Today, we had a chance to take the Zealandic Iceborne automatic watch for an in-person review. So here it is. I hope you will enjoy my thoughts and opinions on this watch.
Before we begin, have you ever been to New Zealand?
I am asking since I was in New Zealand for three months almost twenty years ago (2005!), and I found and left something special in this land.
It may not be just me, and this watch will have a small emotional attachment with people who visited and loved the fascinating and beautiful land of New Zealand.
Now, let’s jump into the watch review!
The watch face-dial
Obviously, it is a matter of taste only, but most people will agree that this watch’s face is very beautiful.
The dial texture is excellent, giving a sense of depth and pool.
The hands remind me of AnOrdain, and the dial and indices remind me of Grand Seiko, so there are Asian aesthetic elements in the design. However, the case feels sturdy and doesn’t feel delicate in any way.
In fact, at the case level, it feels more like a military watch than a dress watch due to the thickness of the case and the lugs.
The watch case
The dimensions are very comfortable for the average male wrist.
It will suit most men for work, sports, business meetings, and events. The bright and unique colors will definitely attract attention.
The lugs are well-made, though it’s a pity that the spring bar grooves are visible in profile.
The weight is perfect—not too light but certainly not heavy.
It would be interesting to see it with an integrated bracelet.
The screw-down crown releases nicely and easily. A rough grip significantly helps with turning and pulling out the crown, making it quite pleasant and workable even without fingernails.
The watch movement
The Zealandic Iceborne movement uses the common Miyota 9039, which is decent, reliable, and has good accuracy.
The Miyota 9039 movement frequency is 28,800 VPH, which offers a smoother second-hand movement and generally better timekeeping accuracy than other movements of this grade (for example, the Seiko NH35 movement, which is popular, includes a date function and is reliable, but the second-hand motion isn’t as smooth as the Miyota 9039).
The Miyota 9039’s power reserve is good, at around 42 hours, ensuring the watch keeps running even if not worn for a day or two.
The downside of the Miyota 9039 movement is that it needs a date function and decoration. However, in the case of the Zealandic, each one of these functions is irrelevant.
The Straps
First, I am a big fan of the quick-release feature. It esthetically enables a fast swap of leather straps, making the process very convenient, tool-free, and even somewhat enjoyable.
By the way, this tool-free strap removal minimizes the risk of scratching or damaging the watch case during the strap-changing process, which is a very valuable aspect in the long run.
The two-strap option allows you more style versatility and a backup strap in case one of them gets worn out.
That point should be taken into account. The quality of the leather straps is decent. However, after a year of daily wear in high humidity or hot weather conditions, a new strap would be needed. So, hey, it’s lucky there are two!
For the strap colors, as a matter of taste and style, I would prefer a strap color different from gray or additional non-suede as an option, maybe dark brown, whereas the blue strap is stunning. However, the grey is unique and different in a way that drags some more attention to the watch.
The watch Lume
This watch boasts a stunning Swiss Super-LumiNova C3 BL grade X1 lume, carefully selected to capture the magical glow reminiscent of the glowworms in New Zealand’s famous Waitomo Caves. Its luminescence not only ensures visibility in low-light conditions but also adds a touch of enchantment to your wrist.
The watch Case-back
This watch features a beautifully crafted laser engraving of Aotearoa (New Zealand), the Tasman Sea, and the Pacific Ocean. This intricate design not only adds an artistic touch but also celebrates the stunning landscapes and seascapes that define this remarkable part of the world.
The Watch Box
It looks great as part of the overall design line.
Compact, beautiful, and convenient.
It is not luxurious or top-of-the-line, but it is decently designed on the outside. The inside has a somewhat “military” feel and is very practical.
The cushion pulled out like a drawer, making it convenient to secure the watch in the center of the box.
Honestly, when I reviewed the watch outdoors and took it to our local Red Bar meeting, the overall average feedback was confidently positive. Even two friends (from a total of 15 people) said they would buy it for sure.
Want to see more details??
See our video review on the Microbrand Watch World YouTube channel now:
The Kickstarter campaign starts today so take advantage on the early crowd funding opportunity
The Zealandic collection offers another two color versions:
Green & Burgundy versions.
Join the Zealandic crowdfunding campaign (starting on August 15, 2024) on Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zealandic-iceborne/zealandic-watches-sharing-new-zealand-with-the-world
The crowdfunding opportunity details breakdown:
A summary of the Zealandic watch specifications:
Case dimensions:
Case Material: Stainless steel 316L
Case Diameter: 39mm
Lug to Lug: 47mm
Thickness: 12mm
Glass: Double domed sapphire crystal with AR coating
Movement: Miyota 9039
Lume: Swiss Super-LumiNova C3 BL grade X1
Crown: Screw-down crown
Water Resistance: 200m/660ft (20ATM)
Dial specifications:
Textured dial
High-polished floating indices with Super-LumiNova C3 BL grade X1
High-polished beveled semi-skeleton hands with Super-LumiNova C3 BL grade X1
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Marine grade stainless steel with laser engraved screw-down case back
200 meters of water resistance
Stainless steel Laser-engraved screw-down crown
Drilled and chamfered lugs
Double domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating (on the underside)
Premium suede leather strap with laser-engraved buckle and quick release spring-bars
Watch strap:
Strap Material: Suede
Strap Length: 120mm/80mm
Strap Thickness: 3mm
Lug Width: 20mm
Buckle Material: Stainless Steel 316L
Buckle Finish: Brushed & Signed (Laser Engraved)
Spring Bar: Quick Release
Stitching: Colour Matching
The Warranty:
Zealandic offers a 24-month warranty for all products from the date of shipment. Warranty coverage does not include any damage on any part of the watch resulting from abnormal use, lack of care, negligence, accidents, or incorrect use of the watch.
Thanks for reading!
Feel free to share, comment and tell us your thoughts about the Zealandic Iceborne timepiece.
Disclaimer:
This watch review is sponsored by Zealandic. While we have received compensation for this review, we are committed to providing our honest and objective opinion. All thoughts and opinions expressed are our own, and we aim to offer a fair and balanced assessment of the product.