Newmark 71 Sports – Not just a pretty face
A while ago I received a follow from the Instagram account of Newmark, a watchmaker I had never heard of, despite not being in the market for a new watch at the time I did the honourable thing and had a look at what they offered. I liked what I saw but what really caught my interest was a link reading ‘Review a Newmark’. At the time I had just written my article concerning the Scurfa Diver One and was eager to have another crack at things. Recently they got back to me, informing me that they had some surplus stock lying around and would I perhaps like to be loaned a model of my choice for the purposes of writing a review. I gave it one or two marching paces before saying yes and asking if they could please send me a 71 Sports with a black dial as soon as possible.
The first thing you’ll see as you navigate to Newmark’s website is the slogan ‘Timeless British watches since 1875’, however this early history is shrouded in mystery. What we do know is the more recent history of the brand particularly in the gloom and doom of the Cold War. Throughout the 1980s the Royal Air Force commissioned various watchmakers to create asymmetrical chronographs that would be issued to the pilots and crew of iconic war birds such as the Avro Vulcan and the Hawker Harrier. Among the 4 chronographs issued during this era the Newmark was the rarest example with only 500 units being manufactured. While Newmark no longer holds a commission with the Ministry of Defence, they do still have a foothold in British military culture. Several times a year the Newmark Helicopter Flying Trophy is awarded to a helicopter pilot who excels above his peers and achieves the highest-flying marks during training. Alongside this trophy the pilot is presented with Newmark’s modern re-issue of the Historical Chronograph: the 6BB Chronograph.
Right, military link established and history lesson over, clearly this watchmaker is fit for the Sketchy Boys but how does Newmark’s modern skindiver mark up in the hands of this amateur horological journalist?
Straight from the Newmark website are the following specifications:
Case
-
316L Stainless Steel with brushed and polished finish
-
Diameter 38mm (excluding crown)
-
Lug tip to lug tip 47mm
-
Lug width 20mm
-
Thickness 13mm to top of domed crystal
-
Solid screw down case back with circular brushing
-
Water resistant to 200 metres (static pressure)
Crown
-
Screw down, signed.
-
Crown tube threaded into case
Crystal
-
Double domed sapphire (3.4mm thick) with anti-reflective coating to underside
Movement
-
Miyota 9039 automatic with 24 jewels
-
28,800 bph (beats per hour)
-
Hand winding capability and hacking (stop second) function
-
Accuracy -10/+30s per day
-
Power Reserve 42 hrs
Bezel
-
60-minute uni-directional with 120 clicks; ceramic bezel insert with luminous numerals
Dial
-
Matt black
-
Hour markers and batons with Super Luminova GL X1-C3
Hands
-
Polished steel
-
Super Luminova GL X1-C3 fill to hour and minutes hands and seconds hand diamond
Price
· GBP 475 / USD 624 / CAD 874 (Before international taxes and shipping)
Now that’s a comforting lineup of specifications and it gets even better when you look at the price, not bad on paper eh?
The case has a simple, straight edged design. It has brushed and polished metal exactly where you’d expect with shiny sides and dulled down lug tops. The dial is a deep black with no texture and a Newmark Logo at the 12 o’clock position. Interestingly at the 12 there is both a Newmark symbol with a print logo just below it. You don’t see this dual logo combo often but, on this watch, it just seems to work. The dial bears large triangular indices at 12, 3, 6 and 9 with the respective numbers in relief inside the indices. The indices are printed with a seriously healthy amount of lume and the overall look is reminiscent of vintage Zodiac skin divers. The Hour hand is a great big broad arrow arrangement with an elongated broadsword minute hand. This combo of the hands, lume and indices leads to some incredible legibility in all lightings. The Bezel follows suit with the hands and dial with a full luminous and segmented arrangement. Despite fine markers and numbers, it shows up well in low light and adds to the excellent legibility of the watch.
