The Oak & Oscar Atwood brings old-school American chronograph charm with a flyback kick
Tom AustinIf you’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting one of our amazing Watch Discovery Studios, you’ll know that not only are they an awesome way to get to see, feel and try on some more obscure and unconventional watches from brands across the world, but also they’re an excellent showcase of some homegrown talent. The recent opening of our new Studio in New York, arguably the most exciting city in America, has given us the opportunity to present some US-based microbrands in ways never seen before. Chicago-based independent Oak & Oscar are in the spotlight today, and we’ve picked a particular piece to share with you that best represents the brand and what they’re all about, the Atwood.
Oak & Oscar are almost veterans in the microbrand space by now, founded in 2015 by Chase Fancher and his crack team of classically trained watchmakers and watch enthusiasts in the heart of Chicago. But who’s Oscar? Well, Oscar is the brand’s mascot, Chase’s beloved dog, who inspired Chase to partner with a dog rescue charity to help provide shelter and adoption services for dogs in need with a portion of the brand’s profits. That in itself is a good enough reason to be interested in Oak & Oscar; we need to see more of this in watchmaking. But anyway, what do you need to know about the Atwood?
The Atwood has all the hallmarks of a typical sports chronograph, but when you start to dive into the details, things are much more considered than a simple regurgitation of everything we’ve seen before. It starts with the case, crafted from corrosion-resistant 316L stainless steel, brushed all over to kick-start its retro toolwatch aesthetic. At 39mm in diameter, it’s sensibly sized, which is something several brands overlook when it comes to their chronographs, so it suits a variety of wrist sizes rather than being brashly oversized. Case thickness comes in at 12.9mm, including the slightly domed sapphire crystal, and while that sounds like it’s on the thicker side, it’s actually quite well-proportioned on the wrist, and the curved lugs help it wrap around neatly.
As I mentioned before, every surface is finely brushed, from the angled bezel to the old-school-style chronograph pushers and the oversized push/pull crown. That, plus the drilled lugs, really gives the Atwood’s case a retro-inspired feel, including the solid end links designed to resemble the pressed hollow links you’d find on vintage watches from the 60s and 70s.
The retro theme continues deep into the dial, with three different “panda” variations available: navy reverse panda, charcoal reverse panda, and the one we have here, the white panda. The dial is a sandwich construction, with the sub-dials, hour markers and outer chapter ring all making up the lower layer, and the contrasting upper layer containing nothing but the Oak & Oscar logo with an almost-invisible minute track printed around the outermost edge. The tri-compax layout is spacious despite its relatively small size, and the closer you look, the more the details stand out.
The sub-dials are printed with contrasting orange accents, with the 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock split up with 5-minute intervals, which snap nicely with every turn of the chronograph, rather than a slow, gradual grind around the sub-dial. These details are nicely accentuated by the large, sweeping orange chronograph hand, which features an Oak & Oscar logo on the counterbalance.
These smooth functions come thanks to the Sellita AMT5100M movement fitted inside, which is visible through the sapphire exhibition case back. Again, playing into the retro theme, it’s a manually wound column wheel chronograph movement with a flyback function, delivering a substantial 58-hour power reserve. Boasting 23 jewels, a Nivaflex mainspring, and an Incabloc shock protection system, it’s a high-performing movement that offers Swiss quality and reliability, with an unusual flyback function, and to top it off, is pleasantly presented with Côtes de Genève finishing and a blued column wheel.
Finally, the Atwood is presented on a well-finished three-link stainless steel bracelet with a fully brushed folding clasp featuring a secure micro-adjustment system. Links can be removed with screws to get the fit in the right ballpark, and the fine adjustment lets you dial in the comfort. To finish off the retro look, the watch comes complete with an olive green textile strap with matching orange stitching and a lovely waxed-canvas presentation wallet, including an American-made strap tool to swap out the bracelet.
Oak & Oscar Atwood pricing and availability
The Oak & Oscar Atwood is available from the Time+Tide Watch Discovery Studio in New York and the US Time+Tide shop. Price: US$2,650
| Brand | Oak & Oscar |
| Model | Atwood |
| Case Dimensions | 39mm (D) x 12.9mm (T) x 46.5mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | 316L stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 50 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | White panda, navy reverse panda, charcoal reverse panda |
| Lug Width | 20mm |
| Bracelet | Stainless steel 3-link bracelet, folding clasp, micro-adjustment + olive drab textile strap |
| Movement | Sellita AMT5100M, manually wound |
| Power Reserve | 58 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph |
| Availability | Available now at the US Time+Tide Shop |
| Price | US$2,650 |