Hands-On With The Handsome Tusenö Windseeker V2

It seems that the genre of elegant, everyday sports watch will never cease to be popular. This type of timekeeping device could best be described as the perfect candidate for a “one-watch collection.” For some enthusiasts and collectors, it’s the one they can reach for every morning regardless of what’s on the schedule. A day at the office? No problem. A family hike on the weekend? You got it. A first showing of the latest Scorsese movie in Hollywood? You’re ready. In other words, it’s the kind of watch that strikes the perfect balance between functionality, everyday elegance, and robustness.

Today, we’re going to take a look at one such timepiece that, I believe, is within the financial reach of many watch aficionados. Indeed, the Tusenö Windseeker V2 ticks many of the boxes for a great GADA/one-watch-collection piece. It offers fine looks, enough good engineering to make it robust, and an attainable price of €649. It’s akin to a Formex Essence 39, an Omega Aqua Terra, or even Ryan Gosling’s TAG Heuer Carrera in The Gray Man but for less money. And I would argue that you get a lot of watch for your money here!

The “go anywhere, do anything” looks of the Tusenö Windseeker V2

As you very well know, looks are subjective. So take what follows with a dash of open-mindedness. First, we’re looking at the second-generation Windseeker, which comes in a total of five color options. Right now, blue, silver, and black are available for pre-order, with delivery estimated for the end of 2024. In addition to these, two more variants with orange and green dial variants will be available for pre-order at the end of the same year. I got my hands on the Windseeker Silver as I don’t often review silver dials. I find it to be the most versatile of all color options but perhaps the hardest to get right. At first glance, there is more than meets the eye, which makes it, according to me, so versatile. 

The hands and applied hour markers have this je ne sais quoi that makes them work in any situation. The hour and minute hands are long, thin, and equipped with pointed tips. The seconds hand is also long and thin and crowned with a small blue arrow-shaped and lumed element. All three hands are fully polished. Actually, I can tell you why the hour markers work so well. They are multifaceted to a degree I’ve rarely seen at this price point. Their upper and side sections are brushed, while their chamfers are polished. Unfortunately, I don’t have the photographic skills to demonstrate that to you perfectly (you need a loupe).

A closer look at the dial

Furthermore, the dial showcases an alternation of shapes and textures that make it more interesting to look at than, I would argue, a uniform dial would. The central portion has vertical, slightly curved CNC-machined lines. In my eyes, they evoke the shape of our blue planet. Moreover, this section of the dial is adorned with an elegant sunburst effect. Around the perimeter, we find the recessed minute track, which features a sand-like texture that contrasts nicely with the center dial pattern and the polished accents on the hands and markers. From what I can tell with my loupe, the black minute hash marks are raised, which makes them easy to see and adds a bit of depth. 

Wearing comfort to match

If your wrist is slightly smaller or a tad larger than mine (16.5cm/6.5”), you will enjoy wearing the Tusenö Windseeker. This model has rather versatile dimensions, measuring 39mm wide, 47mm from tip to tip, and 11.5mm thick (including the flat sapphire crystal) with a 20mm lug spacing. In other words, the Windseeker is large enough to be and feel solid but small enough to be comfortable. Comfort is further guaranteed by the watch’s thinness, the lugs that turn down, and a light yet robust bracelet. The Windseeker, therefore, sits confidently on the wrist, just like I imagine Gosling’s TAG Heuer Carrera would. 

While the case deserves a lot of praise for being superbly finished, I find the bracelet to be more interesting. It has a three-row construction, and each link has beveled and polished edges. The end links are of the female variety and offer quick-release pins. All the links are held together with screws as well. The butterfly clasp is handsomely designed and finished, and this second generation of the Windseeker comes with two half links to get the perfect fit. When I first handled this watch, I was impressed by the quality and lightness of the bracelet, which is why I felt I must talk about it. 

Good engineering to match the looks

Last, let’s talk about the specs of the Tusenö Windseeker V2. In my opinion, a GADA watch can only be so if it is made of the right stuff (for example, I firmly believe that a mass-produced plastic watch with a basic, cheap movement won’t last very long). The Windseeker, therefore, is powered by a Swiss-made Sellita SW200-1 caliber, which ticks at a 28,800vph (4Hz) frequency and has a 38-hour power reserve. It is a solid choice for such a watch. As we know, the crystal is sapphire, providing great scratch resistance. Furthermore, the Windseeker is water resistant to 100 meters and offers a screw-down crown and screw-in case back. The fully polished crown is particularly nice to operate as it is tall and thin. 

As mentioned earlier, the bracelet is of high quality and comfortable to wear. The wearer can also easily swap it out for a strap thanks to the quick-release spring bars. Moreover, even and generous layers of Super-LumiNova BGW9 adorn all three hands and applied hour markers. This means that you can discreetly check the time while sitting next to Scorsese during his latest premiere should you find the movie too long. All in all, I believe that the Tusenö Windseeker V2 strikes the perfect balance between looks and specs to be a great GADA watch.

Conclusion

When I look at the Windseeker V2, I think about the watches people used to wear half a century ago. That’s not because they look alike but because folks used to wear versatile timepieces. They may not have been as well made as a modern Rolex or Omega, but they were visually agile. And I rejoice in seeing big and microbrands continue to offer options for these types of watches. Lastly, I would argue that the Tusenö Windseeker V2 constitutes great value for the money given its €649 price. But these are just my thoughts. What do you think of this model? I look forward to reading your comments below.