Hands-On With The Colorful And Comfortable ADPT Series 1 Watches

When the people behind Worn & Wound started ADPT, they set out to produce 100% American-made nylon watch straps. Five years later, it has turned into an actual watch brand with the introduction of the ADPT Series 1. The company name — pronounced “adapt” — is an abbreviation for All Day, Purpose, and Terrain. It’s the spirit the brand wishes to channel with the utility of its products. And with the Series 1 models, ADPT has succeeded in creating a series of colorful watches that can be your colorful and affordable daily wearer in many different situations. Time to find out more about the ADPT Series 1.

When I first laid my eyes on the ADPT Series 1, the first thing that stood out was that they are colorful. Of the four versions that the brand makes, we had two in for review. The first features a cream-colored “Harvest” dial with a green and orange bezel. That was the one that instantly caught my eye. The second, slightly less colorful model features a gray “Carbon” dial with a black and blue bezel. But both watches stand out immediately thanks to their fresh and attractive mix of colors. Completing the series is a version featuring a “Petrol” blue dial with a blue and red bezel alongside a “Terra” orange-dial version with a turquoise and gold bezel.

The ADPT Series 1 is more than looks

All four of the watches immediately stand out in the crowd. They look playful and fun and come with the brand’s own 100% American-made single-pass straps. But there is a lot more to it than just their looks. If you look past the colors, you might recognize the BOLDR Supply Co. Venture field watch silhouette. And no, it’s not your imagination. The ADPT Series 1 was created in collaboration with BOLDR and based on the brand’s field watch.

But ADPT did more than just change the dial and bezel colors. Let’s start with some specs to get a feel for the watches. The watches feature a 38mm titanium case that is 13.5mm thick and 44mm from lug to lug. The lug spacing is 20mm, giving the straps plenty of presence compared to the overall case size. Each watch comes with a sapphire crystal and a screw-down case back and is water resistant to 200 meters.

A series of clever design elements

When it comes to the design, the case is characterized by its modest size, partly caused by the short, angular lugs. Another stand-out element is the screw-down crown at 4 o’clock. The crown is signed with the brand’s “A” logo, which is a nice detail. If we zoom in on the dial, you will see that a lot is going on. But upon closer inspection, you will see that everything falls into place neatly and purposefully.

It starts with the dials, which feature an etched “waffle” pattern as the base. Additionally, there is a 60-minute scale placed in an outer ring executed in a darker color. On the cream-colored version, it is a green ring with black print, and on the gray version, it is a black ring with contrasting blue print. As you can see, there is also a color-matched crosshair structure that flows nicely from the poles of the outer ring onto the dial.

The ADPT Series 1 features many details

The dial also features large, round, and luminous applied indices. The exception to that comes with the triangular markers at 3, 9, and 12 o’clock. At 6 o’clock, you will find the date window, the frame of which is neatly integrated into the crosshair structure, just like the triangular markers. The color of the date wheel and the printing match the color combination of the dial and hands perfectly. When I started changing the date, I quickly discovered a funny detail. The dates from the 20th through the 31st of the month are printed vertically for better readability. Besides the practicality factor, they add even more funkiness to these already funky watches.

But that’s not where it ends. The lume-filled hour and minute hands feature three colors on the cream-dial version and two on the gray-dial version. They add even more color to an already colorful presence, although they integrate perfectly into the design. The slim seconds hand on both watches features a contrasting red tip that stands out vividly against the respective dial colors.

The final touches

Rounding out the colorful design is the bezel. The cream-colored “Harvest” version features a green aluminum 12-hour bezel insert with an orange portion for the first three hours. Similarly, the gray “Carbon” version features a black aluminum bezel insert with a blue portion for the first three hours. Lastly, the “Harvest” version comes with a brown nylon strap, and the “Carbon” version comes with a blue nylon strap. As you can see, a lot is going on here, but I can tell you that once you put the watches on the wrist, they don’t seem over the top.

Even the brighter “Harvest” version is not overly loud. Sure, you would have to dress somewhat accordingly to make the colors work. And overall, these pieces are definitely not for people who like their watches on the more conservative side. But if you generally have a more casual and colorful wardrobe, these watches could be just right for you. Alternatively, if you are looking for a colorful summer watch, these will also do the trick quite well.

The reliable Seiko NH35A movement

Inside the titanium case of the ADPT Series 1 watches, you will find the Seiko NH35A automatic movement. It’s a no-frills caliber that we often see in more affordable watches. The movement operates at 21,600vph, has 24 jewels, and provides 41 hours of power reserve. Most of you will know that the NH35A movement is very reliable, though it does not always offer the greatest accuracy. That said, I have several watches in my collection powered by this movement, and they have always served me very well.

Additionally, the choice of a Seiko NH35A movement is also practical in case something goes wrong. The movements are affordable and easy to replace, so I understand why ADPT opted for this caliber. Especially considering the US$449 price of each watch, the NH35A is a perfectly logical choice.

Wearing the ADPT Series 1

As I like a colorful watch, I immediately gravitated towards the “Harvest” version with its cream dial and green and orange accents. The “Carbon” version in gray and blue is a bit more traditional in its approach, but for a fun watch like this, I prefer a bit of color. The first thing that stands out when putting the watch on your wrist is its restrained size. As I already mentioned, the 38mm case with its short lugs makes for a modest watch, but the case’s titanium construction also makes the watch very light.

Consequently, the ADPT Series 1 is very easy to wear, and sometimes I almost forgot that I even had a watch on (“almost” because the colors were always there to remind me). Overall, I enjoyed wearing both variants of the ADPT Series 1. They are fun timepieces that, depending on your style and wants, could either serve as a fun daily wearer or a perfect summer watch. For US$449, they offer a lot of fun and some great details. Add the reliable movement to the mix, and this is a pretty clever first release for ADPT.

For more information, you can visit the Worn & Wound page on the ADPT Series 1 or go straight to the Windup Watch Shop site to buy one.