There are uncommon occurrences, and then there are rare perfect storms. The watch industry is quietly experiencing such an incident at its more affordable price point, and you, yes, you, should not only be taking notice but supporting it.
In the past, veterans started many watch brands, such as the terrific California-based brand Sangin, with veterans in mind. Industrial and watch designers have founded many watch brands, such as Bradley Price’s groundbreaking Autodromo. The industry is littered with watch enthusiasts who started successful companies like Nodus. Today, a new brand, Prevail, is launching its first series of watches. It was founded by a veteran and leaned on one of the industry’s masters in bringing unique watches to life.
Prevail marries all of the above and adds several cherries on top to bring you their Onward Series of Field Watches. Founded by US Air Force veteran and attorney Hassan Madras, Prevail’s goal from its outset was to produce a timepiece that would suit veterans’ active and demanding lifestyle once their immediate tour of duty is completed. Additionally, Mr. Madras is donating 10% of the profits on each watch to charities that focus on veterans’ health, for this is a central mission for the brand – to support veterans. To do this, he hired the industry’s veteran watch designer, Matt Smith-Johnson, to make the perfect time-telling instrument for our finest as they return home.
I had the pleasure of living and testing both versions of the Prevail Onward watches for about a month, and the results were clear from day one: at $275 USD, these watches are must-buys for watch enthusiasts, collectors, those who lead an active lifestyle, and especially for anyone who appreciates world-class industrial design.
On the Wrist
Good designs transcend specification sheets. They are timeless in all aspects and bare our layperson’s assumptions of what truly works in the field. Most would say that the 42mm case looks like a 39mm watch. One seasoned watch collector who leads an exceedingly active lifestyle in the Rocky Mountains while somehow balancing one of the most adorable yet prolific cases of IBS said that, to his eyes, the Onward wore like a 34mm watch. This is where bringing in Mr. Smith-Johnson results in such optical wizardry. The Onward is offered in two models, the Explorer and the Tactical. Both have highly legible 22mm dials with floating indices and chapter rings. Not only are both of these dials a visual treat where they draw your eye to the gorgeous hands, but they make these watches extremely versatile.
The symmetrical case shape offers natural protection for the signed screw-down crown, making it visually and physically unobtrusive. The watch wears like an ultra-modern and sleek wrist-mounted GPS unit from decades past but with the trim profile of a modern sports watch. This oddly makes the Explorer version of the watch suitable for business attire and hiking gear. This became apparent during meetings in rooms filled with various smartwatches and Apple Watches announcing private details for all to see through their on-screen notifications. If you have a smartwatch and wear it to work, set up a profile where personal notifications, such as eggplant emojis from your group chat, do not visually pollute the room.
The Tactical version strays from the classic numeral indices from the Explorer to give you a distinct personality. Where the Explorer has a smooth bezel, the Tactical variant increases its height by a noticeable 0.6mm for added protection for the already protruding smooth bezel. The geometry of the bezels leads perfectly into the indices, making the Tactical watches look at home with modern outdoor or CrossFit gear. On the other hand, the Explorer was repeatedly complimented by men and women over 45, while the Tactical drew the attention of younger consumers. Both of these watches exude a mature confidence that is only possible with Mr. Madras and Mr. Smith Johnson leading the way.
In practice, you will never have any wrist fatigue from these watches, barring a chronic arm injury or if you were the watches too tight. During workouts, the case shape maximized conformity for the most complex wrist movements with various weights and resistance bands. The use of the Ronda Calibre 513 allows for a fair degree of rough play, and the decision to opt for a workhorse quartz movement not only keeps the price down but stays true to the mission of this timepiece.
Both variants of the Onward are perfect companions for the gym and regular life. After rinsing it, I carried an extra NATO strap for the gym so I could quickly wear the same watch.
As darkness shrouded the ravine, the shadows from the tall hills and trees only seemed to fuel the hunger of the region’s mosquitos. My planned photoshoot became an evenly paced trail run as I ran from one location to the next, and it was at this moment when I checked the time that I fell in love.
This rarely happens with watches on my wrist. I am in the camp where only a few select timepieces look right on my wrist, and the Prevail Onward Explorer looked not only at home but also staggeringly beautiful as the valley’s darkening orange glow started audibly humming with the high-pitched beating of ravenously driven insect wings.
Prevail Onward Specs | |
Case Width 42mm | Lug-to-Lug 47mm |
Case Thickness 11.6mm | Lug Width 20mm |
Water Resistance 200m | Strap Nylon Passthrough |
Crystal Sapphire | Lume Yes |
Movement Rhonda Quartz Calibre 513 | Price $275 |
The Case
The grooves along the caseback, which extend to the left of the case, may seem purely aesthetic, but they have a purpose. In the many times I rinsed the watch after a hard gym session, I found that the grooves provided ample grip. This kept the watch secure as I ensured it was clean and ready for the rest of the day. The matte finish will reveal sweat and oils as you work hard, and a quick wipe is all needed to clean the case.
