Introducing: The Horage DecaFlux
Before moving to London, I was forced to admire the Horage brand from afar. In the last year, though, I’ve seen several pieces in the metal at various events. They’re impressive and funky and compete against watches that are often boring. Plus, Horage focuses on innovative movements at fair prices. The new DecaFlux is an affordable watch with a new in-house caliber made to withstand our daily encounters with magnetic fields.
The last Horage model I reviewed was the Omnium K2, a modern take on a dress watch. With vibrant dial colors and faceted crystals, the various versions presented an alternative for those tired of the same formula. Today’s new DecaFlux also ushers in bright colors and presents a new movement, the K3. Incidentally, Horage is also announcing that the movement is for sale to other brands.
The Horage DecaFlux
The new DecaFlux is a 40mm by 46mm watch made of 316LMo stainless steel, a more corrosion-resistant alloy than 316L. The watch arrives with a three-row bracelet featuring a push-button clasp and a 10mm micro-adjustment range. Water resistance is rated to 100 meters, making this a good potential candidate for an all-arounder. For those who dislike bulky watches, the newest Horage has a 9.98mm profile.
A homage dial from Horage on the DecaFlux
Horage makes no bones about the inspiration for the DecaFlux. Indeed, the sparsely populated dial with rhodium-plated and Super-LumiNova-filled indexes reminds us of another watch. The color choices — Polished Black and Sunray Blue — and lightning-bolt seconds hand cement the ode to the discontinued Rolex Milgauss.
Each watch has a surprise in store, though. In a move that feels very on-brand for Horage, the Polished Black model has five layers of red antireflective coating on its sapphire crystal. The Sunray Blue version follows suit with a blue coating. This is a cool touch, but it’s more noticeable from the side and less domineering than the Rolex application.
The new K3 movement
Aside from the fact that the DecaFlux is a new model, the other news is the introduction of the K3 movement. We’ll have an in-depth article on the caliber shortly, so forgive me if I don’t go into the nitty-gritty. Silicon has been a game-changer for movement components because of its antimagnetic properties, low friction, high durability, and lower weight. Plus, it’s beneficial in daily life because of our constant interactions with magnetic-field-bearing electronic devices. The material also helps increase the time between services.
Unfortunately, silicon was also proprietary to several large watchmaking conglomerates. Now, though, with the expiration of these patents, Horage was able to develop an affordable new movement, the K3, with a silicon escapement (pallet fork and balance wheel) and mainspring. The DecaFlux is the first model to use the new caliber, but Horage is also offering it as an ébauche to other brands.
Regarding the specifications, the K3 has a frequency of 25,200vph and a 96-hour power reserve. The 25-jewel automatic caliber is also a certified chronometer with an accuracy of -4/+ 6 seconds per day. It has a decorated brass rotor and gray-coated bridges.
The overall appearance of the DecaFlux
From the provided renders, the DecaFlux in either color looks like a handsome watch. The case is nicely shaped with downward-sloping lugs. A mix of polished and brushed surfaces on the bezel and mid-case adds to the visual allure. The highly legible dial with bright luminous indexes and hands also works well. My only beef is with the lightning-bolt-shaped hand. Perhaps I’ll fall in love with it in person, but I wish it were slightly narrower, especially near the central pinion. Plus, I’m still undecided on the decision to so directly celebrate the Milgauss with this detail. Then again, I love the colored antireflective coating and find it fun and different from a smaller brand. So I’ll just have to see these in the metal!
Affordable and available
The DecaFlux will retail for CHF 2,500. This makes it the most affordable Horage model in the catalog by a healthy margin. Considering the new K3 movement, chronometer certification, and overall specs, I think the watch delivers on the technical front. Otherwise, it appears to have crowd-pleasing dimensions, and judging from what I know of Horage’s offerings, it should have good finishing. Horage’s bracelets are also nicely made and punch above their weight. The dial aesthetics will be the decision-making element for most. At this time, I’m not sure if I like the blue or the black more. Hopefully, I’ll see them soon to make a final decision. Let us know your thoughts on the new DecaFlux, the K3 movement, and the overall value proposition.
