Sometime in February as the coronavirus pandemic in the US got underway, I ordered an automatic blue dial VAER watch, which I anxiously awaited. When the box arrived, I put it in the quarantine area of our garage for a couple of days. When I opened it, I was surprised that instead of an automatic watch I had received a quartz watch. I contacted VAER and within a day I got an email apologizing for the mistake. After a couple of email exchanges between VAER and me, we agreed on a reasonable and safe way to get me the watch I had originally ordered. It arrived a week later. Wow! What a beautiful watch! I ordered a silicone and a nylon strap.

The watch’s weight is just right and the Miyota automatic movement is beautiful to look at. It is possible to stop the “seconds” hand at the 12 o’clock mark for synchronization (this is called hacking), which I did to check how well the watch keeps time. Over the last two weeks, it has lost about 15 seconds only. The thing is that some days it goes a few seconds fast and some days it goes a bit slow. In the end, these cancel each other out (this is true of many high-quality mechanical watches). Net result: The watch keeps time very well.

The watch is very well made; the crown, the weakest part of any watch, screws in which makes the watch amazingly good for use in water. The sapphire case back and front are great and add a touch of elegance to the beautiful face and movement. The straps are super high quality. While I prefer the silicone strap because it feels more comfortable, the nylon straps are robust and extremely well made.

This is a well-made watch assembled by very meticulous individuals whose attention to detail shows in the simple yet elegant box and the document of authenticity and owner’s pamphlet enclosed within. Communicating with the company is easy and effortless. VAER’s website is informative and simple to navigate. Yes, you could buy a more expensive watch but at VAER’s various and streamlined pricepoints, these watches are a great value. One cannot go wrong with a VAER.

I wore my VAER watch on a recent hike on the 300-mile Lake Superior Hiking Trail. The trail follows Lake Superior’s Arrowhead shoreline on the East while meandering through its Coastal Forests on the West. My VAER balked at thunderstorms, rainy campgrounds, muddy river washings and the many daily drinking water stops where both hands were in creeks and rivers filtering water into my Nalgene. My VAER Classic proved to be necessary gear on the trail yet remains to be stylish and sophisticated back home. I love wearing it. A side note: My Rolex and other watches have been in my safe since acquiring my VAER.

I purchased the Classic and have had it for 4 days now. I am very excited about this purchase mainly because of the quality. I collect watches namely Patek Phillippe, Rolex, Omega and IWC. I’ve been collecting for over 20 years and this is only my second quartz. I am so amazed at the build quality and finishes that rival many of the much more expensive automatics. This watch hasn’t lost a second since I synced it. Changing of the bands is a huge bonus, can dress up or for daily wear. I haven’t taken this watch off since I received it, super comfortable and simple. I just ordered a Field Watch this morning based on the quality and craftsmanship of the Classic. It’s great that it’s assembled in the USA. All I can say is this is one great company and will definitely do more business with them in the future. Thanks guys for your attention to detail.

It’s been about 1.5 months since I received my watch. Simply put, I love it. I literally haven’t taken it off since it arrived. (My Rolexes are quarantining now too.). You deliver what your promise: the perfect watch to wear at all times. It’s the perfect watch for WFH, the beach, swimming with family, and living. Keep doing what you’re doing. Vaer is the best watch for the money and the best watch for the summer.