This year at the Watch Clicker, I will bring you a series of in-depth gift guides for the mechanically inclined. Given that inflation in the United States was recently at its worst in over forty years, we will focus on your long-term return on your hard-earned money. This means the gifts will not be the cheapest options, but they will bridge the gap between being attainable and leaving a lasting impact on the receiver.
Something beautiful is happening in the microbrands space within the watch industry, and it is time to pay more attention to it. We live in a time when the first word that pops into people’s minds if you mention the word “trend” is for them to respond immediately with the word “disturbing.” Several microbrand owners are going against this tendency by actively creating a refreshing and hopeful trend – to donate a significant portion of their profits from each sale to a credible and vital charity.
As you have noticed, all of the holiday gifts highlighted to this point have had strong brand owners devoting their businesses to worthy causes, including Prevail, for which the review was published before this series. Trip Henderson, the founder of LŌCĪ, is no different.
What Makes This Watch Special
Two factors make the Pacific Coast Highway timepieces by LŌCĪ incredibly special. First, LŌCĪ donates 10% of every sale to the astounding charity, the Surfrider Foundation. Established in 1984, this non-profit organization has made it its goal to take a multi-faceted approach to protecting the environment by tackling several projects and issues. We encourage you to take a look at their efforts here.
The most impressive aspect of the PCH watches is how they wear and their wearing experience. This is especially true of the Surfrider Beach Dial variant I had for review. While the other two dial variants, the Big Sur Dial and the Monterey Bay Dial, get the most attention, the model we got in for review is incredibly singular in its luxuriance. I saw and wore the other two dial variants at the Toronto Timepiece Show earlier this year, and the dial we have in for review is the most fascinating among the trio.
While the resoundingly impressive case and strap of the entire lineup give the impression of a watch twice its asking price, this sandy dial is so incredibly captivating that it ensures that the eyes of whoever is looking down at it will never tire from the substance and dynamism of this watch.
LŌCĪ PCH Specs | |
Case Width 39mm | Lug-to-Lug 48mm |
Case Thickness 10.8mm | Lug Width 20mm |
Water Resistance 100m | Strap Fitted FKM Strap |
Crystal Sapphire | Lume Super-LumiNova X1 |
Movement Sellita SW-200 | Price $995 |
On Wrist
The main benefit of a consumer turning to a small independent brand rather than that of an established incumbent is the chance for a unique experience. Even though these are sports watches, the 10.8mm thickness wears very well with mainly all forms of attire. It won’t fit under the tightest of dress cuffs, but the clean design lends itself well to formal occasions if needed. These watches were designed to be watches that fall into the category of timepieces you can always wear. Think of this category of watches as the most versatile grouping of watches, which is why this would make it an excellent gift for the special horology enthusiast in your life.
Case and Strap
LŌCĪ is one of the few smaller North American brands offering a distinctive product that relies not heavily on watch designs popularized by established brands. This unique experience starts with the case and how beautifully integrated it is with the rubber strap.
The case has multiple finishing levels, ranging from high polished shoulders contrasting with various forms of brushing. Watches usually only employ one type of brushing, but LŌCĪ took the extra step, and their owners will appreciate their efforts. For instance, the vertical brushing on the top of the case facing the owner is subtly more aggressive than the softer finishing on the sides of the case. When coupled with the polished shoulders, every variant of the PCH dances with the light, making it a delight for the eyes. Furthermore, inspecting under a loupe reveals perfect machining in its transitions. This matters when spending around a thousand dollars on a watch. Details matter when it comes to watches, and knowing that the utmost care and attention was given to even the most minor facets of the wearing experience goes a long way.
Arguably, the most crucial aspect of a watch is its crown, for it is the primary operational touchpoint. When fully extended, the crown exhibits the smallest amount of lateral movement, aka “wobbling,” while its machining gives the user ample grip. The machining of the crown is of a very high calibre, for there are no rough edges on it. Many watches with highly textured crowns can wreak havoc on your fingertips as you wind the watch, but not here. Founder of LŌCĪ, Trip Henderson, said that “the knurling pattern is the shape from the center of the LŌCĪ logo repeated (engraved) around the crown.” This is the level of detail that the owner of the PCH will appreciate.
