Hands-On: The Five In A Row × BOLDR Venture Field Watch
BOLDR is a brand known for its unique designs and adventure-ready watches. Following that theme, the brand teamed up with the Five In A Row rowing crew to create a special-edition Venture. Originally released in December 2021, the Five In A Row × BOLDR Venture was made for the Scottish rowing team, which took part in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge (TWAC). Departing from La Gomera in the Canary Islands and rowing all the way to Antigua, the team traversed 3000 miles of open ocean, taken on in two-hour shifts, 24 hours per day, non-stop for 36 days, 3 hours, and 33 minutes. But this watch also benefits the Reverse Rett organization, a UK-based charity supporting those suffering from Rett syndrome. It’s a cause especially dear to one of the Five In A Row crew members, whose daughter lives with the debilitating disease.
As a collaboration with Five In A Row, this Venture is specially designed to help rowers in several unique ways. This includes a fully lumed dial and bezel for nocturnal timekeeping. The bezel itself features a specially designed tide-tracking scale, which also helps the rowers keep track of their two-hour shifts. With the same familiar case shape as the BOLDR × Nitecore Kraken that I reviewed recently, this 38mm titanium watch is an ideal companion for all adventures. Whether you’re crossing the Atlantic, going on a night-time hike, or even cave exploring, it won’t let you down. A generous 15% of all proceeds raised from sales of this special-edition Venture will be donated to Reverse Rett in support of victims of Rett syndrome. So in purchasing this watch, not only will you get one of the best titanium field watches out there today, but you’ll also be supporting a good cause.
The Five In A Row × BOLDR Venture Field Watch
Before I tell you more about this special edition of the BOLDR Venture field watch, let me give you its price. This watch is currently available on the BOLDR site for $399 (plus tax). I don’t know of any other brand that offers a titanium field watch for this price. Sure, inside is a humble NH35A movement. But looking at the level of detail and refinement here, it’s almost hard to believe how affordable this watch is. From the case’s many bead-blasted facets, drilled lugs, and perfect proportions to the beautifully knurled 10-o’clock crown embossed with the BOLDR logo and decorated with an orange ring. This orange ring matches the big sword-shaped hour hand as well as the tip of the seconds hand, whose counterpoise is shaped like the brand’s stylized “B” logo.
The dial is decorated with both the BOLDR and Five In A Row logos at 12 and 6 o’clock respectively. A subtle two-tone 12-hour bezel (black and dark gray) helps the wearer keep track of a second timezone and the rowers to keep track of the tides and their two-hour rowing shifts. This BOLDR Venture will feel right at home out in the water, as its screw-down crown and case back provide 200m of water resistance. A thick AR-coated sapphire crystal keeps the watch perfectly legible in broad daylight. And the awesome fully lumed dial, in turn, ensures great legibility on the darkest of nights.
The watch comes on an extremely comfortable NATO strap with matching bead-blasted hardware. It’s the perfect way to fasten an adventure watch to one’s wrist. The watch is light, tough, legible, and perfectly sized. Not only that, for the price, you’ll struggle to find another watch out there offering as much value.
Final thoughts
My week with the Five In A Row × BOLDR Venture flew by. In the end, I was sad to see it go back to BOLDR after our time together was over. But there is good news! Both this model and its all-black counterpart, the Five In A Row II, are still available. So if you want one of the best titanium field watches on the market, do consider the Venture from BOLDR. And if you want to support a worthy cause too, then perhaps this special edition is the one for you. I can honestly say the watch really impressed me, and I hope to someday have a Venture to call my own. The only issue? BOLDR spoils us for choice!
Please let me know your thoughts on the Five In A Row × BOLDR Venture field watch in the comments below. For more information on this watch, as well as the full range from the brand, please visit the BOLDR website.
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