Not very happy with that hour hand. The design feature that’s typical for Breguet style hands – the circle with the second, smaller off-center negative circle at about two thirds of the length of the hand – looks differently in the hour hand. It looks right in the minute hand, but in the hour hand, it looks misproportioned and too flimsy to me.
Speaking of attention to detail: it’s a shame that so many small (and not so small) manufacturers think that they don’t need to have their logo and the typography of the box design etc. done by a professional designer.
Apart from that, nice take on the old marine watch theme.
These hands are closer to what is seen on the Baume and Mercier Flyback Chrono than a traditional Breguet handset which is generally thinner. Perhaps it is a weakness in my photography but the minute hand does not feel flimsy or out of proportion in person, quite the opposite actually.
Concerning your comment about the logo, Al informed me that the Archer logo was designed by Timothy John, a very successful Autrailia based creative artist and designer (http://www.greenhillgalleriesadelaide.com.au/show-artist.php?id=265). It is a simple and effective design that wont clutter a dial but is still recognizable and pays tribute to the brands Canadian roots.
Hey James. Thank you for this review of the Archer Sterling watch. I think you are right about this watch being quite outstanding, but personally, I find the stuff you write about him and his one man company very interesting. You put “meat on the skeleton”, so to speak. There are a hundred watches out there, but very few with a human face and hands behind them.
You seem to always pay attention to value.
You point out the twists and turns that make a watch work for the average guy.
Thank you for this great article. I have put my order in right away.
Wow, thanks so much. I’m glad you liked the review and appreciate your kind words.
The Archer package seems pretty unique and centred around transparency and value ads, I haven’t seen any other brand include a DVD like Archer one (that isn’t to say no one does, I just haven’t been witness to it). The Sterling is a great watch and one that I will genuinely miss now that it has gone back to Archer.
Congrats on your order and tweet/link a photo to @ Watchreport or on our Facebook.
A very excellent review, wonderful photography! It is just fantastic to see such a quality watch being made right here in Canada! By a wonderful guy, I might add, who does some wonderful posts on the watch forum that I frequent. This is really one of the best looking – and beautifully made – Marine style watches I have seen. I just love thelook of that Sterling dial. Sudually, for a watch of this type, I would prefer an ename dial, but in ths case the sterling apeals more. Having just pruchased two new watches, it might be a while, but I think there will be an Archer watch in my future. Cheers, Carl
Love the look of this classic style watch. Love the Breguet style hands although I think the hour hand is a little long in comparison to the minute hand. The crown is fantastic. Also I would have liked to see a slightly larger sub-seconds dial and a little higher up the dial. Unfortunately the logo is a little dissapointing, but an overall great looking watch for the price.
I really love your reviews, but the thing I’m interested in, is what kind of recording equipment are you using for recording such a great video reviews?
I really love your reviews, but the thing I’m interested in, is what kind of recording equipment are you using for recording such a great video reviews?
The caseback is drop dead gorgeous. Love the railway dials on both the main dial and the sub-dial. I still have an issue with the hands; I believe they are to long, the minute hand going past the minute markers. Would love to see Al’s next model with Roman numerals and a slightly smaller logo. I agree with you James that the flat 42mm caseback makes the watch very comfy on the wrist.
Also the circle on the minute hand looks kinda strange when the minute hand is over a numeral; such as in your photos showing it over the 2 O’Clock position. I don’t think the circle on the minute hand should stretch as far as to cover the numeral. Not a good look, but lots of credit to Al for providing a DVD showing the dissasembly and reassembling of each and every watch he builds. This does show and prove his true passion for horology and watchmaking. Overall a great watch for the price.
I already own two of Al’s hand-built watches and will be purchasing the Sterling in the new year. Al is an exceptional person to deal with and I have had 6 of my other watches repaired / serviced / refurbished (vintage work) via Al. His attention to detail, integrity and professionalism are excellent. And he is very reasonably priced, and backs his work without question.
Great review and fantastic pictures, James. First look on this watch and it reminds me so much of my grail IWC Portuguese FA Jones (limited to 3000 pieces). The dial design, use of blued Breguet hands and index markers, caseback showing a 6498 Swiss Unitas movement, and even the crown is a close match. And a fraction of the price of the IWC. The Archer logo on the dial could have been smaller though….. But overall, a fantastic piece given the time, effort and passion which the owner has invested on it’s production.
I love this watch, I plan to get one. First it was Japanese knives and performance flashlights, now I’m getting into watches. As a Canadian, I love the logo, A for Archer, A for Avro Arrow, A for Awesome!
Great review of a beautiful watch. I own two Archer timepieces – and Aero pilot-style watch and an elegant one-off dress piece with a vintage Hamilton cal. 917 pocket watch movement. Both are superbly finished and have run flawlessly for years. Al has not only a great deal of passion for watches but a great deal of skill as well.
Wow, the best thing to come out of Canada in years. I love the simple elegance of this watch. Sure the circles on the hands would look more astatically pleasing if they were more centered but what a fantastic watch. Also, very good review.
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AnalyticThunder
That caseback is drop dead gorgeous.
Pezie
Not very happy with that hour hand. The design feature that’s typical for Breguet style hands – the circle with the second, smaller off-center negative circle at about two thirds of the length of the hand – looks differently in the hour hand. It looks right in the minute hand, but in the hour hand, it looks misproportioned and too flimsy to me.