The varied finishing extends onto the caseback, featuring artwork from Christian Schulz. The caseback depicts the Pacific Coast, which blends perfectly with the speed limit sign-inspired logo.
You need to be aware of one drawback to the case design. If the owner of this watch has a wrist smaller than 6.75 inches, the flat caseback could result in a more fatiguing experience than watches with a more ergonomic fitting. This review unit was tested on several wrists, and those with wrists larger than 7 inches and whose carpal bone structures were more subdued exhibited less fatigue. To get technical, if you have a pronounced pisiform and your wrist is smaller than 7 inches, you risk the case and the crown pressing into your traverse carpal ligament. To break it down in layperson’s terms, if you or the recipient of this watch has a very thin wrist smaller than 6.75 inches, with pronounced bones along their wrist, then this watch may not be suited for them. We advise you to carefully examine the wrist of the person you want to buy this for and take note of their wrist shape. It should be noted that the smallest hole on the strap allows for a wrist of 6.5 inches to wear this watch, so this watch may never have been intended from its outset for smaller wrists.
However, the strap leaves absolutely no room for criticism, and it plays a large part in how charming the watch is. The custom FKM rubber strap perfectly balances the watch on the wrist, and its integrated fit with the case is faultless. Mr. Henderson did an excellent job in designing this strap. As stated above, it must be considered that the smallest wrist size that the strap will accommodate is 6.5 inches. The design touches, such as the logo where the traps meet the case and the channeling on the back, are all premium and appropriate for this price point. Incumbents such as Hamilton, Tissot, and Oris, which occupy this market segment, have increased the quality of their straps and bracelets in the last two years, and the PCHs have kept pace with them here.
Dial Details
Out of the three dial variants for review, the Surfrider Beach is the one we chose to review. This is arguably the most exciting dial option but also the riskiest. The dial is a composite image of a beach surface taken by Mr. Henderson, where the image was rotated 360 degrees. This gives the dial a sunray effect that can be captivating or unnoticeable. Under flat lighting, the dial and its printed elements can appear washed out. However, when the lighting is right, this dial comes to life. Most natural lighting scenarios indoors and outside will highlight the dial’s strengths, so if you are viewing this watch in person while at a trade show, simply move the watch at a more acute angle from the venue’s lights. I have heard more than a few people comment that the dial’s “mocha” character took them by surprise when they did this. After noticing this, one of them immediately craved a latte. From across the room, this dial attracted attention and resulted in a few conversations.
The applied indices, with their high polishing, play off the dial. These indices echo the shape of the case and the logo by stepping down towards the center of the dial, which is raised from the outer section. The hands are perfectly proportioned, and the lume on the watch is evenly applied and burns strong for an hour before needing recharging.
Most of the people I presented this watch to showed an immediate preference for the other dials, but this quickly changed their minds once they saw how dynamic this dial variant is. Only one was a watch enthusiast, while the others liked fashion and accessories. The blue seconds hand with the brand’s logo as its counterweight proved to be a calming feature that these people adored.
Final Thoughts
Buying a gift for someone with a refined set of tastes that has had years to mature can be tricky. While all the LŌCĪ PCH timepieces have the same unique case and strap-wearing experience, the Surfrider Beach edition offers something unique. All are also offered with the excellent Sellita SW200-1 movement for the mechanical variants. It should also be noted that these watches are available with the robust Ronda 715 quartz movement at a lower cost. The only personal opinion in this article is that the quartz variants would be better suited for the owner who will wear these watches while being active. Loading vehicles with gear, running, and balancing oneself on shores with aggressive waves can and will wear on a mechanical movement more than a mechanical one. However, the sound of the Sellita is wonderfully dampened and will make the watch enthusiast’s heart go aflutter whenever they raise the watch to their ears.
The LŌCĪ PCH Surfrider Beach timepiece is the best entry-level luxury watch for larger wrists to be gifted this holiday season because it does not play it safe. There are thousands of options out on the market that risk being forgettable to a seasoned eye. Just be mindful of the potential wearability issues, and this watch will make that special someone in your life very happy.
Check out more tool watch reviews at The Watch Clicker here
Check out the LŌCĪ website here
