INTRODUCING: The Farer Lander IV GMT puts a British twist on a classic watch
Thor SvaboeEvery time I encounter a new Farer, I’m looking forward to a double delight. This brand specialises in juxtaposing a very British sense of elegance with an unreserved flourish of colour. The closest thing I can equate the Farer Lander IV GMT to is the Savile Row tailoring of Oswald Boateng, whose immaculate silhouettes are enlivened with a bold dash of colour.
The Farer Lander is a well known model in their range of mechanical timepieces, and the Lander IV GMT simply typifies Farer’s design nous, with the first new detail being the large rounded crown having a matte, jewel-like bronze insert. The polished rune-like logo betrays the first sign that Farer’s design team is fairly obsessed with the small details that matter.
Thus starts a small voyage (“Farer” is from the old English word for traveller) of discovery punctuated by pops of colour.
We have seen this inviting tinge of sea green before from Farer, and it is as fresh as it is difficult to describe on the colour spectrum. In the Lander, this is specially vibrant on the triple-stepped, sun-ray brushed dial, a colour that’ll change like a wristworn chameleon with the light throughout the day. Large Arabic numerals, lumed to the brim with 14 coats of Super-Luminova, sit inside a graphically balanced 24-hour track.
A silver and blue ice-cool minute track encircles the deep blue-green dial setting the scene for a playful yet highly functional GMT. I could discuss date windows all day, but Farer has simply nailed it, and this one of my favourites out there. The three is replaced by a lume baton, and inside a bevelled circular cut-out lies a perfectly matched sea green date wheel. I seldom use the word masterful, but there you go.
Brushed steel fifties syringe hands do their job while lending a vintage air and then we’re hit with the candy colours of the second and GMT hands. A searingly orange seconds hand can do nothing wrong on the rich blue-green dial background, and will make you smile, or in my case grin like a Cheshire Cat. Even more so when the GMT hand is a bright tomato red arrow with a crisp white lume fill. This is all the more brilliant when housed in a slim 39.5mm case of sharp but functional appearance, though the smooth polished sides means this baby can handle suits as well as a chunky knit.
The subtly brushed case top and clean cut mid-century sweeping lugs brings a sporty aesthetic yet the Farer Lander IV GMT is formal enough to brighten up that business meeting.. The svelte lugs hold a case of a mere 10mm thickness, with a rather tempting 45mm lug to lug, meaning top-notch ergonomics for most wrists.
The main change for this new iteration is the Sellita SW330-2 top grade self-wound movement pushing the power reserve up from 42 hours to a solid 56, another reason to check out one of the 200 individually numbered pieces just dropped by Farer on their website. In another popular move, there is a wide choice of strapwear with quick release fastening, from a navy St.Venere to the raffish Aragosta Orange via a sleek milanaise mesh the choice is yours. You can even choose any available production number, who knows you might even find your birthday available. Sealing the deal might be the everyday peace of mind that comes from a 100m depth rating, and a scratch-proof yet vintage-cool domed sapphire crystal.
The Farer Lander IV GMT, price and availability:
The Farer Lander IV GMT is $1,450USD on a leather strap
For more details, visit Farer right here.