Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Robust And Adventurous Audric Strider
An excellent mix of stylish and rugged elements, at a hard-to-beat pre-order price.
When it comes to crowdfunded watch projects, there’s far more we don’t cover compared to the ones that do make it to MONOCHROME Watches. And to be honest, we remain critical of the watches we share with you, our readers. But from time to time, a watch makes it past the scrutiny of the MONOCHROME Editorial Team and actually makes an unexpected impression. Case in point is the Audric Strider, an adventurous watch launched on Kickstarter with a very masculine, robust design.
Audric is a very young watch brand that launched its inaugural collection through Kickstarter about two years ago. The company is located in Singapore, yet the watches are produced in Switzerland (hence the Swiss Made). The first collection was a dive watch called the SeaBorne, which is now succeeded by the Strider, a rugged adventure watch that can take a few punches by the looks of it.
The Audric Strider is a rather large watch, coming in at 42mm in diameter and 11.5mm in height. From lug to lug it measures 48mm, which might seem daunting at first but is actually quite reasonable. The relatively short, angular lugs ensure a comfortable fit on the wrist despite what the dimensions might suggest. The case is quite angular and alternates between brushed and polished surfaces.
It has a few touches that might remind you of other watches, but overall it’s quite a nice design. The case is fitted with a 12-sided bezel, and the screw-down crown has a coloured ring to match the dial. On top, there’s a flat sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating, with a transparent caseback on the other side. The case and bracelet are finished with a HexaDori scratch-resistant coating, to make them even more durable. The fit and finish feel very good considering the price point (more on that later) and the solid build backs up the robust look.
The dial of the Audric Strider comes in six colours, and we had the blue one as you can see. You might notice the name Stroller printed on the dial of our review prototype, which has been changed to Strider. Honestly, it’s a better-sounding name for the type of watch it is. The hobnail texture might not be overly original but is nicely executed. The dial is encircled with a sloped minute ring with a scale in white or black (depending on the dial colour).
Spread around the dial are large, very legible numerals and indices, given a good dose of Super-LumiNova. The openworked hour and minute hands stand out against the backdrop of the dial and have a large Super-LumiNova coated top half. The central seconds hand has a luminous triangular tip, and the final touch is a framed date window. Overall it’s nothing spectacular, just a good mix of well-finished elements.
Audric states the Strider will be available with either an ETA 2824 or Sellita SW 200, depending on the availability (most likely down to the supply of ETA movements). Seen through the caseback, the movement is nicely finished, as it is an elaboré grade (regardless of which one’s used). Both movements are basically interchangeable with only minimal differences. Running at a rate of 28,800vph, each one provides roughly 38 hours of power reserve.
The Audric Strider comes on a solid three-link stainless steel bracelet, which is very nicely finished. Each link is brushed, with a sharp polished bevel around the edges. The folding clasp also feels very solid and is engraved with the Audric name. The watch will be priced at USD 549 during the launch campaign, which bumps to a regular retail price of USD 849 once the launch campaign is finished. At the time of publication, it is unclear when the launch is due, but you can enlist for the newsletter and be informed as soon as it goes live.
Going over all the details and specifications of the Audric Strider during the time I had it, I’ve come to the conclusion this deserves every bit of your attention. Sure, some elements might be inspired by some of the most famous watches out there, but it’s done in such a way it doesn’t bother me. It’s not a direct copy of anything and feels very well made from all angles. It feels robust, is nicely finished and comes in at well under the 1k mark (especially during the launch). With that in mind, it would be money well spent in my book. Would I change anything? Perhaps it could be a little slimmer, but that would be nitpicking really.
For more information, please visit AudricWatches.com
Sponsored post: This article is sponsored by Audric Watches. However, it reflects the writer’s opinion and has been written according to MONOCHROME’s editorial policy.
