chronograph. Overall, when we’re talking about a Swiss movement Chronograph configured on top of the time keeping complication - if the only complaint worth noting has to do with the bracelets adjustment method rather than some quirk of functionality or messed up parts that don’t quite allow the watch to get its bang for its buck, then I cannot say that’s really all that much to complain about. From the moment I first help this quarts Ronda Swiss movement Chronograph I could tell that this one will be at the top of my daily’s rotation for a long time to come. Everything about this timepiece goes above my expectations (except for the no screws thingy) and has been worn with several different straps and bands along with the metal bracelet and I must say that it almost feels like a new and different watch each time I change the band bringing me back to a time I only assume existed long before I was born. This bi-compax Chronograph encompasses design ethos of the 70’s Racing culture with the racing stripes perfectly positioned atop a background of deep blue - one of my favorite color combinations when in the mood for color. That retro aesthetic is doubled down on by Oceaneva with the sapphire coated mineral crystal that has been fashioned to be double domed, a feature that while still popular today is certainly a relic of the relevant past which they did a magnificent job of bringing those retro features to the forefront and then accentuating them to make a concept a theme and a theme an ongoing and rewarding delve into what it might have felt like to own and operate one of those many near-grails in the form of racing theme inspired pieces that hit the height of their ubiquity in the market in the 70’s when racers who are all but retired today set the standard not just on the track but off of it too. While there is the obvious conception of romanticized drama where you can picture a racer getting ready to make a qualifying run and using their Chronograph to time themselves as the stop watch never lies. While antiquated today in terms of absolute need, as there are people who do that for racers and many other ways to keep absolutely precise timing, it’s in that very reminiscent moment that everything that’s special about these particular versions of the Chronograph movement makes the watches that much more special to own, and the Wave Racer pulls mo punches when it comes to adhering to and even further contributing to this racing themed Chronograph groundbreaker. The highly unique color ways provide for exciting ways of pairing this piece with various kinds of enhancement straps or bands where the creative potential is nearly limitless. The Wave Racer comes with non-lockable pushers but a sturdy lockable crown. Yes it talks about having WR to some meager depth, don’t be stupid man submerge this timepiece in water. Maybe the WR will hold maybe not but when we’re talking about a Chronograph movement with pushers that don’t lock, one accidental push and you’ve drowned your watch, voided your warranty, and without servicing likely have ruined a timepiece that deserves a spot amongst the opprobrium of must-classics, living legends if you will. Like the initial run, gen2 limited and your serial number will reflect that. I won’t say which number serial I received but suffice it to say that there are a couple circulated pieces with lower serial numbers and a prototype or two I would imagine that came first, and then there was mine. Get the lowest serial number possible- order your Wave Racer today. 8.5/10 with the bracelet not having adjustment screws taking away those lost points. Not quite a deal breaker although someday it will be expected, so Oceaneva better get on board. Well done, guys proud to own this timepiece and look forward to maybe a mechanical chronograph with a 7750 or perhaps a manual wind ST19 movement.
Dick H.
Super watch, great design , operates perfectly , pimped the strap a bit ….. why hesitate …. ???
Simon
This watch arived today and it is great a solid watch that looks like a more expensive one. Also it has all the features you would expect on a watch costing 5 X the price.
Very happy, have not been diving with it yet so cant coment on realy testing it.