Farr + Swit Wayfinder Diver Watch Review
A Timepiece Perfect For Golfing Adventures
Golf and watches are enmeshed with one another. From tour player sponsorships, to tournament sponsorships, to advertising, watches are a part of the game we love. Most of us will never lift a championship trophy with a luxury timepiece on our wrist. The closest country club players will come to lifting anything with their watch hand is a post-round Manhattan on a Saturday afternoon. While most of the players we see on TV wear Patek, Rolex, and AP, most of us do not have that kind of discretionary income. However, an appreciation for horology or owning a quality watch does not have to break the bank. That’s where Farr + Swit enters the clubhouse.
This is my definitive Farr + Swit Wayfinder Diver Watch Review.
Farr + Swit Creation
It wasn’t in Geneva, Saxony, or even Shizukuishi. Farr + Swit was founded in 2017 in Elmhurst, Illinois, just outside Chicago by Adam Farrand Hodge, Andrew Paetzold, and Zach Switalski. They weren’t looking to reinvent watchmaking but rather to make watches their friends wanted to wear and at a price they could afford. That meant pieces rugged enough for a weekend trip, interesting enough to get a compliment in the men’s locker room, yet personal enough that you felt like you knew the owner. Watches built with high quality components that are assembled in the United States.
Something Special
I get the sense that Farr + Swit treats watch ownership like joining a club. You can find Hodge at watch fairs, giving interviews to influencers on YouTube, or interacting directly with consumers online or via email. You won’t find them in Golf Digest but you will find them partnering with local nonprofits and professional sports organizations like the Chicago Cubs. In a world where consumer interaction is often outsourced or automated, Hodge is more concerned with earning brand loyalty one customer at a time. Farr + Swit balances quality, value, and storytelling, one customer at a time.
As stated by, Hodge, the Farr + Swit tag line is: “Define your time. It means, make the most of your time, have fun, enjoy life. Go exploring, go out of your comfort zone. Take your time and make the most of it.” I took Hodge’s prescription and did exactly that this week. Embarking from the Twin Cities of Minnesota, four friends and the Farr + Swit Wayfinder Diver Watch headed on a 9 hour and 38-minute journey to the Dismal River Golf Club in Mullen, Nebraska. 5 days of pure golf in the sand hills of Nebraska.
Wayfinder Diver 40 Lume Watch
This past July, Farr + Swit released the next iteration of a staple in their Wayfinder portfolio, the Farr + Swit Wayfinder Diver Watch. This next variation in this dive watch series is slightly smaller case diameter at 40mm. The case is made from 316L Surgical Grade stainless steel with a screw down crown. The dial features the signature topographical map with the super lume dial. The entire dial basically glows in the dark and has the most lume of any dial I have seen to date.
The watch has a rotating bezel and has the pyramid bezel for ease of grip. The movement is a Seiko: VH31 sweeping seconds quartz which operates like a mechanical movement. It has 300m of water resistance with a domed sapphire crystal with double anti reflective coating. My watch features a navy Fluorine Kautschuk Material strap which is heat resistant up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The Wayfinder Diver 40 Lume also comes with a stainless steal bracelet. The case-back is etched with Farr + Swit compass logo.
FKM Strap
On the wrist, the first thing I noticed was the comfort of the FKM strap. It is probably the most comfortable strap I have had on the wrist, it feels like it melts into your skin forming to the contours. With the Seiko quartz movement, the case is only 11.5mm thick which I found to be ideal in a dive watch. The cream topographical dial with yellow and blue accents alone with the blue bezel give off a sporty adventurer vibe while remaining remarkably subtle.
The 40mm diameter combined with the 11.5mm thick case on the FKM strap rendered this the most comfortable watch that I have ever worn. For a watch that is billed for adventure, the design permits wearability in any environment or venue. With the included stainless steel bracelet, this watch can be worn during sport, with jeans and a t-shirt or even business wear for the office.
Features
Water resistance: 30 bar (300 meters / 1000 feet)
Crystal Face: Domed sapphire crystal with double AR(Anti Reflective) coating
Case: 316L Surgical Grade Stainless Steel
Bezel: 120 click Steel with BGW9 Grade A EF Lume
Caseback: Steel
Dial Color: Topography Full Lume
Size: Case Diameter: 40 mm, Between Lugs: 20 mm
Lug to Lug: 48mm, Height: 11.5mm
Lume: BGW9 Grade A, C3 Green Grade X EF, Dark Orange, BGW9 Grade A EF on Bezel
Summary
After a month on the wrist, the Farr + Swit Wayfinder Diver Watch packs incredible wearability designed for adventure into a reasonable price point at $499. This watch embodies a nine and a half hour golf journey through the Nebraska plains in its design and styling. I could not have handpicked a more perfect timepiece to remember my journey to pure golf with three friends.
This watch marked a moment in time for me that I will remember forever. This watch will always be associated with this trip and the adventure it provided. Every time I have glanced down at the dial the memories return. In the end, isn’t that what the game and horology is all about? Farr + Swit nailed it with this piece in their collection. A well-constructed, durable yet elegant piece made to withstand rugged adventure and mark a special moment in life’s journey. Great job fellas, cheers!
For More Information: Farr + Swit Website
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