NTH Nacken

[davidj54]

Anyone any hands on experience with these?

Watched an Urban Gentry review a while back and Veneto was gushing about it, but you do wonder if there's an element of chumminess going on.

Aesthetically I think they look superb:

http://www.janistrading.com/nacken-modern-blue/

And the dimensions (40mm case, 20mm lug, slim profile) are spot on for me. 300m WR. Lumed bezel and crown too.

But I've no experience of the Japanese Miyota movement, is it the sort of thing you'd expect to find in a 500 quid watch? Thoughts on these in general?

[Papa Hotel]

The whole NTH, Lew and Huey Doc Vail WUS sausage fest makes me a little ill. I think they look ok but there are plenty of microbrands doing the same.

I quite like the Pelagosalike... which isn't a huge surprise as it's a 200 quid Pelagosalike... But then it's just yet another 200 quid Pelagosalike.

Edit: 500 quid?? Lol.

[200mwaterresistant]

The guy's a pretentious fake shill. I don't trust a word he says when he starts gushing about this stuff you've never heard of. He's basically kept Squale afloat single-handedly.

[seikopath]

sausage fest makes me a little ill

Thats understandable

[meijlinder]

Also a dive watch named Näcken after a mythical creature known for luring people into water to drown...

[Dave E]

I had one of the other models, name currently escapes me. Actually it was an extremely nicely made thing. Bought it on the forum (sold it here, too), so didn't pay the full price.

[Yorkshiremadmick]

Also a dive watch named Näcken after a mythical creature known for luring people into water to drown...

Wasn't that Kracken? Or am I just imagining that?


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[kace]

Different beast.

It's actually named after a Swedish submarine.

[Der Amf]

Their various dive watch homages are all cosmetic variations of the same basic watch, so some are more convincing impersonations than others. Eg the milsub is even further from the original in proportions etc. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing depends on your opinions about homages, I suppose.

[svaglic]

I don’t believe I would ever consider a watch by Chris (docvail on WUS).
What his fanboys didn’t kill for me, he did with a veiled threat to a reviewer of one of his watches.
The review wasn’t all negative, good things were posted too, but Doc couldn’t accept anything but a glowing review.
https://forums.watchuseek.com/f74/ho...l#post35559618

No NTH or Lew and Huey for me, too much Invicta like drama.

[davidj54]

There's definitely a homage thing going on, with the snowflake hands and squared indices it's got a Pelagos feel. No crown guard. The date version carries the date window in the 6 square, which retains symmetry. Quite cool.

I'm not a homage snob, I'm looking for a decent quality dive watch with good aesthetics for under £500. I also really like the Steinhart OVM which is more of a direct homage to another watch than this is (albeit afar more unobtainable one), and I feel maybe at £200 less with a Swiss ETA Elabore and a more established brand that would be better value.

But never known anyone who's had an NTH so putting it out there.

[davidj54]

Some pics for those that can't be bothered to look at the link!







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[SimonK]

For me that goes beyond homage, but not quite a fake - I'd call it a blatant rip-off.

[lughugger]

For me that goes beyond homage, but not quite a fake - I'd call it a blatant rip-off.

Not really. Date at 6, non indexed bezel, lack of crown guards, lumed bezel and crown


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[ped]

Not really. Date at 6, non indexed bezel, lack of crown guards, lumed bezel and crown


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Yes really. I mean, come on.

[lughugger]

Yes really. I mean, come on.

It’s definitely derivative but there are too many differences for the NTH to be called a fake/rip off imho. Not my cuppa - can’t abide the 9015 movement - but if you’re into the look of these then good luck to you.


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[davidj54]

It's the squared indices and snowflake hands, they immediately conjure up 'Pelagos'. But there are differences - no crown guard, different date position, no track on the bezel, lumed bezel/crown. There's certainly a homage going on no question, but I wouldn't go as far as to say direct copy - not in the same sense as say the Steinhart Ocean One is of the Submariner.

Part of the problem I suppose is the design of dive watches is so ubiquitous that all new models could in some way be accused of homaging or copying - unless they go totally of the ranch design wise, which is a risk most won't take.


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[kace]

I've got a vintage black and a vintage blue. Really happy with them, finish is good, comfy bracelet, slim case feels good on the wrist. The textured dials on mine gives an interesting look though I think I prefer the flat dial on on my dark gilt NTH amphion. Bezel action is nice and tight though I'd be interested to see the insides as the click sounds a bit plasticy.

