Buffy Acacia
I’m happy to admit that many microbrand approaches to marketing roll your eyes, but when the watch evokes a double take, it’s a rare and happy treat. The Arena, a fresh micro-brand, is undoubtedly friendly at waxing poetic things, but Arena Banitas is one of the most thoughtfully designed best dive watches I have seen in a long time. It shines like this. It may not be a Baroque artwork, but it may be your next purchase.
For context, Arena Banitas is named after the art movement that took off in the Netherlands during the Baroque period of the 16th and 17th centuries from the end of the Renaissance. It incorporates still life with themes of death, corruption and despair, and uses the term “vanitas” for the literal Latin futility. It can be considered a subset of forest memorials. This encourages viewers to remember that they will die, but rather leaning heavily towards an air of meaninglessness rather than optimism. Aside from the engraved caseback and muted color palette, we’ll deal with it soon, but this watch has nothing to connect to a Dutch oil painting. However, its design, quality and specifications deserve a complete and thorough inspection regardless.
case
Arena Vanitas doesn’t go far from the typical 1960s dive watch realm, but it does so in a way that feels intentional rather than derivative. The rug is quite stocky and a wide set, but a polished sweep is raised onto the case to smooth chamfering it. Top brushing maintains utility levels throughout the watch, while the polished edges of the bezel balance the glow again. The bezel insert is also made of black scratch-resistant DLC-coated steel with circular brushes and fully illuminated markers.
At 39mm, Arena Vanitas is well suited to current sizing trends and should remain attractive and versatile sizes for the next decades. The length of the lug from the 47mm lug removes the risk of average wrist overhangs and still feels proportional. Most impressive is the total thickness of just 11.6mm, including a 2mm dome sapphire crystal. Of course, it’s a proper diving watch thanks to its 200m water resistance rating trapped in a screw-down crown.
Dial
In the classic case of deceptive simplicity, the Vanitas dial rewards a thorough examination. At a glance from afar, you might assume that dials are fairly common, but there are plenty of small details worthy of gratitude. Most imminent, the white chapter ring is complete with tiny print micromarkers and bright dots that reflect their own bright glow, creating an almost eerie green ring around the dial. Masu. It’s a great separation between the dial and the bezel, and is often overlooked in the design of the diving watch.
The circular application time markers may be small, but the refined ring stands out through reflectivity and the strength of the C3 Super Luminova. The solid blocks in the same room form 12, 6, and 9 batons, each supported by small metal posts on either side. The 3 o’clock date display is less distracting on a white background thanks to its symmetry with the 9 o’clock marker.
Movement
Apart from its design, one of Arena Banitas’ most fascinating outlooks is its movement. The Sellita SW200-1 would have been an easy and acceptable option, but using the SW300-1 will divide it into upper classes. As a clone of the ETA 2829-A2, this thin automatic movement has been highly regarded for decades as an option for luxury Swiss watches that are still relatively accessible. It is used by big box brands such as Hublot, IWC and Oris, but forms the base for the Tag Heuer’s Caliber 7, which enhances some of the brand’s Currera models. The 56-hour power reserve is a great upgrade that can’t claim either the ETA original or the SW200-1, retaining a smooth beat rate of 4Hz. It is also a top grade move with COSC level accuracy within -4/+6 seconds per day (but not actually COSC certified). It means that it is also well decorated, but it is hidden behind the sculpture in a gorgeous caseback with an hourglass and brand logo.
bracelet
More proving that the arena does not cut corners, the beads of slice bracelet looks phenomenal. The polished beads and brushed sides provide the classic look of a vintage-inspired dive watch, but they also run in ways that complement the thinness of the watch case. The folding fastener has a double security pusher and folding clip for added security. Additionally, it features 6-point on-the-fly micro adjustments to complete the fitment. It’s a trait that consumers are eager to see on far more expensive watches, but most can be seen in micro-brands. The watch comes with a vulcanized rubber strap and a lug with drill lugs to facilitate swapping. Plus, the lug width is 20mm, so there are plenty of aftermarket options too.
To be clear, I have absolutely nothing against the vanitas theme. Perhaps, if skull motifs or versatility is a priority somewhere on the dial, I hope the clock itself reflects that story more by incorporating a skull motif or other small Easter eggs . Still, aside from the futility of life and death, the clock itself leaves little to be desired. As a limited edition of 300 pieces, Arena will definitely sell out their first run and win one or two sequels in the coming years. When hundreds of microbrands were trying to provide the most value for money, the arena was still able to make a strong impression.
Arena Vanitas Pricing and Availability
Arena Vanitas is limited to 300 and is currently available. Price: USD 1,430
Brand Arena Model Vanitas Case Dimensions 39mm(d)x11.6mm
It was created in collaboration with Arena Timepieces. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with the editorial policy.