The fixed lugs are one aspect of the design that draws your eyes. Tudor’s Pelagos FXD has recently popularized this tool-watch feature. Like the FXD, the entire case of the Onwards is molded with perfectly downwardly tapering lugs in mind. The caseback hugs both flat and round wrists well, and the words “The Courage to Continue” bring home the brand’s mission of supporting veterans when they are home after serving their country. The watch is so sturdy that it gave me and others the impression that these watches belong on the instrument panel of a military-grade vehicle. This sturdiness is reflected in the crown, which has no right to feel this good and strong at this price point. From its crown to its packaging, you can tell that Prevail got the best out of every fraction of a cent on every watch it made.
The raised bezel on the Explorer and Tactical variant offers ample sapphire crystal protection. The Tactical’s bezel grooves show that with its 200m water resistance, this platform can easily be adapted to include a dive bezel. A few people mentioned to me in person and online that they would love a dive watch variant of the Onward, and my answer to those in front of me was this – if you want another watch from Prevail, let them know and support them by buying their first model.
Dial Details
Just as the bezels contribute to vastly different wearing experiences, the two dials cement the respective objectives of the two Onward models. The Explorer’s perfectly proportioned numerals at the cardinal positions are met with open circles in between. The Tactical’s geometric indices make the watch ultra-modern or, as our very own Frank Affronti said, “looks very funky.” I fell in love with the Explorer because of the continuous joy it gave me regardless of how formal my environment was. Some lovingly commented that it looked like a vintage watch when worn with business attire. This is no doubt aided by the 22mm dial, but no one mentioned this about the Tactical.
Both watches share the same handset, though the colour of the seconds hand tip varies between the models. For this review, I purchased the Explorer in the Standard Black and the Tactical in the Shovelhead colorway. The black comes off as a dark grey, and the Shovelhead brown has a hint of burgundy. This hint of burgundy translates exceptionally well into the red seconds hand tip which it shares with the third colorway, pictured below, aptly named Compass Green. The Standard Black’s seconds hand tip is in white. The dials have a refined texture, making them a delight to view in bright sunlight. Again, this level of detail is unheard of at this price point, especially from a new brand.
The hands are stubby yet mindfully designed for optimal legibility. The hour hand has an extended needle, balancing the shortened hand on the small dial. That needle motif is drawn inwards for the minute hand, thus providing a seamless and fluid design. Amongst all the watches I have held in my life, there has never been an entirely new design by a new brand that is as cohesive as these Onwards are. The fact that Prevail has done it to two variants of the same watch, which also wear incredibly differently and are of this quality, is astounding. Other microbrands who employ third parties who work with their manufacturers overseas for their designs should be ashamed.
The C3 SuperLuminova on both models glows consistently and beautifully. The luminescent paint application is perfect, even in both of my examples. Other brands struggle with this near this price point.
Everything about these watches suggests that they should be much more expensive than $275 USD. Prevail passes the savings on to the customer when it comes to consumable or disposable parts, but once again, it does so in a highly mindful manner.
The Strap
The thin strap may feel inexpensive to the layperson. In practice, this allows for quicker drying times, and the straps wore in perfectly over their month stay with me. They never frayed, stained, or showed excessive signs of unsightly wear. This gives the watch the briefest downtimes between cleanings, which is highly appreciated. Little details like the signed buckle would be the most noticeable highlight, but the strap’s underside shows you the attention to detail.
The keeper is secured on the underside with a curved reinforced section, which is appreciated when viewed under a loupe. The manufacturing of this small part speaks to the exacting details Prevail went through. The keeper will seem stiff at first, but it will soften and break in just enough for ease of operation while still providing ample security for the tail end of the strap.
Final Thoughts
In handling the Onward series of watches, it is immediately apparent that the humans behind them care about watches, and more importantly, they care about other human beings. Many friends have served in the military, and returning to civilian life is extremely challenging. Mr. Madras has seen this firsthand and has gone to the lengths to give them the perfect time-telling instrument while using its proceeds to support the same veterans, which is admirable.
The Explorer and Tactical Onward Field watches are highly robust, versatile, and attractive timepieces. This alone should make collectors and general consumers alike purchase one. However, the brand’s mission of genuinely supporting veterans and the fact that a master designed each watch truly make this the most exciting genuine tool-watch release in the entire industry, regardless of price point.
The Prevail Onward series of field watches will be available starting on September 23rd of this year, and I can’t wait to see more of these on your wrists. Furthermore, you can meet Mr. Madras and Mr. Smith-Johnson at WindUP NYC this year between October 18th and 20th and see these beautiful watches in person.
Check out more field watch reviews at The Watch Clicker here
Check out the Prevail website here
This is great. So good to see a brand doing something a bit different, and also for not being shy about using quartz.
Thanks! And yes, we think quartz is great for grab-and-go toughness. Plus it gives us the ability to introduce an affordable watch in an era when a watch under $10K is considered “reasonable.”