In a matter of days, the small California-based brand will start selling yet another version of its Tyndal model. The 2012 Xetum Tyndall PVD uses the same lug-less body design that now sports stealthy black PVD coating. Combined with the traditional 12h/24h scale and the instrument gauge-like design of hands and numerals, the watch that was originally designed as a hipster’s toy now looks like a real tactical timekeeper designed with SWAT officers in mind.
As usual, the watch features an easily readable, laconic layout. Powered by the same ETA 2895-2 (and Elaboree grade version at that, which is remarkable in this price niche where most brands tend to equip their timekeepers with base versions of calibers that rarely sport anything fancier than branding on the oscillating weight) automatic movement, the watch offers the same basic functionality with a trifle oversized subsidiary seconds indicator keeping its place at 6 hours and the same small date aperture staying at 3 o’clock.
I feel like I must give the brands a well-deserved for the way they used the mechanism’s smaller diameter to their advantage: while on many similarly-sized timekeepers powered by the same movement the dial often looks tiny and definitely disproportionate to the gadget’s overall size, here the extra space is nicely utilized by chapter ring with its bold and easy to read Arabic numerals. Well, I am not especially fond of the secondary ring with “military” time (it looks too much like Hamilton Khaki to me,) but otherwise, the device looks very convincing.
Measuring just 40 millimeters in diameter, the Xetum Tyndall PVD may be considered too small by some, but, for me, the size of this gadget is almost perfect, since you can wear it with almost any type of clothing without looking stupid and it would still look solid even on a person with thicker wrists.
At a price of $1495 that Xetum’s founder Mr. Jeff Kuo plans to charge for this watch (I am not sure whether shipping and handling are included,) this black Tyndal PVD is not terribly affordable (there are hundreds of similarly specced “small seconds” timepieces from Swiss-based brands that are at least $500 less expensive,) it still looks like a good choice for a person searching for a military-styled watch that offers unique styling and, for what it’s worth, basically stays in a class of its own.
See also: Xemex XE 5000 Ivory chronograph: let there be white
Photos: Xetum
Xetum Tyndall PVD specification
Price: $1495 (MSRP)
Movement: Automatic, Caliber ETA 2895-2, Elaboree grade, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 28
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Power reserve: 53 hours
Movement decoration: Engraved black oscillating weight
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, date
Case: Stainless steel, black PVD
Shape: Round
Size: 40.00 mm
Case height: 11.00 mm
Dial: Black
Numerals: Arabic, white
Hour markers: Luminous
Hands: Steel, luminous
Water resistance: 100 meters
Strap: Black naturally tanned leather strap with Italian cork lining, a black pushbutton-release stainless steel butterfly clasp with an engraved Xetum logo
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Back: Transparent, mineral