Vario flips the script with two festive limited edition Versa models
Tom AustinThe microbrand scene is maturing, and with it, we’re beginning to see brands mature, too. Amazingly, 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of Singapore-based brand Vario, and they’ve chosen to celebrate it in style. The Vario Versa is the brand’s two-sided take on the coveted dual time complication, which is used by some of the world’s most sought-after watches, offering bags of character and style, but at a much more down-to-earth price point than the rest.
This new limited-edition Versa release continues that recipe and not only celebrates Vario’s 10th anniversary but has also been released just in time to commemorate the Lunar New Year of the Horse, along with Ramadan/Eid. There are two watches and four dials, utilising that flippable design to create a different look for any occasion.
The case
Watches like this first appeared in the 1930s, and they vary in complexity, with the likes of Cartier and Jaeger-LeCoultre opting for swivelling designs, or sliding and flipping mechanisms. The Vario keeps things simple, though, which is part of its charm. It features a relatively typical rectangular stainless steel case, sat inside a polished stainless steel frame, which allows the case to rotate inside, clicking into place on whichever side you prefer to wear that day. It’s a typical Art Deco design, following form over function, but it is still sensible with it in terms of functionality.
At 39mm long, 26mm wide and 12mm thick, it’s a perfectly wearable dress watch, and the crown is neatly tucked away inside the edge of the case, which helps to keep the proportions slender. Water resistance is minimal at 50 meters, which is understandable given the construction, and it’s unlikely you’ll want to take the Versa swimming anyway. One aspect of this design means you have to take the watch off your wrist to change the face (unlike, say, a Reverso or a Tank Basculante), but that’s not a huge compromise, really.
The dials
As I mentioned before, this release is not just an anniversary watch. Vario has opted to take the opportunity to commemorate both Ramadan/Eid and the Lunar New Year with two special dials on each watch. On the first watch, there’s a red enamel dial with gold flecks and a golden calligraphy symbol in the style of Wang Xi Zhi from the Jin dynasty, representing the Lunar Year of the Horse for 2026. The rest of the dial is clean and straightforward, with a neat white minute track, subtly interrupted by four golden hour markers.
The second piece features a green enamel dial, with eastern Arabic numerals at 3, 6, 9 and 12, along with a clean white minute track and matching hands. It’s a simple, clean dial, and it chooses a colour that represents the cultural connection well, just as the red dial does.
Flipping the watches over to the other side, you’ll find that the red dialled watch is paired with a silver alternate dial, with black printing and classic blued hands. The alternate dial on the green dialled watch is in the same style, but features a gunmetal finish, paired with light silver-coloured printing and hands. Both watches offer distinctly different looks, all while remaining classy and dress-watch worthy. There are splashes of colour when you want it, then a more subdued, monochromatic look for when you want things to be more understated.
The straps
Each Versa arrives with a dial-matching strap, finished in vegetable-tanned Italian leather. To keep things comfortable, they taper from 20mm to 16mm and are safely closed with a deployant clasp, rather than a pin buckle. It’s unusual to see a watch of this style utilise a deployant clasp, but it also features buckle-style holes for adjustment and manages to hold onto some classical aesthetics.
There’s also a full stainless steel bracelet available for the Versa featuring a seamless slatted design, which again is highly unusual for a watch like this, and gives it an almost sporty appearance.
The movement(s)
Well, there’s always room for watches like the Versa to have some form of complication. Seeing that there are two dials on the watch, it needs two different ways to power them, and Vario has opted to fit not one, but two Ronda Slimtech 1062 quartz movements inside. It’s not the first time we’ve seen two Swiss Ronda quartz movements in one watch this year, but it’s a trend I can get behind, as it allows for a fully functioning dual time complication, for a fraction of the cost of anything mechanical.
Better still, the Slimtech 1062 is fully repairable and has a 6-year battery life. Of course, each movement has a crown, but due to the way the movements have been sandwiched together, the crowns both appear at 12 o’clock, no matter which side you have on show. This makes the design look traditional and cohesive, rather than having two unusual crowns on show.
Vario Versa Year of the Horse and Eastern Arabic pricing and availability
The Vario Versa Year of the Horse and Versa Eastern Arabic are limited editions of 100 pieces each, and are available now directly from Vario. Price: A$654
| Brand | Vario |
| Model | Versa Year of the Horse Versa Eastern Arabic |
| Case Dimensions | 39mm (L) x 26mm (W) x 12mm (T) |
| Case Material | 316L stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 50 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Red enamel/silver Green enamel/gunmetal |
| Lug Width | 20mm |
| Strap | Vegetable-tanned Italian leather Optional stainless steel bracelet |
| Movement | 2 x Ronda Slimtech 1062, quartz |
| Battery Life | 6 years |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, dual time |
| Availability | Limited to 100 pieces each, launching Jan 2026 |
| Price | A$654 |
Made in partnership with Vario. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.