Nite Watches CHRONO-CR8-300TN
Richard Brown / 28.08.2012
Nite is a British watch brand that is going to be new to many in the AR community, but as the official timekeepers of the forthcoming Helly Hansen Killarney Adventure Race (Oct 6th, 2012) this is going to change. Presented as 'tough and stylish', designed to tolerate extreme conditions, while still being acceptable in any business or social situation - a big claim by any watch manufacturer.
The model we tested was the CHRONO CR8 300TN. The ethos of the company is to use the best materials, manufacturing methods, components, and innovative designs to produce a watch that is simply never going to fail to deliver.
When you first hold the watch in you hand it's heavy, in a very reassuring way. Made from aviation grade stainless steel, water resistant to a depth of 300m, this watch isn't going to break the first time it gets wet, or knocked about! The operation of the watch buttons and rotation of the bezel are all accompanied by a positive 'click' leaving you in no doubt. The screw-down crown sets the date and hour/minute hand, the push buttons above and below start/stop the chronograph counters measuring elapsed, accumulated, and interval timing all to an accuracy of 1/10 second.
The ultra thick sapphire crystal glass and triple anti-reflective coating with the self-powered GTLS (gaseous tritium light source) makes the watch readable in any lighting condition including total darkness. The GTLS guarantees the display will be visible continuously and appears to be considerably brighter than more traditional phosphorescent displays. Finally, the double polymer band, twin buckle, over-locking loop, and screw in lug pins attaching the band to the watch body all go to making it very unlikely that no matter what you're doing, you and this watch aren't going to part company.
Taking it out for a more mundane week in the Peak District, the watch does exactly what it says on the box - it tells the time beautifully & stylishly, no matter what happens that's what it's going to continue to do, and there's simply no need to take it off. I didn't feel the need to be 'precious' about the watch and protect it from the elements the way you would some fashion brand watches. Its all-black design made it a very understated watch to be wearing out the evenings afterwards.
Expensive? Maybe ... Worth it? Without question.
We all know they say you get what you pay for, and this is a fine example of that adage
For more on the brand and the entire range : www.nitewatches.co.uk
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