I’ll be honest here and now! The main reason I was interested in this watch was because of the word “aventurine” in the advert – then the fact that the price seemed pretty cheap. I then looked at the brand and said “who”?
After studying the details on – yes, Mr Kibble’s website, the overall package looked compelling. An attractive-looking sports-type watch – basically new (apparently from 2025), in stainless steel, and with a tried and tested automatic movement. Oh, plus GMT and date complications. The fact that I had never heard of the brand was of no real consequence. Anyway, the upshot was that I bought the watch (plus accompaniments), for some £400 – after some minor haggling! By the way, the current rrp for a similar watch (via the brand’s website) is £607.
So, who are/is Henry Archer? Well, oddly – in view of the name, it appears to be a Danish concern. However, after looking at the brand’s website, the “English” name usage is a bit clearer. The name in fact comes from the founder – one Henrick Schodt, who simply has translated his name into English! I don’t know, but I think from a PR point of view I would have perhaps kept the Skandi monica, as this usually denotes design coolness. Henry Archer doesn’t really! Add to this the fact that you have to buy direct from the firm – which surely must impact on overseas sales somewhat, the English preference is, to me at least, an enigma! Anyway, Mr Archer/Schodt appears to have had a 20 year or so career in 3d/ design, and then in 2020 fancied his chances in the watch world. In a pretty saturated microbrand market segment, this was a very brave move indeed.
After perusing the HA website, they seem to concentrate on a Bauhaus type design. Their offerings are mainly male orientated, with a few for females. I suppose the target market would be viewed as in the “affordable” segment – so in this case approximately between £250 and £800. The low price bracket is achievable (one assumes) as the the movements are from the Far East – mainly Japanese Miyota – automatic and quartz. Also, as the watch simply says “Designed in Denmark”, one also assumes that the watches (or components) are also made in lower priced areas. Other than that, what you see is what you get. Without being unduly harsh, I frankly cannot see anything particularly special or eye-grabbing about the brand/products – even aventurine is no longer uncommon and clearly can be made very cheaply! All that said, launching a watch brand these days is an achievement, so I wish him/them well!
Anyway, let me turn now to my purchase – called the Arden Astra Aventurine GMT (Dark Blue). There is a reference noted on the case – VER 640. I am not sure if this is simply the model ref or a serial number – I suspect the former. The watch is a pretty archetypal-looking sports watch with an integrated bracelet – all in surgical grade stainless steel. The case is some 39mm wide and 11.9mm deep and has a fairly large bezel. The case has a combination of brushed and polished surfaces. The crown is pretty meaty, and of a knurled screw-down type, with the brand logo on the cap encircled by a baby-blue coloured band. Three crown positions deal with all four functions – manual wind, main hand alteration (date with this too) and lastly GMT hand adjustment. The lugs flow nicely from the case. On the reverse reveals an “exhibition” window. Glazing is via anti-reflective sapphire crystal and waterproofing is noted to 20ATM.
Turing to the front, the immediate aspect which shines is the dial itself This is made of aventurine – so glass, with metal flakes mixed within. Obviously the glass can be of any shade, but in this version, it appears to be a very deep blue. The “sparkles” appear to be a combination of silver and blue – at least to my eyes, and they pretty much saturate the glass. As for dial contents – starting from the outside, there are small numerals in white denoting the 24hr clock. These are interspersed with small markers in a baby-blue (bb) colour. Moving in, we have rectangular-type hour batons with white lume (Super LumiNova in fact) and minute markers in between. At 6 o’clock there is a recessed and unframed date window, with numerals in bb with a very dark background. The main hands are dagger shaped in s/s with white lume infill. The GMT hand is in bb too with a white lumed arrowhead. The sweep hand is in bb, and has an arrowhead with a white lumed tip. The brand’s logo is under 12 and above the date window it simply says Verden, then Dual Zone GMT. All in all it is a reasonably clear picture – save perhaps for the date, which, unless you peer at closely is not that clear from certain angles.
Turning to the motive power, this is via a Japanese Miyota 9075 “Premium” series automatic movement – and is noted as having a “true” GMT function. Upon a little more research, this motor has 24 jewels, runs at 28,800 vph, and has a power reserve of some 42 hours. Accuracy is stated at -10/+30 seconds per day. If one looks at the movement it dominated by the large gold-coloured rotor (uni-directional). There is also some nice decoration on display, e.g. Cotes de Geneve, and this is quite unusual and welcome at this price point.
Lastly, the bracelet. This is an attractive – albeit a pretty hefty item. It is a fold-over clasp variety, with neat twin release buttons. There is a useful micro-adjuster inside, which allows for some 6-7mm movement. If greater adjustment is required, then several links do have screws for relatively easy removal/addition. For the record I have an average wrist (approx 7cm) and the watch fitted fine – but I also discovered a few spare links in the box so I am sure large wrists can be accommodated.
The packaging is of decent quality/design for the price. The “travel” pouch provided has recesses in fact for two watches. There is a two year warranty provided, although oddly there is no purchase date noted on any paperwork – instruction booklet or the “Certificate of Authenticity” card. This aspect needs to be addressed as otherwise one has to rely on, say, a credit card receipt or similar. Incidentally, I suspect my watch watch variant was offered in 2025 so hence the suggested year date. I am OK with this assumption.
I think that is about it! In conclusion, one appears to get an attractive, robust and functional watch of decent quality, at a pretty reasonable price. Yes, it could be a bit lighter, and that date a little clearer, but these are but minor gripes. Clearly one must also be comfortable in dealing with an overseas retailer – not just with the initial purchase, but also over any future issue/needs.
Lastly, and what I find pretty perplexing, is why someone would go to the bother of importing such a watch, and then sell it pretty soon thereafter? Whatever, I have gained from someone’s loss as I have got a practically new watch at over 30% off!
Rating: 4/5
Words & Images: The Writer.