MICRO MONDAYS: The new Feynman Fjord Collection delivers blazing colours and radical designs

Ricardo Sime

One of my main reasons for loving microbrands is the lack of limitations they place on themselves when it comes to design. That ability to be so uninhibited may be sometimes be polarising, but I always appreciate any brand’s attempt to go off the beaten path. That is what Feynman Timekeepers founder Yong Keong Lim was going for with their first release, the Feynman One. That tri-circular dial with its beautiful colours and honeycomb centre was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. For their next watch, the Feynman Cove, they were able to translate that design language onto a compressor styled diver. And now? To bring the trilogy home, Feynman brings their unique aesthetic to the adventurer in all of us with the new Feynman Fjord collection.

For the Feynman Fjord collection, the brand repurposed it’s much beloved Feynman Cove compressor styled case. It’s 40mm across with a 46mm lug-to-lug, which means it will look good on a large range of wrists. Thickness is only 12.8mm, which includes a beautifully curved sapphire crystal, while still having 200 metres of water resistance. There are polished and brushed surfaces, with sharp lines defining their transition. Completing the look are two grip-tacular screw-down crowns, with Fs embossed on each.

As we have previously seen with the Feynman Cove, the Fjord collection also comes in four flavours highlighted by different coloured dials. There is the dark orange Magma, the stormy blue Tempest, the forest green Khor and the aqua green Founder’s Edition (pictured above). Upon closer inspection of the dials, you realise that Feynman has departed from their multilayered approach. Instead, we have a beautiful sandwich dial, with the brand’s special Chrono.AMR lume on its base layer. At 12 o’clock, looking like a long index, we have 12 written out in roman numerals. With these all these changes, I find this dial to be more pleasing on the eyes.

Moving to the edge of the dial, you’ll find an internal compass bezel. That bezel is adjusted using the crown located at 2 o’clock. Use of this feature differs depending whether you are in the northern or southern hemisphere. For those in the southern hemisphere, during the day, lay the watch down on a flat surface, with 12 o’clock pointed towards the sun. Rotate the compass bezel until the N (North) is halfway between the shortest distance between 12 and the hour hand. That is now your north reference point. If you are instead in the northern hemisphere, you must start with your hour hand pointed at the sun. From there, rotate the compass bezel until the S (South) is halfway between the shortest distance between 12 and the hour hand. That is now your south reference point.

Behind that dial, and enclosed by the screw-down caseback is an ETA 2895-2 movement. This marks the second time the brand is using this movement; the first time being on the cove. The major difference being the lack of a sapphire crystal caseback on the Fjord to view it through. The movement beats at 28800 bph and is the small seconds variant of the 2892-2. Power reserve here is 50 hours.

There are a few more things to note for the Fjord collection.  Half of the collection will have limited runs with the Khor limited to 35 pieces. This model celebrates the fourth year that Feynman Timekeepers has been working with Chrono.Design, their design and manufacturing partner. Chrono.Design is located on Singapore’s Arab street and as such, all main points on the Khor’s compass are written in Arabic. The other model that will be limited is the Founder’s Edition, with just 50 pieces being made. And finally, for the first time, all the watches will come on Zulu styled, leather straps.

Overall, the Feynman Fjord collection brings forth another fresh dial from a microbrand known for its unique design language. The specifications are on point. The movement is reliable. And with what I would consider a more cleaner aesthetic, I honestly think the Fjord presents the best opportunity for a collector to get in on the brand.

Feynman Fjord Collection Price and Availability:

The four pieces in the Feynman Fjord collection will be priced at $799 USD when pre-order starts Wednesday, 29th September 2021, at 10:00pm (GMT+8). The watches will be $1105 USD final retail. Delivery is slated for December 2021.

For more information, visit Feynman’s website here.

Made in partnership with the Feynman Timekeepers. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.