The Galvin Suvi plays on nostalgia for Finnish summertime
Buffy AcaciaStorytelling is the most important thing for microbrands. They can’t rely on centuries of reputation, and the vast majority use off-the-shelf movements, so it’s the personal connection that draws people in. It doesn’t even have to be a story you relate to, as long as it feels authentic and makes you feel something. For the Galvin Suvi, the story is that of Susan Galvin – a Finnish watchmaker who founded the first female-led micro watch brand in Australia. Her latest design is representative of the first few decades in wristwatch history, memories of Finnish summer, and exemplary attention to detail.
The case
The Suvi is the brand’s third watch, and definitely its most elegant design so far. The tonneau case echoes some of the first popular wristwatch styles in the 1900s, with the first being designed by Louis Cartier. Here though, the Suvi takes on its own character with a matte, blasted texture and a large, twisted crown which denotes its contemporary origins. The cases are made from stainless steel, but some of the colour combinations are coated with rose gold PVD.
At 33mm wide and 40mm long, the Galvin Suvi is an excellent candidate for a gender-neutral dress watch with a colourful twist. The measurements may sound fairly small, but tonneau shapes tend to wear a lot larger than their diameters suggest. The lug-to-lug length is 46mm, which should fill out a small-to-average wrist nicely. At 11.15mm thick, it’s pleasingly slender, but the case is fairly slab-sided so there is potential for cuffs to get caught. The caseback is also set with a sapphire crystal for peering in at the movement.
The dial
The word “suvi” is actually Finnish for summer, and Galvin is launching the Suvi in six colours which all tie back to Finland in some way. The Lake or light blue model is fairly self-explanatory, taking after the bright surfaces of Finnish lakes when the sun reflects off of them. The pink dial is named Strawberry Ice Cream, really hitting on that nostalgic imagery and indulging in sense memory. Midsummer Night is one of the references in a rose gold case, showing off a decadent navy blue. The second rose gold model is named Barley, for its light beige dial. Then, there’s Lupine showing the vibrant purple of wildflowers, and finally Birch with its pale tone of teal-adjacent green.
The dials themselves are laid out very neatly, with double-lined minute tracks securing the dial’s perimeter, and sector lines acting as the hour markers. At the quarters, applied indices in the Breguet style match the hour hand, representing some Art Deco influence. The central section of the dial is roughed up with a matte, stippled texture, adding a lot of depth and intrigue to all of the different colour combinations.
The strap
Straps can be easily overlooked as part of a watch’s complete design, but the Galvin Suvi has chosen appropriately. Colour-matched leather straps in distressed suede extend the various matte textures of the dial and case to your wrist, giving it the impression of being lived-in without any actual damage to the watch. The coloured straps also add to the accessorising ability of the watches, more acutely matching different outfits. It’s a good thing the strap is so nice, because the 19mm lug width may hinder your search of aftermarket options if you want to change things up.
The movement
Visible from the sapphire display caseback is the Miyota calibre 9039. This is one of Miyota’s premium movements, which blends great performance with affordability. It’s a thin calibre at only 3.9mm tall, yet still boasts automatic winding for a 42-hour power reserve. It beats at the luxury standard of 4Hz for a smooth sweep of the seconds hand and has an accuracy rating from the factory between -10/+30 seconds per day. Miyota movements are renowned for their reliability, and their parts are still prevalent and servicing won’t be an issue should problems arise down the track.
Galvin Suvi pricing and availability
The Kickstarter campaign for the Galvin Suvi is now live, with limited early bird specials available. Price: A$454 (Super Early Bird), A$699 (RRP).
| Brand | Galvin |
| Model | Suvi |
| Case Dimensions | 33mm (W) x 11.15mm (T) x 46mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel, optional rose gold PVD |
| Water Resistance | 50 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Light blue, beige, green, pink, navy, purple |
| Lug Width | 19mm |
| Bracelet | Coloured suede strap, case-matching pin buckle |
| Movement | Miyota 9039, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 42 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds |
| Availability | Now |
| Price | A$454 (Super Early Bird) A$699 (RRP) |