![]() ![]() To achieve 200M water resistance, Tusenö opted for a solid caseback with a stamped star logo. The minutes hand stays perfectly still when pushing the crown back in, something that, sadly, can’t be taken as a given. (I believe the first position is for setting the date for models that feature it.) Unscrewing the crown also allows hand-winding of the movement, which is something I wasn’t certain of with this Ronda movement. The screw-down crown is solid enough and easy to operate with a pull to the second position, activating the hacking seconds and allowing you to set the time. It’s a nice and thoughtful touch that you don’t see much at this price point. Indeed, the opening of the hour hand aligns with the “SHELLBACK” text at 6 o’clock, allowing the letters to be read as the hand passes by. The minutes hand is nice and appropriately long, as well, and I genuinely like the novel shape of the hour hand. The seconds hand is capped with a lumed arrow, the tip of which extends nicely to the outer edge of the chapter ring. The lume is also applied on the bezel’s etched markings, as well as the hands, the former of which I also applaud Tusenö for. (The Omega Seamaster 300 also does it quite well.) Obviously, Panerai is most closely associated with these dials, though several other brands do it, too. It has a lumed disc on top of which is placed the glossy black (or brushed blue) dial with cutouts for circular hour markers and indices. I’ll venture to say that the sandwich dial is where much of the Shellback’s appeal lies, and that’s definitely warranted. With an AR-coated sapphire crystal, the Shellback is available in blue or black with the option of a date window at 6 o’clock, seen here in the black no-date variant. The benefit of the stiffness, of course, is that it stays in place and doesn’t inadvertently turn. I found the bezel action to be pretty solid, though if I had to criticize it, I would say that it can be a little too stiff when operating. Johan Holsner, one of the founders and CEO of Tusenö, also noted that they are still testing out different bezel springs, as well. This bracelet has solid end links that inflate the lug-to-lug measurement to 52mm the final production version will have a rotating connection for an even more comfortable fit. I should mention that the Shellback I spent time with is an early model, and the brand is making some changes to it. Just in terms of sizing, I believe the Shellback is very close to the outgoing 40mm Submariner, which is another way of saying that the case is about as universally acceptable as it gets. ![]() We may as well start with the case, measuring 40mm-wide with an approximate 47mm lug-to-lug height and a case thickness of 11.9mm that is more like 13 when considering the domed sapphire crystal. The phrase “value proposition” is tossed around pretty frequently, but anyone looking for a versatile dive watch for substantially less than $1,000 should keep reading. While not doing anything especially new or groundbreaking, the Shellback succeeds at offering a classically attractive dive watch that sets itself apart in a very crowded space with wonderfully executed design touches. Though it’s a Swedish microbrand, Tusenö watches are indeed Swiss-made and have a keen sense of design and an understanding of what enthusiasts tend to like. So, when the brand offered to send me a sample to go hands-on with, I happily accepted. Founded in 2003 with the goal of creating the ultimate field watch, Bertucci cranks out just about every variation on the form imaginable - even a field watch with a fully-lumed case - but it’s tough to go wrong with the dependable stainless steel unibody-cased A-2S.Like quite a few of you reading, my interest was piqued when I first read about the Tusenö Shellback a few weeks ago. Whether discussing the American troops’ A-11 or the British “Dirty Dozen” We’ve got plenty of options from both camps in our guide to the best field watches to buy.īertucci is pretty well-known for making affordable field watches (it’s basically all they do), and they have a solid reputation in the space. The original field watches evolved from the trench watches of the First World War and were at least partly responsible for helping the allies achieve victory in 1945. The simple design has been a staple since WWII, but you certainly don’t need to be a soldier to wear one these days. And of all the military-inspired watch styles that exist, none is more associated with the armed forces than the field watch. The most iconic wristwatch styles, from the professional dive watch to the Flieger pilot’s watch, were born from the need to help soldiers better execute their missions. It’s hard to imagine what modern watch styles would look like today were it not for the 20th century’s obsession with war. ![]()
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