For Pokémon fans who wants to be taken seriously when wearing a watch, your prayers have been answered. Around a month ago, Singapore watch brand, BOLDR Supply Company, launched a new limited collection of automatic watches featuring the first-generation starter Pokémon – Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle – and fan-favourite Pikachu!
Strangely though, apart from Pikachu, the watches are named after the fully-evolved Pokémon – Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise. This is especially so when the watch face of the respective watches has the starter Pokémon instead. Not complaining, I just thought it was weird.
- Price: S$599, get it at BOLDR website
- Movement: Seiko (SII) Caliber NH38A
- Water Resistance: 200m
- Case: 40mm 316 Stainless Steel
- Front: High dome ‘box’ sapphire crystal
- Case Back: Sapphire exhibition with custom artwork
- Strap: 316L stainless steel bracelet
- Weight: 160g
Anyway, the review unit is the Charizard (my favourite Pokémon) model. The watch comes with a case that is clearly inspired by the Pokeball with its red and white colour combination.
| PROS | CONS |
| Superb design | A tad heavy |
| Nice craftsmanship | |
| Accurate NH38A movement |
Like the rest of the series, this watch is a modded version of BOLDR’s refreshed edition of its Voyage series. It has 40mm 316L stainless steel case with an accompanying steel bracelet. The case itself is decked out in the colours of Charmander, over the dial face, indexes, as well as the hour, minute and second hands. I like that the second hand has a “fiery” end to it.
In addition, the orange watch face works superbly with the green bezel. I don’t know about you, but this colour combination is literally so “hot” that it will look really cool on your wrist.
Hidden from sight when wearing on your wrist though is the illustration of a Charizard on the custom sapphire exhibition caseback. It is a neat touch and makes you certainly want to take the watch off just to admire the Charizard “casting” a shadow on the NH38A automatic movement.
With NH38A’s power reserve of around 41 hours, this watch will certainly last you for a while as long as you are wearing it every day.
Not to mention, the watch’s stainless steel bracelet feels comfortable to the skin for whole-day wearing. However, the watch does carry some weight at 163g. By comparison, a MoonSwatch weighs only 32g.
Personally, I have no issues wearing this watch, as I am used to big chunky heavy watches. But for those who are used to wear plastic lightweight quartz watches, this watch might feel a tad heavy.
VERDICT: At S$599, the BOLDR Charizard watch is really affordable considering the Pokémon tie-up, its superb design, great craftsmanship and the Seiko (SII) Caliber NH38A movement.
Not to mention, this is a limited run that will only last till the end of next month. And they are only available in Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong. In other words, there might be some resale value in the future.
But if you are a Pokémon fan who wants a serious automatic watch, this BOLDR Charizard watch is certainly one to consider. If you prefer something even more understated or stealthy, the Pikachu watch might just your pick.