Hands-On: the Zealandic Iceborne

Maybe it’s just me but I find the micro and independent watch world to be utterly fascinating. And it is so for many reasons, one being the sheer variety of options we have for all genres of watches which are available at a wide variety of prices. From GMTs and elegant dressy models to divers and field watches. And there are indeed many options to choose from in all of these categories. One of my favorite things about watch writing is bringing readers stories on the little guys, so I’m therefore pleased to be writing this article to tell you about the just released Zealandic Iceborne. A new brand founded in New Zealand by Derek Chuan whose project I’ve been following for the past two years now, so it’s nice to be able to get my hands on the prototypes. 

Derek has been working on this project for longer than I have known him. And his idea of creating a watch which represents New Zealand has been on par with the recent trends of endowing watches with textured and nature-inspired dials. Between you and me, Derek has been working on this long before many other brands probably have. And this is just to say that the Iceborne has been a long time in the making and I believe it shows. Both from a visual perspective as well as from a spec sheet one. The Iceborne has a look of its own and it is made of the right stuff to be a proper field and adventure watch. It will be made available via a Kickstarter campaign at the introductory price of $441 USD. 

The Iceborne therefore orbits right around the sweet spot for many watch enthusiasts, price-wise. So before we get into the nitty-gritty of the design and inspiration of the Iceborne, let me give you a brief overview of what we find under the hood. First things first, the Zealandic Iceborne is easy to wear thanks to having—objectively speaking—universal dimensions: 39mm in diameter, 47mm long, 12mm thick and a 20mm lug width. Generally, I find field watches to be better at 38mm or under because otherwise, the dial tends to look a little empty. However, the Iceborne has great proportions, something we will touch upon again a bit later. 

Behind a decorated screw-down case-back, we find a Miyota 9039 caliber that beats at 28,800 BPH (4Hz) and has 42 hours of power reserve. The Miyota 9000 series can now be found on many models coming from the micro and independent market as they are reliable, robust, and generally accurate. In addition to the screw-down case-back, we can also find a mid-size screw-down crown, together bringing the depth rating to 200 meters. The lume, which has been applied in abundance here, is SuperLuminova C3 X1 which glows ice blue and lasts a long time. The lume and dial can be easily admired through a double-domed sapphire crystal complete with inner anti-reflective coating. So far so good. 

Although it’s not always a given with field watches, the Zealandic Iceborne has a legible dial layout, comprising polished applied Arabic numerals at the cardinal points, polished arrow-shaped applied markers everywhere else, and a large handset. The fully polished pencil-shaped hour and minute hands have, according to yours truly, a slight brutalist aspect to them, especially when looking at the latter. The hour hand travels a little way from the hour markers while the minute and seconds hands confidently reach the minute track. The only indication of branding on the Iceborne is the brand’s logo found above the pinion. Not seeing “Zealandic Watches” spelled out is a nice touch as it keeps the dial clean and makes it easier for us to admire the star of the show: the textured dial. 

The Iceborne comes in three color variants and all have the same wave pattern dial inspired by the Ice Caves of Tasman Glacier in the western part of the Southern Island. The Green variant pays homage to Pounamou, a family of hard and precious stones central to the Māori Culture which are carved into pendants and various ornamental objects. The Burgundy variant refers to Central Otago, the southernmost point on earth where Pinot Noir is produced. And the Light Blue variant is named after Lake Pukaki where the waters get their distinctive blue color thanks to finely ground rock particles originating from two nearby glaciers. All three versions refer, therefore, to specific areas of the Southern Island. 

Given the Iceborne’s total case height of 12mm, it’s quite neat to find so much texture and three dimensionality on the dial. In certain angles, we can see that the applied hour markers are rather close from the crystal, which indicates that Derek worked hard to maximize vertical space. The case, for its part, has a simple profile which is a good thing given the visual intensity that emanates from the dials. The slab-sided flanks present horizontal brushing, the upper sections of the drilled, short and narrow lugs showcase a vertical brushing, and both aforementioned sections are separated by a thin polished chamfer. The fixed bezel has a stepped design and is fully brushed. The abundance of brushed surfaces on the case of the Iceborne balances out the sheen that comes from the fully polished hands and applied hour markers. 

Lastly, I would point out that the crown is rather small but easy to grip and operate thanks to the fine, angled knurling. The crown is so designed to prevent it from digging into the wrist when, for some reason, we find ourselves looking at the watch with the hand pointing up. (I know there are more reasons for it but just go with me, ok?) To round up the technical and design specifications of the Zealandic Iceborne, I would like to note that all three models come with assorted suede leather straps equipped with quick-release spring bars and a branded, brushed buckle. 

What would perhaps prompt you to look at the Kickstarter campaign is the unique and rather precise connection the Iceborne has to southern New Zealand in ways that seem to be both contemporary and fresh. Contemporary because, as mentioned in the beginning of this article, nature-inspired textured dials are not new. And fresh because Derek found his own way of depicting the natural beauties of the country he calls home. Besides the Kickstarter campaign, you can learn more about the brand by clicking here.