One of the coolest parts of owning a watch company is the unique opportunity to build the watch of your dreams. Executing a single timepiece requires countless design decisions, and over the past nine years, we’ve always strived to consider every detail and perfect the balance between value and performance.
While specs and features like USA assembly and sapphire crystal are essential, a great watch will always be more than the sum of its parts.
Ultimately, a great watch relies on a holistic design vision and the emotional connection it creates with its owner. This connection is highly personal—meaning the perfect watch for you may not be the perfect watch for someone else.
As co-founders with similar backgrounds and tastes (and wrist sizes), we tend to gravitate toward the same types of watches. We both prefer vintage proportions over oversized modern designs, and we both prefer sub-40mm cases.
That said, we’ve rarely found ourselves wearing the same watch on the same day. Our rotations reflect our different personalities and interests, and each year brings a new chapter in our personal collections.
Last year, we profiled our long-standing daily favorites: the 38mm R1 USA Racing Chronograph (Reagan’s pick) and the 39mm D4 Meridian Black Solar Diver (Ryan’s go-to). Those watches remain core to our collections and continue to embody the best of what Vaer stands for: bold design, durable build, and everyday versatility.
But 2025 has also brought new releases that have quickly become essentials in our daily rotations. For both of us, the launch of the G2 GMT line marked a turning point—adding a slim, versatile travel complication to our catalog and to our wrists.
Q&A with Ryan Torres and Reagan Cook
1. What has been your favorite watch this past year?
Reagan: The R1 Racing Chronograph still has a special place in my rotation—it’s bold, idiosyncratic, and a reminder of how far we’ve come in design and manufacturing. The 38mm cushion case, bubble sapphire crystal, and cream dial are unapologetically retro, and it channels the motorsport era of the 1970s that I love. But the watch I’ve worn the most in 2025 is the G2 Polar GMT.
The off-white dial feels adventurous and distinct, but what really sets it apart is the practicality of the GMT function—it’s become indispensable for travel and coordinating across time zones. To me, the Polar is the clearest expression of our 2025 vision: a refined, ocean-ready tool watch that’s versatile, understated, and distinctly Vaer.
Ryan: The D4 Meridian Black Solar Diver is still my desert-island pick. Its 39mm proportions, ceramic bezel, and solar-powered movement make it, in my opinion, the best sub-$500 diver on the market. It’s proven itself time and again from surf trips in Indonesia to backcountry snowboarding in the Sierras. The ceramic bezel is rare at this price point and gives the D4 a premium feel, while the solar “dual-threat” movement means I never have to think about winding or charging.
That said, the most exciting addition to my rotation this past year has been the G2 Steel GMT. I love the Steel because it’s so adaptable. The neutral steel bezel gives it a timeless, versatile look that works with anything I wear, whether I’m in Baja on a surf trip or back in LA for meetings. At 39mm and under 11mm thick, it wears flat and balanced, and the quartz GMT movement is slim and worry-free. USA assembly ties it back to our mission, and the clean steel finish makes it the watch I trust for everything else: airports, meetings, and nights out.
2. What makes these new favorites special compared to last year’s?
Reagan: The R1 is about boldness and nostalgia—the Polar carries over those same themes, but adds some new modern utility. The Polar has also contributed to a new appreciation for GMTs; I’ve always loved the idea of tracking multiple time zones, but now it’s become an essential feature when I travel for work.
Ryan: The D4 is my no-nonsense adventure tool. The G2 Steel GMT brings balance—it’s still rugged, but with a refined aesthetic that makes it ideal for everyday life in Los Angeles. If last year was about proving the durability of solar, this year has been about discovering the freedom of GMT functionality in a slim, versatile package.
3. How do these watches fit into your daily life?
Reagan: The R1 has been my daily companion through trips to Copenhagen, Tokyo, and back home in Venice. I wear it on a nylon strap for travel and on steel when I want a sharper look. It’s the kind of watch that adapts seamlessly—whether I’m in the water, at the office, or stepping into a new city.
Ryan: The Steel GMT has been my go-to for client meetings, quick Baja surf trips, and just about everything else. It’s the first watch I’ve owned that feels equally at home in a boardroom and on a fishing boat. That adaptability is what makes it indispensable.
4. How do these watches carry forward Vaer’s mission?
Reagan: The R1 was about breaking conventions; the G2 Polar is about refining them. Both represent our mission to deliver value and vision at once. The Polar in particular proves that a USA-assembled GMT with 15ATM water resistance and sapphire crystal can exist under $500. That wasn’t possible a decade ago.
Ryan: The D4 was a breakthrough for durability. The G2 Steel GMT continues that legacy by expanding functionality without sacrificing proportions. It shows that we can build travel complications that are still slim, reliable, and ocean-ready. Both prove that Vaer isn’t chasing trends—we’re building watches meant to last.
Closing Thoughts
Looking back, our personal favorites—R1 Racing, D4 Meridian Black, G2 Polar, and G2 Steel GMT—tell a story of progression. From bold experiments in design to refined tool watches for everyday life, they chart both the evolution of Vaer as a brand and our own growth as collectors.
Last year’s article was about watches that made us who we are. This year’s is about the watches that carry us forward—into new cities, new adventures, and the next chapter of Vaer’s journey.
