Since its launch in 2012, SEVENFRIDAY has wowed many collectors with its uniquely designed watches at affordable prices. Following the debut of different complications and case shapes that the brand had become known for, SEVENFRIDAY has decided to return to its original “rounded square” cases with their new SEVENFRIDAY S3/01.
The “rounded square” case design was first seen in SEVENFRIDAY’s first watch, the P-series. The watch was a huge commercial success, packing an interesting, never before seen design, coupled with a relatively low price point – the result of being able to inventively interpret time display on a workhorse miyota movement. The company went on to produce the M-series, and then started venturing into more aggressive-looking and visually complicated Q and V-series. While they were successful to a varying degree, the new collections were not as impactful as compared to the original instagram star. It is surely difficult to fill the large shoes of the P-series.
The S3/01 is the latest addition to the recently released S-series, which includes the new S1/01 (the watch with the translucent nylon case that was produced from recyclable plastic). SEVENFRIDAY may be revisiting its original case shape, but make no mistake, it comes with several differences to differentiate itself from the original hit SEVENFRIDAY P-series watches.
Case, Dial, and Hands
The new SEVENFRIDAY S3/01.
As mentioned, the new S3/01 features SEVENFRIDAY’s original “rounded square” case. However, there are some differences in this new release. Referencing the S1, sees the inclusion of an animation ring following models in the P and M-series. The animation ring, which is produced from EPDM (a kind of rubber), surrounds the stainless steel case and it comes with a crown guard to protect the watch’s crown; it is generally made in different materials for different models.
There are also some subtle changes to the dial. The new timepiece drew its inspiration from industrial engines, which resulted in an open-design gun metal satined dial. This reveals the internal framework of the watch, which displays its multi-level interface and the mechanical bits that were featured in the watch’s movement. It is complemented with a matte red hour hand and rhodium minute hand, with a rhodium 60-second rotating disc.
Another angle of the new S3/01. It is definitely a handsome watch, with eye-catching aesthetics.
Noticeably, SEVENFRIDAY has excluded the 24-hour rotating disc. On the original P-series, it felt like a necessary element to play up the “complicated” feel. Here, we feel that it is an excellent idea, as it makes the watch less confusing. In addition, the S3/01 also features lumed indexes and hands, which aids legibility in the dark. It is something that the older models did not have, which rendered them impractical in low light environments.
Movement
The solid caseback of the S3/01, with engravings to detail the origins of the various components of the watch.
The S3/01 is powered by the Miyota’s 82S5. It is an automatic movement, which features an open balance wheel with a decent power reserve of around 40 hours. There is nothing of particular note for the movement, but it is undeniably a reliable workhorse engine.
Another feature included in the watch is the NFC-chip, last seen for the first time in the preceeding V-series. The chip, is embedded in the caseback, allowing for authenticity verification via the SEVENFRIDAY application that is available on the Google Play Store for Android phones. It is a nifty feature, considering that there are some unethical people that have begun selling fake SEVENFRIDAY watches to unsuspecting victims in the market.
Conclusion
The S3/01 feels comfortable on the wrist, despite its large case.
Overall, we really like the new SEVENFRIDAY S3/01. We think that the watch is a timely update to the original P-series, with some aesthetic changes to reflect and differentiate itself from its predecessor. Despite its hefty size, the 47mm timepiece is surprisingly comfortable on the wrist. We can partially attribute it to the hidden lugs, which allows the strap to taper and wrap our wrists nicely. The other element which can take credit is the rubber strap, adding more comfort relative to a leather strap. On the subject of straps, we also think that the red stitching adds a nice touch, and it complements the red accent on the dial and hands nicely.
We pretty much adore the new design, which we feel is more user-friendly and less complicated than the P-series. The 24-hour rotating disc is not missed here, and the addition of the SuperLuminova indices and hands help the user to tell the time in the dark. This was previously a major problem with most of SEVENFRIDAY’s watches, in which the lack of lume makes it difficult for collectors to tell time in the dark. The new feature is certainly welcome for many.
The S3/01 and its lovely wooden box case.
The new S3/01 is priced at S$1,915 (including GST), and it will be available at authorised dealers in Singapore from mid-May 2017. This is definitely an affordable conversational timepiece.
Technical Specifications
SEVENFRIDAY S3/01
