The SevenFriday V series replica is a solid watch by an enthusiast’s brand that has introduced one innovation that’s a clear success (the Fast Strap Change) and has safely dipped its feet in another (obviously, the NFC).
SEVENFRIDAY V Series watch price Two models are initially launched. Both with a stainless steel case with sunray brushed top bezel, but one with a white and blue dial, and another with a black and bronze dial. SEVENFRIDAY V1 on the left and the V2 on the right.
In the course of five short years, SevenFriday has created a seemingly unique reputation in the world of wristwatches. The P- Series (reviewed here) and M-Series (reviewed here) were seminal lines that, for lack of a better phrase, disrupted conventional thinking about “haute horology” and its reputation for exclusivity. The new SevenFriday V-Series clearly isn’t up there with the finest in watchmaking in terms of quality and execution, but the brand seems absolutely committed to taking the “funky mechanics” part of that and tuning it down to a more accessible price point. This could (and does) result in a form-following-function decision due to the inclusion of the new “Fast Strap Change” (FSC) system which brought on the addition of two protrusions on the left side of the case. While we’re on acronyms, it’s also got a Near Field Communication (NFC) chip that can be used to check the authenticity of the watch.
There’s a lot to talk about with the SevenFriday V Series watch replica , and I’m going to focus on the experience of wearing it, as much of the on-paper aspects of this watch were covered by Rob Nudds in his SevenFriday V-Series release article here. So, first things first: what time is it? The first few moments I spent with the watch had me asking that question, followed by a dejected glance at my iPhone. You’ve got the standard minute hand, but SevenFriday has concocted a creative way of figuring out what hour it is. And it involves some basic math. Essentially, you’ve got a central dial marked +0, +4, and +8, and in place of the traditional 11 o’clock to 3 o’clock positions, there is a scale marked 0-4 with markers for 15-minute increments with a labeled 30-minute increment for each hour.
It’s a somewhat uncomfortable feeling at first, but it’s also not that often that I’m forced to be so engaged with a timepiece that I actually have to do some work to understand it. The Copy SevenFriday V Series doesn’t suffer passive wearers, and that’s a pretty risky move; It’s not for everyone, but that’s also part of the appeal. This thing is a serious conversation piece, and quizzical looks by friends and strangers alike are a common occurrence.
Getting back to the dial, there’s still more going on. Just above 9 o’clock, you’ve got a night/day indicator, and a seconds dial at 5 o’clock marked with 0, +20, and +40 culminating in the full minute rotation. You even get a look inside the engine at 7 o’clock with a tease of the Miyota movement (a bit more on that later), showing a little bit of the balance and escapement – a very cool touch.
We tried out the V1/01 which has a sleek white and blue dial. The other option is the V2/01 which has a more industrial-era-themed black and gold color scheme. So, we’ve got one that looks contemporary and sleek while the other pays homage to an industrial past. Same watch, two distinct yet complimentary visions. Keep this dichotomy in mind.
It’s important to note that this watch is big, measuring in at a width of 49.7mm. Oddly enough, it doesn’t look or feel too big for its own good. I’d go so far to say that, having worn it for several days now, when the size is taken into account with the “personality” of the watch, you’ve got the Goldilocks effect of it feeling just right. (Don’t Google “Goldilocks Effect” because it turns out that it’s a real thing that’s slightly more complicated than my rudimentary application of the phrase to this review). Now, I’m over 6’1”, wear a size 12 shoe, and my wrist measures at just around 7.5 inches – to avoid confusion, you’re looking at Ariel’s images in this post and hence the watch is pictured on his wrist that is about 6.75″.
That being said, when I first heard about the specs of the SevenFriday V-Series, I was convinced it would drive me nuts and feel like a Cadillac Escalade hubcap strapped to my wrist. However, while I’m not going to profess my love for big watches, SevenFriday really makes it work by simply making the case rectangular in the sense that yes, it is very wide at 49.7mm, but at the same it’s a mere 44.3 millimeters lug-to-lug. To give you an idea, a 42mm wide, round cased, classical watch is 49-50 millimeters tall, so the V-Series actually does not extend as close to the edges of the wrist, while it still manages to look substantial thanks to its width.