The Spinnaker Hull Pearl Diver blends technical and technicolour
Fergus Nash- The Spinnaker Hull Pearl Diver isn’t afraid to make a big watch pretty, sporting mother-of-pearl dials
- Its three colours include twilight blue, emerald green, and a frost white which almost doubles as rainbow.
- It’s a limited edition of 750 pieces in total, powered by the Seiko NH35.
It’s been a while since we’ve paid close attention to Spinnaker, but their Halloween collaboration with seconde/seconde/ jogged our memory thoroughly. They’ve been a huge player in the microbrand scene for years, although they may technically not be a microbrand considering they’re a part of the same parent company as AVI-8 and several other watch brands. All in all, the freedom they’re afforded with their own factory has led to some creative and affordable watches, and the new Spinnaker Hull Pearl Diver Automatic Limited Edition gives a fanciful twist on vintage inspiration.
Clearly, the focal point of this limited edition is the dials. Mother-of-pearl is definitely nothing new in watchmaking, however the intense vibrancy and colour variation in these sections are truly wild. The Twilight’s dark blue dial undulates in tonality, almost as if you’re looking up from below the water’s surface at dusk. The Emerald version is self-explanatory, moving between a dark forest and a light apple. For me though, the standout is the Frost. It seems like a white dial at a glance, but different angles reveal huge swathes of pink, green, and blue, tinting the texture which looks like the fluffiest cloudy sky you’ve ever seen. Accenting all of these colours are the gold-toned hands, crown, and bezel which sports a matching ceramic insert.
The case is cushion-shaped with rather harsh corners, although the overall silhouette is softened by the large, round, coin-edge bezel. Its brushed finish reflects a tool-watch attitude to contrast and highlight the extravagance of the colourful dials. The lugs are quite thick in a contemporary style, and are proportionate to the 42mm case diameter with a 50mm lug-to-lug length. The 14mm thickness too contributes to it being a large watch, but it’s quite refreshing to see something that’s a bit of a beast also displaying an objectively pretty dial. The case is also water resistant to 300 metres, which is always a plus at this price point. The bracelet is a simple three-link steel affair, though it does come with an inverted end-link to encourage wrist draping and help with the wide lug-to-lug.
Powering the Spinnaker Hull Pearl Diver is a Seiko NH35, a ubiquitous movement among budget brands for its affordability, reliability, and functions such as hacking seconds and a quick-adjust date display. The performance is also generally well-regarded, and if you’re not pleased with the timekeeping then they’re exceptionally easy to regulate at home with a basic watch tool set. It has a 41-hour power reserve and a beat rate of 21,600 vibrations per hour, which is perfectly fine for a daily wearer.
Spinnaker Hull Pearl Diver pricing and availability
The Spinnaker Hull Pearl Diver is a limited edition of 750 pieces, or 250 in each colour. Price: US$425
| Brand | Spinnaker |
| Model | Hull Pearl Diver Automatic Limited Edition |
| Reference Number | SP-5106-33 Emerald SP-5106-44 Twilight SP-5106-55 Frost |
| Case Dimensions | 42mm (W) x 14mm (T) x 50mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 300 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire with anti-reflective coating |
| Dial | Green, blue, or white mother of pearl |
| Lug Width | 22mm |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet, folding clasp |
| Movement | Seiko NH35, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 41 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date |
| Availability | Limited to 750 pieces, 250 in each colour |
| Price | US$425 |