Latest Review
We’ve made no secret of the fact that Steinhart is one of our top brands. They manage to do the unbelievable on a regular basis; release well designed, well-made and affordable watches. In the last year alone they have released several remarkable new offerings including the bezel-swapping Apollon, the vintage inspired Marine Chronograph and the much beloved Ocean Vintage Military. They continued this march towards being one of if not the most prolific brand in the affordable sector with the release of the Steinhart Ocean Two.
The Ocean Two is a hybrid of vintage and modern divers that is pure Steinhart. If there were one word I’d use to describe to design, it’s texture. The dial features many layers of indexes and elevation changes. The center is depressed and marks the path of the hour hand, the steel and lume hour markers rise up above that sitting on an elevated layer that has a concentric circular pattern. The outer most index is satin steel with black printed marking that sits on yet a different plane. Together, these elements come together to make a dial that has clearly retro trappings, taking from the fifties and sixties, but a presentation that is very contemporary. It is masculine, refined and very well executed. The stainless steel hands continue this aesthetic out to the bezel.
The bezel is where things get even more different. First off, this is a lumed sapphire bezel, which should already indicate that level of unmatchable Steinhart value. The first 15 minutes are indicated in a negative lumed index that feels very modern and sporty. The rest of the bezel markings feel exceptionally vintage, utilizing a font that has soft curves and non-aggressive markings. It is a peculiar mash-up, but one that I find very appealing. The sides of the bezel have a combination of a diamond texture and large, shallow scallops to maximize grip.
The Ocean Two features a 43mm steel case with a mix of finishes. In form, it is an evolution of their Ocean One case with much greater detailing. The watch also features a sapphire crystal with double AR coating, a sapphire bezel with Super Luminova, an ETA 2824-2 movement, a 300m depth rating and a black rubberized calf leather strap. It retails for those of us outside of the EU for 412 Euros or approximately $550. There are two models available, one with white lume and the other with an intriguing blue/aqua color. Staying true to the Steinhart brand, this watch offers a hell of lot for the price, and after reviewing the OVM, I am certain it is built to last. Perhaps the most exciting thing about the Ocean Two is that it continues to demonstrate that Steinhart is capable of designing innovative and striking watches that are not exclusively homages or based on classic models. I believe as they grow this side of their line, they will rapidly become a highly recognizable brand outside of just the watch enthusiast culture. I can’t wait to see one of these in person.
images from Steinhartwatches.de
written by Zach Weiss
