We at The Time Bum are always ready to review a new Dryden. I reviewed the Chrono Diver, JP did the Heartlander, and Mike has already written about the Pathfinder. Each time we were impressed by the comfortable fit, high quality finish and exciting use of color. This last point convinced me to publish a second Pathfinder review, now in the updated version 1.5, and when I unboxed these Magenta Fume and Sky Blue models I knew I had made the right decision.
The Pathfinder is a medium-sized sports watch. Its stainless steel case is 41 mm wide, 47 mm long and just 11.8 mm thick, with the distance between the lugs being 20 mm. The watch is powered by a Miyota 9015 automatic movement (28.8,000 beats per hour, more than 42 hours of power reserve). I’ll get to the case and bracelet improvements later. First, take a look at these watch faces. Really take a moment to look at these images and absorb them. Let the color and texture bounce around your retina and penetrate deep into your brain.
Wild, right? Now imagine what they would have looked like in the pictures taken by a competent photographer.
If you recall, the Dryden Heartlander’s Autumn Rust dial convinced me to buy one for myself and then nominate it for Microbrand Watch of the Year. I described it as “the last thing you see when you’re overdosing after snorting a line of pure, uncut pumpkin-flavored stuff.” As for Pathfinder’s “Magenta Fume,” I’d bet that Jimi Hendrix wanted to tell us that when he wrote “Purple Haze.”
The ombré effect is gorgeous and the radiant texture underneath makes it even richer. New to the v1.5 model are the 5-minute blocks above the hour markers, rendered here in a contrasting light blue to match the model name text.
Now admire the Aqua dial. Dryden refers to it as “Sky Blue,” but my mind went straight to the sea. How could I not? This is the clear waters of the Caribbean, an effect enhanced by a gently undulating texture on which the gunmetal hands, orange second hand and text float. If you stare long enough, you’ll feel the warm sun on your face and hear the one-drop rhythm of reggae music in the distance.
It’s a natural association, not just because of the looks, but also because the Pathfinder is a fully functional dive watch, rated for 200m water resistance and with a 120-click bezel, screw-down crown and AR-coated It is equipped with sapphire crystal and radiant BGW9 Super-LumiNova.
With steel bezels like the Sky Blue, this is only the case on the dial and track. Those with polished ceramic inserts like the Magenta Fume also get luminosity in all of these markers.
Other options include Forged Carbon, Green and Gold, Midnight Blue and Saffron Yellow. If flashy colors aren’t your thing, that’s cool. Dryden also offers dials in Gloss Black and Arctic Silver. They are just as beautiful as the livelier versions of the series, only more conservative. One could argue that by toning down the color, one better highlights other details such as the applied markers, the brushed hands, and the clean frame around the date window that cuts off but does not remove the 6 o’clock marker.
For version 1.5, Dryden retained the already excellent case and improved the bezel with deeper notches to improve grip. Although I didn’t have a chance to try out the original Pathfinder, I have no complaints about how the new model works. The movement of the bezel was firm and required no heroic efforts from my fingertips. Dryden has also increased the crown size slightly to 6.5mm and polished it. I like how it complements the light bevel on the sides and makes the case slimmer as it highlights the otherwise brushed surfaces.
The workmanship of the case is excellent; All clear breaks and sharp transitions.
When I strapped it on, I found that the Pathfinder had struck the right balance between projecting its athletic presence and accommodating the physical limitations of my 6.75-inch wrist. The 41mm case appears slightly smaller when topped with a steel bezel like the Sky Blue, which draws the eye to the smaller diameter of the dial and minimizes the overall size. The slim case and bracelet can be easily worn with a buttoned shirt cuff.
Dryden already had an absolutely beautiful bracelet on the original Pathfinder. Version 1.5 improves it by adding the excellent machined latch that I tried on the Heartlander. It is signed, has four micro settings and is made to match the case.
On the back you will find a simple etching of a lighthouse with the key specifications surrounding it.
The Dryden Pathfinder v1.5 is available now for $550, a price I think is entirely reasonable for a watch with these specs and level of finish. You can order one at drydenwatchco.com or better yet, stop by the District Time Show in Washington, DC on March 2nd and 3rd to see the watches in person and meet their talented designer. Once you find the color that touches your heart, it may be impossible not to take it home with you.
