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The Farer Lander GMT Automatic proves travel doesn’t have to be so serious The Farer Lander GMT Automatic proves travel doesn’t have to be so serious

The Farer Lander GMT Automatic proves travel doesn’t have to be so serious

Felix Scholz

Editor’s note: Who doesn’t love a good micro brand (we certainly do)? In many ways the little guys have so much more freedom than the big brands, when it comes to design, production (and all the rest). Case in point is the Farer Lander GMT, which we reviewed last year …

Having previously reviewed the Farer Aqua Compressor Hecla, I thought it was time to explore some more of the British microbrand’s offerings. Enter the Farer Lander GMT Automatic, one of three pieces within Farer’s GMT Automatic range.

As I unboxed the Lander, the first thing that grabbed my attention was the dial. Farer describes the colour as ‘sea green’, which, when you think about it, is quite an accurate description. Bursting with colour, the dial has a sunburst-style finishing, meaning the moment you walk outside into the sunlight it takes on a new appearance. This was my favourite feature of the watch and looked great when contrasted with the dark brown strap.

There’s a lot of other detail in the dial, which Farer refer to as a ‘triple step dial’. The bold font of the hour numerals features a Super-LumiNova outline, which adds an additional layer of depth and colour to the vibrant orange GMT hand that follows a smaller 24-hour clock around the dial. Finishing off the dial is a gunmetal silver outer rim, which is home to the second track. Although there’s plenty going on here, the dial doesn’t at all feel clustered, and remains legible — even in the dark, thanks to the Super-LumiNova filled hands, and outline on the hours.

The case is also very, very nice. At just 10mm thick and 39.5mm in diameter, the proportions are bang on. The Lander arrived with a brown Barenia Bridle leather strap, which features a nifty spring bar release, making strap changes a breeze.

Overall, the Farer GMT Automatic has a lot of attention to detail. From the well-balanced accent hand colours to the bronze crown, a lot of care and thought has gone into this piece. The bronze crown was included with the intention of taking on patina — to give the watch individuality. Although I like the intent and don’t mind it, I can see how it would prove unpopular as it feels a little out of place.

In terms of value for money, the Lander comes in at around $2150 AUD and packs a fair bit of punch for the money. The watch is powered by a ‘Top Grade’ ETA 2893-2 movement, which, although a tried and tested workhorse, has some extra finishing — displayed through the clear caseback. This movement also features a 42-hour power reserve. Setting the GMT is also very user-friendly and is done by simply moving the crown to an extra position.

Priced at £1175 and currently numbered to 400, you can purchase the Lander from Farer’s website directly, and choose from the remaining numbers there.