It’s no surprise to see at least a little Seiko inspiration in the Avalon either, as Cullen and Wes are both keen watch heads and passionate fans of the Japanese brand. Mirroring the form of classic dive watches, like that from Doxa or Seiko, the cushion-shaped case features sharply cut bevels on its side, which comfortably follow the shape of your wrist and further exaggerate its svelte profile – the Avalon wears even thinner than its spec sheet would suggest. Sans date means there’s no “phantom” stop when pulling out the crown, and, more importantly, it’s also thinner, which in turn allows for the Avalon’s streamlined case profile.Īnd it’s that sleek profile that immediately stood out to me as I first took hold of the Avalon. It’s a great reliable choice for the Avalon and offers a 42-hour power reserve and a frequency of 28,800 bph. Inside is the Miyota 9039 movement, released last year and essentially a no-date version of the Miyota 9015.

It’s also rated to a “professional” 300 metres of water resistance and boasts an impressive (and healthy) amount of Super-LumiNova on its hour markers and hands, as well as on the markings of its matte ceramic bezel – which also happens to be available in stainless steel (without lume).

Available in several dial colours and starting at $625 USD, its case is CNC-machined out of a solid block of 316L stainless steel, measuring a goodly 43.5mm across with a lug-to-lug of 48mm and a thickness that measures 12.9mm from its caseback to the top of its double-domed sapphire crystal. To see what makes the Avalon so impressive, you only need to look at the specs and, for that matter, its price. With each new release continuing the same dive/tool watch trend that kickstarted the brand into existence, before culminating in what is their most impressive offering yet, the Nodus Avalon. Since then, the young up-and-coming microbrand has gone from strength to strength, building itself an enthusiastic cult following on the forums, and Instagram and the like, as well as releasing brand new models quicker than an elephant running downhill. The pair may be relative new recruits to the micro-watchmaking game, but Cullen Chen and Wesley Kwok have turned their passion for watches into their dream business, releasing their debut model, the Nodus Trieste, in 2017, taking its inspiration from ’60s dive watches. “Living the dream” is how I’d best describe the two co-founders of microbrand watch company Nodus. The first batch of Coral Yellow and Trench Black watches already sold out until mid-April - a testament that the Avalon II may even surpass the Avalon in popularity.I/trending 16495 HANDS-ON: The Nodus Avalon – it may be green but this Nodus is ripe for the picking Cameron Wong

The Avalon II is available with a Seaspray White, Pelagic Blue, Trench Black, or Coral Yellow dial. The ball-bearing loaded bezel provides the most precise clicks. The Viton gaskets make this sleek and thin watch resistant to chemicals and heat in addition to water. The design is reminiscent of mid-century dive watches, but the durability and utility scream 2022. The Nodus Avalon II is the sequel to the original Avalon, which put the small, Los Angeles-based watchmaker on the map. The 9015 is well-known as a reliable, and affordable caliber and Nodus has also regulated each watch to be accurate to +/- 8 secs/day. The watch is powered by the Japanese Miyota 9015 automatic movement. The dial has a tapisserie waffle pattern that lends the watch face subtle depth and texture while still maintaining a refined look. In spite of its size, the watch is still very wearable thanks to a compact 48mm lug-to-lug and being a slim 12.5mm tall. The watch has a fully CNC’d steel cushion case that measures 43.5mm in diameter. For the highest legibility the watch’s hands, markers, and bezel insert are packed with luminous T-C1 X1 Grade Super-LumiNova. The Avalon II offers up to 300 meters of water resistance, which means users never have to take the Nodus Avalon II off - unless they want to. The Nodus Avalon II is a dive watch made to thrive underwater. They can dive into the depths of the sea, but many times, they are chosen simply for their attractive look and collector value. Dive watches are known for their durability, classic style, and versatility.

Nodus avalon