The All New Spinnaker Wreck Takes Aging to Artful New Extremes

For watch enthusiasts who prefer their watch tell a story, the newest release from Spinnaker is worth taking a look at. Inspired by wreck diving, the exploration of sunken ships, the all new Spinnaker Wreck features a deeply distressed finish meant to recall an artifact left at the bottom of the ocean for a future generation of divers to discover. Watches that are made to look old are nothing new – there are plenty of examples of watches in all genres that employ design features like radium colored lume to mimic the appearance of something that has aged. But Spinnaker’s Wreck watches take this type of treatment to a new level, employing hand finishing in surprising ways to convincingly age the watch in a beautiful, artful way. 

In designing the Wreck, Spinnaker sought to create an oxidized, antique look that echoes the evolving complexion of objects left on the ocean floor, so it’s no surprise that these watches look like they’ve been sitting in salt water for years. In addition to the aged case, the dial has been given a faux-tarnished treatment, and the indexes and hands have been individually distressed, but in a way that maintains legibility (SuperLuminova is used throughout for visibility in low light conditions). Of course, other modern features abound on the Wreck – it may look old, but this is a functional, modern watch under the hood. The Wreck uses a sapphire crystal for enhanced durability and scratch resistance, and is powered by a modern NH35 movement made by Seiko. While the Wreck looks like it’s been flooded in the past, it carries 200 meters of water resistance, and is ready for the ocean, the lake, or lounging by the pool. 

Where the Wreck sets itself apart from other new watches that have been given an aged treatment is the way in which Spinnaker has achieved the watch’s unique look. Small details are hand finished, not printed by a machine, and this commitment to craft is apparent in the finished product. Among other techniques, the design team behind the Wreck used blowtorches and acid baths to get just the right aesthetic. Because of the aggressive hand work put into each watch, no two Wrecks are exactly the same. 

The Wreck is available in four different colorways at launch: Arctic Blue, Barnacle Black, Distressed Black, and Rust Brown. Each dial, because of the way they’ve been artificially aged, has an almost multicolor appearance. Just like some vintage watches that leave you wondering what color the dial was originally, before all that heavy patina, these dials have much of the same mystery. The aluminum dive bezel inserts, however, lend each watch a splash of distinct color that is unmistakable. As the dials shift from washed out gray, to black, to tinges of green, the bezel locks in much of the personality of each Wreck. 

Spinnaker offers the wreck on either a distressed leather strap or a jubilee style stainless steel bracelet. Both enhance the vintage look of this diver, and fondly recall an earlier era of watchmaking. At 44mm in diameter and 13.5mm thick, the Wreck has modern proportions and a ton of wrist presence, and is sure to be a conversation starter wherever it’s noticed. 

The Wreck starts at $315 on a leather strap, and is priced at $350 on a bracelet. More information can be found at Spinnaker’s website, right here.