Introducing the BOLDR Odyssey Bronze Collection

The bronze diver blitz of the past few years shows no signs of stopping in 2018, with names all over the industry using the rugged marine material in a growing variety of pieces (including some exciting early hype watches from Basel, but more on that later this week). As popular as bronze has become, it’s always commanded a bit of a premium over most steel divers—until now. BOLDR, a brand that is no stranger to the digital pages of Worn & Wound, is now offering their Odyssey Diver series in three bronze variants (the BronzeGreen, BronzeBlue and the stunning Bronze Meteoblack) all packed with features, and all at an accessible pre-order price starting at $569.

The case is obviously the star of the show: hefty, industrial, and almost brutal in its form, this chunk of bronze takes full advantage of the rougher nature of CuSn8 marine grade metal to create something that promises wrist presence both before and after patina sets in. It certainly demands attention just by size alone, measuring in at 45.5 millimeters and a beefy 14.2 millimeters thick. Capping off the angular, short-lug main case is a Panerai-style, raised-marker bronze bezel with all manner of interesting nooks and crannies for that all-important patina to latch onto.

This case does more than look the part, however. The specs back up the deep-sea styling cues: triple-locking screw down crown, 500-meters of water-resistance, and the most surprising feature of all at this price point—the Odyssey Bronze series feature a helium escape valve.

All three variants feature the same basic Seamaster Pro-esque bold dive markers and ladder hands in fauxtina lume, but other than that each forges its own unique identity. The BronzeGreen is subtler, almost military olive with a subdued sunburst that contrasts with the BronzeBlue’s deep, vibrant blue. The real showstopper of the group, though, is the Bronze Meteoblack. In another power move for this price range, BOLDR took fragments of the Muonionalusta Meteorite in the far north of Sweden to create a one of a kind dial surface. The metallic striations shot through this surface are wild, jagged and captivating in changing light. A date at six rounds out the surface, offering functionality without sacrificing symmetry.Under the hood lies an old favorite: the Seiko NH35A. This reliable workhorse automatic movement has seen service in watches across Seiko’s range for years, offering dependable accuracy, hacking and a 42-hour power reserve. It’s a little surprising not to see the ubiquitous Miyota 9015 inside the Odyssey, but the NH35 is a true equal on all fronts.BOLDR delivers the Odyssey Bronze with both a rubber diver’s strap and beautifully distressed Horween leather. This deep, rich brown complements the bronze case perfectly. All in all, it’s a stunning effort for the young brand and at $569 for pre-order customers ($639 for the Meteoblack) it’s difficult to argue from a value standpoint. BOLDR