Farer Adds to their Three Hand Collection with the Black Dialed Erebus

One of Farer’s calling cards that we discuss frequently around here is their creative use of color. But it would be an oversight to think of them only as a brand with a knack for creating unique and unexpected color combinations. Many of their recent releases have actually gone a more sober route, with classic color combos that have been used in watch designs for years, but still executed in a unique way that is typically Farer. Their latest release, the Erebus, is very much in that vein. At a glance, it’s a simple black dialed three hander, a type of watch that has been made over and over again for decades. But it speaks to the design chops of the Farer team that they’re able to take an idea this traditional and still put their own spin on it. 

The Erebus is the latest watch in Farer’s Three Hand Collection, which we first discussed late last year right right here. The watches in that initial collection certainly displayed much of the Farer quirkiness that they’re known and appreciated for, but the new Erebus, at least at first, seems stripped down by comparison. Farer’s intent with this watch was to exercise restraint, going for elegance rather than the type of wrist presence that is intrinsic to their more colorful creations. The Erebus has a glossy black dial with a mirror finish, that would seem to recall classic vintage Rolex references, and serves to highlight what I think is this watch’s real standout feature: the gold tone hour marks and handset. The stick markers and numerals at 12 and 6 are oversized in typical Farer style, lending the dial a contemporary look that you’d expect from the brand, but the overwhelming design influence here is clearly gilt accented watches. That’s not something I’d necessarily expect from Farer, but incorporating their own long-held design tropes (the syringe hands, in particular) into this old-school format works remarkably well. 

Of course, there are still some unmistakable splashes of Farer color, or maybe they’re more like drips on the Erebus. The outer minutes track is accented with blue numerals every five minutes, and black seconds hand has a bright red arrow at its tip. This is a particularly cool effect, because the seconds hand blends in perfectly with the dial, leaving the impression of a red triangle floating around the dial’s perimeter. The use of color here is subdued and subtle, but effective nonetheless. 

Like the earlier watches in the Three Hand Collection, the Erebus is sized at 39.5mm, with a case height of just 10.8mm. That ought to make the Erebus easy to wear for most, and that black dial can likely be dressed up or down as appropriate, depending on strap preferences and your own particular use case. The movement is a Sellita SW200-1 with around 38 hours of power reserve, and the water resistance is rated to 5 ATM. 

The Erebus is available to order right now on Farer’s website at a price of $890. More information can be found here.