Speaking of attention to detail: it’s a shame that so many small (and not so small) manufacturers think that they don’t need to have their logo and the typography of the box design etc. done by a professional designer.
Apart from that, nice take on the old marine watch theme.
James Stacey
Thanks for your comment Pezie.
These hands are closer to what is seen on the Baume and Mercier Flyback Chrono than a traditional Breguet handset which is generally thinner. Perhaps it is a weakness in my photography but the minute hand does not feel flimsy or out of proportion in person, quite the opposite actually.
Concerning your comment about the logo, Al informed me that the Archer logo was designed by Timothy John, a very successful Autrailia based creative artist and designer (http://www.greenhillgalleriesadelaide.com.au/show-artist.php?id=265). It is a simple and effective design that wont clutter a dial but is still recognizable and pays tribute to the brands Canadian roots.
Thanks again,
James Stacey
Pauldamon
Hey James. Thank you for this review of the Archer Sterling watch. I think you are right
about this watch being quite outstanding, but personally, I find the stuff you write about
him and his one man company very interesting. You put “meat on the skeleton”, so to speak.
There are a hundred watches out there, but very few with a human face and hands behind them.
You seem to always pay attention to value.
You point out the twists and turns that make a watch work for the average guy.
Thank you for this great article. I have put my order in right away.
James Stacey
Wow, thanks so much. I’m glad you liked the review and appreciate your kind words.
The Archer package seems pretty unique and centred around transparency and value ads, I haven’t seen any other brand include a DVD like Archer one (that isn’t to say no one does, I just haven’t been witness to it). The Sterling is a great watch and one that I will genuinely miss now that it has gone back to Archer.
Congrats on your order and tweet/link a photo to @ Watchreport or on our Facebook.
Thanks again,
James
Carl
A very excellent review, wonderful photography! It is just fantastic to see such a quality watch being made right here in Canada! By a wonderful guy, I might add, who does some wonderful posts on the watch forum that I frequent.
This is really one of the best looking – and beautifully made – Marine style watches I have seen. I just love thelook of that Sterling dial. Sudually, for a watch of this type, I would prefer an ename dial, but in ths case the sterling apeals more. Having just pruchased two new watches, it might be a while, but I think there will be an Archer watch in my future.
Cheers,
Carl
MrTissot
Love the look of this classic style watch. Love the Breguet style hands although I think the hour hand is a little long in comparison to the minute hand. The crown is fantastic. Also I would have liked to see a slightly larger sub-seconds dial and a little higher up the dial. Unfortunately the logo is a little dissapointing, but an overall great looking watch for the price.
Vladan Stevanovic
Hi James,
I really love your reviews, but the thing I’m interested in, is what kind of recording equipment are you using for recording such a great video reviews?
Thanks and regards,
Vlada
Vladan Stevanovic
Hi James,
I really love your reviews, but the thing I’m interested in, is what kind of recording equipment are you using for recording such a great video reviews?
Thanks and regards,
Vlada
MrTissot
The caseback is drop dead gorgeous. Love the railway dials on both the main dial and the sub-dial. I still have an issue with the hands; I believe they are to long, the minute hand going past the minute markers. Would love to see Al’s next model with Roman numerals and a slightly smaller logo. I agree with you James that the flat 42mm caseback makes the watch very comfy on the wrist.
MrTissot
Also the circle on the minute hand looks kinda strange when the minute hand is over a numeral; such as in your photos showing it over the 2 O’Clock position. I don’t think the circle on the minute hand should stretch as far as to cover the numeral. Not a good look, but lots of credit to Al for providing a DVD showing the dissasembly and reassembling of each and every watch he builds. This does show and prove his true passion for horology and watchmaking. Overall a great watch for the price.
James A. DeBruin
I already own two of Al’s hand-built watches and will be purchasing the Sterling in the new year. Al is an exceptional person to deal with and I have had 6 of my other watches repaired / serviced / refurbished (vintage work) via Al. His attention to detail, integrity and professionalism are excellent. And he is very reasonably priced, and backs his work without question.
Another great watch, Al! Congrats.
James A. DeBruin
Ottawa, ON
Canada
Jun Cajayon
Great review and fantastic pictures, James. First look on this watch and it reminds me so much of my grail IWC Portuguese FA Jones (limited to 3000 pieces). The dial design, use of blued Breguet hands and index markers, caseback showing a 6498 Swiss Unitas movement, and even the crown is a close match. And a fraction of the price of the IWC. The Archer logo on the dial could have been smaller though….. But overall, a fantastic piece given the time, effort and passion which the owner has invested on it’s production.
Glarbblorb
I love this watch, I plan to get one. First it was Japanese knives and performance flashlights, now I’m getting into watches. As a Canadian, I love the logo, A for Archer, A for Avro Arrow, A for Awesome!
RogerP
Great review of a beautiful watch. I own two Archer timepieces – and Aero pilot-style watch and an elegant one-off dress piece with a vintage Hamilton cal. 917 pocket watch movement. Both are superbly finished and have run flawlessly for years. Al has not only a great deal of passion for watches but a great deal of skill as well.
bmb
Wow, the best thing to come out of Canada in years. I love the simple elegance of this watch. Sure the circles on the hands would look more astatically pleasing if they were more centered but what a fantastic watch. Also, very good review.