Why Boldr is the enthusiast brand that you should have on your radar

D.C. Hannay

Their name may not be as recognised as Rolex by the hoi polloi, but Singaporean microbrand Boldr Supply Co. has long been something of an insider’s secret among watch collectors. A winning combination of adventurous designs, fantastic build quality, and sought-after specs, all at “how do they do it?” prices, have made Boldr a favourite among the microbrand cognoscenti. Founder Leon Leong has built the brand through years of perseverance, with Boldr gaining fans through word of mouth among the watch community, slowly growing into the respected micro powerhouse it is today. They offer everything from modern field watches to serious divers (and even mechanical GMTs), so whatever you’re looking for in a timepiece, you’re likely to find  in the lineup. Here’s a closer look at some of the standouts you’ll find in Boldr’s ever-expanding catalogue.

Venture

First up is one of the brand’s standard-bearers, the Venture field watch. It has a unique look when compared to more conventional-looking field watches, with its angular lines and hooded-lug look. Other thoughtfully designed features include a 38mm titanium case that’s strong and lightweight, a full 200 metres of water resistance, and a clean, graphical look to the dial, with broad hands, crisp san-serif Arabic numerals, no date window, and a healthy dose of Japanese Superlume. Powered by the stalwart Seiko NH35A automatic, it’s available in four colours, including the too-clean Sand Storm, an attractive and legible mix of black and aged lume against a pure white dial. An attractive nylon fabric strap with titanium hardware is standard.

Venture Wayfarer

Next up is the Venture’s stylish cousin, the Venture Wayfarer, which adds some dashes of retro flavour to the original cocktail. While it keeps the titanium case, 200 metre rating, and screwdown crown of the Venture, the dial takes a different approach with its date at three and 24-hour subdial at nine. The pebble-grained texture really stands out, with raised embossed numerals, an elevated chapter ring, and plenty of lume. And with the unique dial layout, a necessarily different movement is in order, this one a reliable Miyota 8217 automatic with hacking seconds. Five dial options include the military-look Olive, with touches of tan on the chapter ring and date window surround, and the hi-vis white hands and markers are accented with a jolt of orange on the second hand’s tip. A colour-matched nylon strap with custom titanium buckles is included.

Safari GMT

For the seasoned traveller, it doesn’t get more useful than tracking a second time zone with a GMT, but that complication has historically priced many of us out of the market. Thankfully, a slew of new movements have made the GMT watch accessible to everyone, and Boldr’s take on this classic is a knockout. The Safari GMT Maasai Mara takes the traditional GMT look and turns it on its head, with a funky California dial and a colourway that, like a classic jazz album, is all blues (two-tone green and a Polar-inspired white are also on offer). The retro aluminium bezel insert divides day and night into shades of daylight and twilight, and the whole affair is fully lumed for those transcontinental red-eye flights. The aforementioned GMT movement is Seiko’s new NH34, which almost single-handedly democratised the category overnight. It’s visible through the sapphire caseback that also features animal artwork, keeping with the safari theme. A 40mm stainless-steel case keeps things right-sized for most of us, and I just love the little flare of the lugs at their tips. A matching 316L stainless bracelet with foldover safety clasp is included. And the Safari goes straight from the airport to the beach with its screwdown crown and 200 metres of water resistance, making it an ideal holiday companion.

Ranger

Perhaps Boldr’s most retro-leaning model, the Ranger has a look that recalls traditional field watches, with clean case lines and a no-nonsense matte bead-blasted finish. The 40mm case breaks with vintage models, however, by offering a robust 200 metres of water resistance and a screwdown crown. As far as dial choices, you can select the black Kopje or this one, the sand-coloured Upepo. Both feature the throwback California-style dial, with vintage Super LumiNova on the markers and swordlike hands. You’ll also get a sapphire crystal front and back, where you’ll be able to see the Seiko NH35A movement in action, and as on the Safari GMT, the caseback also gets one of four different animal artwork graphics. A matching NATO-style nylon strap is included.