There are so many watch brands that sometimes one slips under my radar. Some of them are hidden gems, and some of them are nothing to write home about. Draken is the former. After messaging them to set up a review of the Aoraki we’re looking at today, I looked at their catalog and had no idea how I had missed this brand for so long. They’ve got a little bit of everything for everyone. Divers, GMTs, and even a chronograph. They were missing a field watch until today. The Aoraki is their take on a traditional field watch, and while it doesn’t entirely rewrite the book, it does everything exceptionally well and is precisely what you want from a field watch.
Note: The watch in this review is a prototype, and the production models will have a shorter minute hand, and the text on the rehaut won’t be painted black.
On the Wrist
At 39mm wide and 46mm lug-to-lug, the Aoraki fits into the goldilocks dimensions you want out of a field watch. The four variations offered under the line each have something that makes them unique from the other, but they all have the same soul. I had the Mil-spec version for this review, and it’s easy to see why it has that namesake. The is laid out clearly and has a no fuss-no muss mentality.
The Aoraki reminds me a lot of the Sinn 556 in how it feels on the wrist. The looks are similar, but this looks like a 556 that has been more angular. This isn’t a bad thing at all, and although the case is a little on the thick side at 12.35mm, the wrist-to-crystal (off of the passthrough strap) is 10mm.
Field watches should be easy to wear. You want to strap them on and forget they are there until you need them. The Aoraki has a little heft to it, so you won’t entirely forget it’s there, but it makes a good go at it. Part of what helps is the 4:30 crown. This is a bit unusual for a field watch, but the application works perfectly. It keeps the crown from digging into your wrist.
Draken Aoraki Specs | |
Case Width 39mm | Lug-to-Lug 46.5mm |
Case Thickness 12.35mm | Lug Width 20mm |
Wrist-to-Crystal 10mm | Weight 86g |
Water Resistance 100m | Strap Leather & Nylon Straps |
Crystal Sapphire | Lume Super-LumiNova C3/BGW9 |
Movement Miyota 82S5 | Price $399 |
Dial Details
The dial has a simple and approachable layout. 1-12 numerals with minute hash marks in between make it easy to read the time. The sword hands are long and wide, aiding in legibility. Draken’s logo and text are at 12 o’clock, which is it as far as text goes. Like I said above, no fuss-no muss.
Another approach Draken took that is slightly different from the rest of the herd: the small seconds subdial. The Aoraki uses the Miyota 82S5, which allows them to use the small seconds subdial, and although I admit this might not work with a 24-hour track on the dial, it works perfectly with the 1-12 Arabic numerals on the watch. It makes the watch feel slightly calmer yet gives those of us who love a sweeping seconds hand something to look at.
The dial has an interesting lume application. The numerals and hands are filled with X1-C3 lume, which glows green. The hash marks that flank the numerals are filled with BGW9, which glows blue. It’s an excellent detail that adds visual interest when the lume is glowing. Even on this prototype, the lume application was solid and shone brightly. I can only assume the production models will be even better.
Case & Straps
The case is entirely brushed and takes a practical approach. The only flair Draken added to the case is engraved Draken text on the side. This doesn’t seem necessary, but it is subtle enough that I forgot it was there quickly.
The mid-case tapers down from the top of the watch, and the slight undercut on the side of the case contributes to the wrist-to-crystal measurement of 10mm. The angular lugs angle down sharply as they leave the case and give it a short lug-to-lug.
A pleasant surprise on the case is the crown. It has fantastic knurling and is the perfect size for its position on the case. It sticks out far enough so it can be easily gripped. If you happen to take a look at the crown at night, you’ll notice it has a lumed engraved logo.
Draken included two straps with the Aoraki: a single pass nylon strap and a single pass leather strap that can be mounted on a bund. Those who know me will know I dislike bunds with the passion of a thousand burning suns, so you won’t see any pictures of it in this review. I know, I know…not very objective of me. If you like bunds, I’m sure you’ll be fine with this one.
Both straps were comfortable, especially the leather strap. It is very soft and pliable out of the box. The nylon strap took a little more effort to break in, but it feels durable, which is what you want for your field watch.
Final Thoughts
The Aoraki comes in a few flavors to fit your preference, and although the Mil-spec is good-looking, it is a little too spartan for my tastes. I’d grab the Vector or Zulu in a heartbeat, though.
The Aoraki isn’t going to break any ground with its design, but that isn’t the point. Draken wanted to break into the field watch segment with a rugged and affordable field watch. At $349 for the preorder at the time of this writing and $399 retail, it certainly accomplishes that. It’s getting hard to find a Hamilton Khaki Field for that price these days, and it makes watches like the Aoraki even more compelling.
Check out more field watch reviews at The Watch Clicker here
Check out the Draken website here