The bracelet is a standout feature of this watch, the end links are solid and suitably flush with the case and the design, Stunning. Two thick link segments stand either side of no less than thirteen razor thin links in between. It has the fine design of a mesh bracelet backed up by the strength and robustness of a more traditional three link arrangement.
The visual identity of this watch is complex. It punches high above its price tag with it’s looks and finishing, presenting as a dressier dive watch than most. It’s certainly a far cry from a no-nonsense tool diver like a CWC SBS. When worn on the bracelet it does not look like anyone’s first choice to wear over a wetsuit or under the sleeve of a combat shirt but rather the watch you slip on after applying your cologne while getting ready for a wedding. It presents as a watch that wants to be worn with a tuxedo. Usually, I see past attempts to dress up diver’s watches, but this really got under my skin, and I felt a real reluctance to put it in harms way for fear of scratching such a pretty watch.
On the wrist this watch is a great experience, the fancy bracelet brings a serious comfort factor, and it can easily go unnoticed when you aren’t looking at it. The watch wears appropriately for its dimensions and for those who enjoy a smaller, lighter watch with as much wrist presence as the bigger guys this one is for you. Every action on this watch feels deliberate yet easy. The screw down crown is smooth with a satisfying click when it’s free of its threads, winding is a similar experience. The clasp action is nothing outstanding but still feels above it’s price range. The Bezel feels good to move but requires more effort to turn than some might like however it’s easy to imagine it being difficult to operate while wearing thick gloves or being hindered by equipment, something that adds to the function over form feeling that can present itself with this watch. The bracelet is truly beautiful but as we’re discussing daily usability it presents my main issue that I’ve discovered in my brief fling with this watch. When I resized the bracelet upon receiving the watch I discovered that the tiny middle sections are not linked and all move freely, this can make the re linking process tedious and fiddly although not something a seasoned owner will have too much difficulty with. All other aspects of the bracelet, including the screw in pins and solid end links make up for this one little gripe.
This is a watch that performs well in all settings. It is first a foremost a tool with all the hallmarks of any good dive watch and as such it looks great when dressed down on a pull through nylon strap. The lume creates fantastic legibility for low light situations and when you stick it on a plain black NATO and get to work, you’ll learn that the Newmark is not just a pretty face. It is far harder to dress this watch down than it is to dress it up, the Newmark bracelet or perhaps a black leather strap makes this watch look good enough for the most formal, dressy setting and it is a true eye catcher. No other watch in my collection has received so many compliments from folks who don’t otherwise spare a thought for analogue watches, you know, real Garmin types. This watch has been a serious contender for my daily driver these last few months and had taken up wrist space far more than anything else in the collection.
The Newmark retails at 475 GBP which puts it in a price range full of some fierce competition. There are a whole host of solid divers sitting at the Sub $500 mark including but not limited to the Citizen Promaster ‘Fugu’, Zelos Hammerhead or the Scurfa Diver One. And it goes without saying that this price range is Seiko Prospex territory, you really are spoiled for choice. So why should you buy the Newmark?
The great thing about this review is I’m not being paid, this is purely an opinion piece. So, I won’t tell you that you need to get a Newmark, and I will tell you that in my opinion, they don’t boast the reputation of the Seiko Turtle, nor do they possess the cold hard proof of capability of a Scurfa Diver One. But while this watch is in my collection it takes top spot for looks, I have worn it every time I dress to impress while comforted by the fact it has that tool watch guarantee of safety if I do take it to the shooting range or out in the sea boat. It’s like an Italian Car, why choose between function or form? Just have both. This is what it stands out for in its price range, it is a true tool watch with true eye-catching beauty.
To Summarise, this watch is for the guy who is willing to take a risk on a lesser-known watchmaker and values some form with his function. I would wholeheartedly recommend this watch and would certainly own one myself, but it wouldn’t be my one watch solution. If you’ve got a box full of Seiko's and want something with an extra touch of class without straying into a scary price range, then get yourself a Newmark.
All the best and stay sketchy.
@brokewatchkeeper