Xetum Kendrick Hands-On

We’ve discussed Xetum watches a couple of times before on worn&wound. First, with a look at their all black Tyndall, and then with a more in-depth hands-on of their Stinson model. Xetum’s watches are intriguing pieces, with a distinct design that has managed to keep them fresh looking, although they have not come out with many new models. Well… now we have the pleasure of introducing you to their newest watch, the Kendrick.

Case: Stainless Steel
Movement: ETA 2824-2
Dial: White
Lume: Yes
Lens: Sapphire
Strap: Nylon NATO
Water Res.: 100M
Dimensions: 40mm
Thickness: 11mm
Lug Width: 20mm
Warranty: 30 day return / 2 year movement
Price: $995

The Kendrick is a new model by way of a redesigned dial and different strap options that combine for a very different aesthetic. If I were to summarize the look of Xetum’s other two models, the Stinson and Tyndall, I would say they are clean, elegant and conservative. They have clear military inspirations and go for a highly legible index design. The Kendrick comes across as energetic and fun. It’s the 2-door convertible of the line up.

And that’s an apt reference as vehicle dashboards inspired the design of the Kendrick. That being said, it certainly does not scream “car watch”. There is a hint of it here and there, but overall the design of the dial and hands has a fun, graphic feel that does not immediately conjure vehicles. There are three different versions, the one we had on hand was simply white with gloss black indexes.

The outer edge of the dial is a thick black line with little teeth that point towards the center of the dial per every hour/5-minutes. There is a second index, also in black, that consists of large 12, 3, 6 and 9 numerals and dots for the hours in between. At 3 is a date window, above 6 it reads “automatic” in small letters and below 12 is Xetum’s name in their signature vertical orientation. All in all, it’s an extremely simple dial, with a lot of white area. What makes it interesting is that it’s not sterile, despite the lack of markings and general spaciousness of it. The sans-serif font used has a bit of a gestural quality, making it friendlier, and the little teeth around the perimeter have a subtly rounded side, taking away any harshness.

Topping off the dial is are two long tapering hands, with black edges and lume fillings, for the hours and minutes, and a bright red seconds hand. As the only bit of color, save the NATO we’ll talk about shortly, the second hand brings the dial to life, and is the clearest dashboard reference. The hour and minute hands have a unique shape that work well with the overall design.

The Kendrick uses the same lugless 40mm case and hexagonal crown design as the Stinson and Tyndall. It’s a nice design that wears well and gives Xetum’s watches a distinct character, though it’s not for everyone. Each watch in the series is powered by an ETA 2824-2 automatic, features a sapphire crystal, display back and one of two strap choices. One can either buy the watch with a rubber strap, or a nylon NATO.

The watch we had on hand was fitted with a 3-stripe red and white NATO that looked nice with the watch, upping that sporty feeling, and was of average quality. Honestly, I loved the cork-backed leather strap of the Stinson, so I was hoping to see a perf-leather or otherwise rally inspired version accompanying this. Unfortunately, it wasn’t there, and while the NATO looks nice, it’s not substantial enough to be the sole strap on a watch this price.

The Kendrick is currently available on Xetum’s site for $995, making it the same price as the Stinson. All in all it’s a very fun watch design that, for fans of Xetum’s style, adds a sporty and refreshing option. As is the case with all of their watches, the Swiss manufacturing is excellent, and the ETA 2824-2 movement inside is extremely reliable. If you are looking for something different with a youthful energy that isn’t too wild to wear to an office, the Kendrick could be a great choice.

by Zach Weiss

Review unit supplied by Xetum