Hands-On With The Vintage-Inspired Wren Diver One Snow

Some of you might already be familiar with Wren Watches. The New York-based passion project is the brainchild of Wrist Enthusiast founder Craig Karger. A lawyer by trade and watch enthusiast by heart, he started with a Wrist Enthusiast Instagram account that quickly amassed a loyal following. After expanding Wrist Enthusiast onto multiple platforms, the next step was a watch brand. Wren Watches started in 2023 as a creative outlet for Karger, using his experience in the world of watches as input for creating timepieces of his own. His first effort was the Wren Diver One, a vintage-inspired diver. After the inaugural Diver One Aqua sold out quickly, we had a chance to go hands-on with the follow-up Diver One Snow.

The philosophy behind Wren and its first effort is to create watches by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts. With the Diver One, Karger takes influences from divers of the past to create a watch with some nice vintage-inspired twists that will undoubtedly resonate with enthusiasts. But to complement the retro charm, the Diver One feels very much like a modern watch. The modern materials and the build quality reveal that while Diver One was made to reflect the attractiveness of vintage watches, it can also serve perfectly as a daily wearer.

The details of the Wren Diver One Snow

Let’s look at some basic specs to back up that claim. The watch features a 41mm stainless steel case with a 47mm lug-to-lug and a 13.3mm thickness, including the box-shaped crystal. The case also has a 200m depth rating and comes fitted with a 22/18mm stainless steel flat-link bracelet. Both the case and the bracelet are treated with a scratch-resistant PVD coating that retains the steel color. The combination of the case shape and bracelet gives off traditional skin-diver vibes, which I thoroughly enjoy.

But look a little closer, and you will find that the case has plenty of modern character too. The finishing is quite nice, featuring predominantly brushed surfaces with polished chamfers. In addition to the flat-link bracelet, buyers will get an FKM rubber strap in either blue or white. Both fit the dial design very well, so that is purely a personal preference. I found the blue strap the more appealing option because of its a nice, dark shade.

The blue and white fumé sandwich dial

Wren’s Diver One Snow features a fumé dial that starts white in the middle and slowly fades to dark blue at the perimeter. On top of that, it’s a sandwich dial, as you can see. The hour markers are cutouts, and underneath them is a second dial treated with white Super-LumiNova. All 12 of the hour markers light up bright blue in the dark. The white minute track is executed in white and connects the hour and minute markers nicely. On the upper half of the dial, we find the brand’s logo, while the lower half features the practical text about the movement and depth rating. The “SWISS MADE” text straddles the 6 o’clock marker and is rather large. I understand that it’s aligned with the minute markers for consistency. Nevertheless, I would have loved it to be a bit smaller.

The dial pairs nicely with the stainless steel bezel containing a dark blue sapphire insert. This insert’s vintage-inspired design gets a modern touch because the markers and numerals light up in the dark. It ensures that if you have a night dive planned, you can time it properly in the dark. However, as with almost all dive watches, I don’t expect most to see the water for some serious adventures. That doesn’t detract from the Diver One’s sympathetic looks or modern-day capabilities.

The trusted Sellita SW200-1 caliber

The same goes for the movement. Inside the case, Karger decided to go for the dateless version of the Sellita SW200-1. The automatic caliber operates at 28,800vph, has 26 jewels, and offers 38 hours of power reserve. This trusted caliber is a logical choice as it is easy to service and offers great reliability. The movement is hidden behind the all-steel case back, which features a large image of the wren that gives the brand its name.

While we’re on the back side, it’s worth mentioning that switching between the bracelet and straps is easy thanks to the quick-release spring bars. On top of that, the lugs feature slots that help you easily slide the spring bars in and push them down until they lock in place. This makes the swapping process extra easy. While I like the look of the watch on the bracelet, I mostly wore the watch on the blue rubber strap. It’s a funny conclusion because 99 out of 100 times, I’ll pick the bracelet. The Diver One Snow just looked so good on the blue rubber strap, though, that I couldn’t help but prefer it.

Wearing the Wren Diver One Snow

On top of that, it’s very comfortable on the rubber straps. They are sturdy yet nicely flexible to ensure they balance the watch nicely on the wrist. Each rubber strap features two keepers and a branded buckle in line with the overall design. Once on the wrist, the combination of classic elements, like the dial and the case shape, with the modern character of the rubber strap and the 41mm size creates a balanced design. If you prefer the flat-link bracelet, the watch has a distinctly retro presence.

The bracelet of Diver One Snow made me think of the Oris Divers Date and Divers Sixty-Five series. The flat-link design adds elements rooted in the 1950s and ’60s for some great vintage appeal. But despite its classic looks, it’s a modern and well-executed bracelet. It features screws that make it easy to size and a modern milled clasp. The quality of both is good, especially considering the watch’s sub-€1,000 price point. The clasp shuts with a firm click and is easy to open with its push-button release.

Final thoughts on the Wren Diver One Snow

Overall, Wren has released a very nice new version of the Diver One. Whereas the first model had a nice summery aqua-blue dial, this new version has a more wintery feel. Then again, with the rubber straps, it could easily be your perfect summer diver as well. It has a very well-balanced design that will appeal to fans of affordable dive watches.

The modern-day build quality adds the reassurance that watch enthusiasts are looking for today, making this a great pick for an affordable watch. The Wren Diver One Snow will be produced in a limited run of 100 pieces. I think the brand will have no problems selling those in a flash.

There is simply something very sympathetic about the watch that will attract fans. Sure, it’s not the most original diver out there, but most dive watches take inspiration from the genre’s rich history, and there is nothing wrong with that. If you are interested in this new Wren Diver One Snow, you can pre-order it now for US$965. Shipping of the watches will start in January 2025, so the wait won’t be very long.

As I mentioned, I think you’ll need to be quick if you want one. Knowing that the Diver One Aqua sold out quickly and having experienced the Diver One Snow up close, I can say that Wren has made a successful and tempting follow-up to the first Diver One. And with a limited production number and a following of loyal enthusiasts, the Diver One Snow will go fast. It’s a job well done by Wren!

What do you think of the new Wren Diver One Snow? Let me know in the comments below.