As to the movement I've seen Eddie say that he has fewer faults with miyota powered watches than he has had with eta powered ones. Time keeping on mine has been good,


Bought all 4 of mine from ebay, not sure I'd be happy paying retail but then tbf I'm not happy paying retail on any watch.


For context I've a steinhart ovm which feels a dearer watch (and was) though the bracelet feels similar.



They aren't terribly original but at least they've gone a slightly different route to the normal sub homage.

[davidj54]

I've got a vintage black and a vintage blue. Really happy with them, finish is good, comfy bracelet, slim case feels good on the wrist. The textured dials on mine gives an interesting look though I think I prefer the flat dial on on my dark gilt NTH amphion. Bezel action is nice and tight though I'd be interested to see the insides as the click sounds a bit plasticy.

As to the movement I've seen Eddie say that he has fewer faults with miyota powered watches than he has had with eta powered ones. Time keeping on mine has been good,


Bought all 4 of mine from ebay, not sure I'd be happy paying retail but then tbf I'm not happy paying retail on any watch.


For context I've a steinhart ovm which feels a dearer watch (and was) though the bracelet feels similar.



They aren't terribly original but at least they've gone a slightly different route to the normal sub homage.

Cheers for the info.

[sinner77]

Doc is arrogant, obnoxious guy.

BUT...

hats off for the persistence in his business venture.

[ChromeJob]

That “reviewer” is really plumping himself up like he’s a down pillow, calling his post a “review.” He opens up by disclosing an incredible bias. He’s got an ax to grind and he found a watch to do it with. Bravo (slow clap).

(Edit: oh, and I see later in the thread he walked back, admitted he chose his words poorly, was trying to be tongue in cheek (but wasn’t), and apologized. So did DocVail. But the thread got locked. QED.)

But I’ve see DocVail declare war on the WUS forums, just spewing the same arguments over and over again, even I’ve asked him to sit down and hold his piece after posting repetitively. He won’t give up, and can’t even see when he’s prevailed. One thread, he wouldn’t stop until seemingly the poor detractor was beaten into silence; I think even mods had to caution him. There’s passion, and there’s belligerence. I don’t think I could wear one of his watches after seeing his behavior on the forum, I’d be disgusted.

And that Oberon ... a direct copy of a Nassau model Mk II put out. (slow clap) That’s not originality.

[Bobbob]

I have had the opportunity to see and handle some of Chris 'Doc' Vail's watches and they just look gaudy with a mishmash of design cues that don't quite work or make sense, IMHO. I have had some not so pleasant exchanges with Mr. Vail and his merry gang of NTH nut huggers over on WUS for not praising him, his brand, or his watches. I now stay away from any thread he is a part of on WUS and that is hard to do given he is all over those forums spewing forth walls of text.

[kace]

He seems a bit over protective of his watches online, something of a mistake to keep making really.

Doesn't change my view on his watches though, as used buys they're a little different from the normal sub clone, built well and decent value.

[ColDaspin]

For anyone interested, a couple of days back NTH contacted their email list stating that they'll be producing some more of the Nacken Modern Blue as well as to perform a pole asking which others of their previous models people would like to be re-released.

[James_]

Pure cheese. Had the 1st Lew & Hewey watch when I was into microbrands. The designs usually have something clownish about them, including these sub homages.

[ColDaspin]

Pure cheese. Had the 1st Lew & Hewey watch when I was into microbrands. The designs usually have something clownish about them, including these sub homages.

What do you find clownish about them? The Modern Blue is pretty much a Pelagos homage, which I don't think many would describe as clownish.

Never seen one in the flesh and I did read somewhere that the quality of the first releases wasn't that great, but apparently this has been subsequently addressed. 2nd hand values on the recent stuff seems to hold up well, which also suggests the quality is pretty decent.

I'm quite tempted, the price isn't too outrageous and the dimensions (40mm x 11.5mm) are perfect.

[Ivan Drago]

Anything TGV pushes is a non from me.

[ColDaspin]

Anything TGV pushes is a non from me.

Well, you're on the right forum as he doesn't get much love on here!

I find his reviews pretty well done with good attention to detail and he obviously does his research beforehand. As to whether he's a 'shill', which seems to be the most common criticism, along with suspicion of his accent(!), I have no idea. I did have a Squale 1521 for a while (one that he's heavily pushed over time) and thought the quality was excellent.

[Bondurant]

I have the (discontinued) Devilray. Nicely sized, keeps excellent time, tough as old boots and nuclear lume. Very happy with it. Got a Doxa sort of feel.