Thanks to the heavens I was born in the early 1980s so that I could be an adult when the world of horology came back to its senses and started making smaller watches again. Watches that actually fit wrists in a way that looks natural and not like an anomaly. (Because yes, I feel that a 44mm watch on a 6.5”/17cm wrist looks odd. And it does so too on a 8” wrist!) So when I heard about the Beaucroft Seeker 37mm and indeed its 37mm diameter, I was quick to say “Yes please! Send one over.” As you know, I have a thing for appropriately-sized watches so the Seeker and I were meant to spend some time together.  

Given how many brands exist and the fact that I only have two eyes, two hands, and two ears, I didn’t know about Beaucroft before. (Sorry, fellas!) But there was something about the brand’s website and the Seeker—purposefulness in the presentation and freshness of design—that immediately drew me in. Having both executed well indicated—at least to me—that the brand is meticulous and thoughtful. As we will see, the Seeker 37mm is not only gorgeous but it’s also superbly made. Yes, I’m feeling quite excited about this watch and I have many reasons to be. So hold on to your whiskers and let’s take a closer look. 

Specifications 

The Seeker has dimensions that could almost make it appear too small. 37mm in diameter, 42.5mm lug-to-lug, 10mm thick, and a lug width of 18mm. But there are two things that make it command a strong—yet delicate—presence on the wrist: first, the design of the case which we will talk about later; second, the choice of materials and the outstanding finish and construction. Just so you know, the Seeker 37mm retails for $519 USD and you get a lot of bangs for your bucks besides its ideal (to me) dimensions. For example, a regulated Miyota 9039 caliber that beats at 28,800 BPH (4Hz) and has 42 hours of power reserve. The movement is regulated to run at +/- 10 seconds per day. 

Nice.

The case is made of 316L stainless steel and comes with an exquisite alternation of satin-brushed (almost sandblasted in appearance) and high-polished surfaces. This might sound odd but the case feels nice to the touch as I can clearly feel the difference between the two types of finishes. (Don’t roll your eyes at me for typing these words. It really feels special.) The small, conical crown also offers a different experience. As designing a crown in this way makes sense as the tip of my fingers can easily hold onto the crown angled sides to wind and pull it to set the time. The fact that the crown is small is no bother given the way it was designed. 

Furthermore, I will mention the flat piece of sapphire crystal adorning the dial, complete with anti-reflective coating. And we find a see-through case-back also made of sapphire which makes it possible to look at the Miyota movement. The 9039 is not the sexiest of calibers but the customized rotor (showcasing the brand’s logo) is delightful to the eye. And I particularly like how much space the movement occupies on the back, which goes to say that a large ring would have had to be used should the case had been larger. Just a thought. 

Design

Earlier I indicated that the design of the Seeker contributed to giving it a noticeable wrist presence. What on earth do I mean by that? Well, I’m gonna attempt to explain now. Firstly, the case was endowed with lines I’ve never encountered before and which makes the Seeker feel and look special. I personally love how small and narrow the lugs are compared to the case, and how the sides showcase a two-part silhouette. A high-polished section runs from one lug to the other, and meets the edges of the polished fixed bezel at the 3 and 9 positions. Then a satin-brushed portion protrudes out from the bottom of the case which is framed by the polished edges of the case-back. 

It’s a clever design that is well-executed here. 

Furthermore, the dial showcases an equal amount of visual novelty. Notably, what I would describe as being actual leaf hands (as opposed to hands that are generally described as such but which aren’t) that showcase a flawless construction and mirror-like polished surrounds. The needle seconds hand is also fully polished and completed by a short and circular counter-balance. The delicacy of the design coming from the hands is paired by short, baton-style hour markers that are recessed within the surelevated chapter ring. Indeed, on the latter we can see small black dots indicating the minutes which contrast oh no nicely with the polished markers and the mint color of the dial. 

Notice that the dial has a delicate matte, sandblasted texture echoing that found on the case flanks. While the chapter ring is endowed with a fine vertical brushing, Looking closely, we can see that small incisions were made on the chapter ring so that the hour markers could fit perfectly. Furthermore, the markers at the cardinal positions were highlighted with lume plots so that one can read the time in darker conditions without having to plaster all 12 hour markers with luminescent elements. The design of the dial is indeed novel and exquisitely executed. 

Have I said it was exquisite? Maybe so but not enough.   

The Heart of the Matter

At the heart of the matter is the fact that there is so much we don’t know about the micro/independent watch world, and that within its vast realm, horological gems such as Beaucroft exist. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, it’s not often that I find myself in awe of a watch made by a brand I didn’t know anything about before getting it in my hands. Not that my opinion alone should carry any weight here, but what surprised me with Beaucroft and the Seeker 37mm was how original and well-executed this model is. It’s as if the two co-founders of the brand, Matt and Karim, had been designing watches for many decades. It exudes a high level of maturity and experience that I typically only see coming from seasoned brand owners. 

This sentiment comes from two observations I made looking at the Seeker: first, the fact that the design is balanced as well as being novel and intricate. It is endowed with a level of thoughtfulness and intricacy that we generally only see coming from brands that have a long track record in the industry. This fact shows—at least to me—how thoughtful the pair was when designing the Seeker. And we can see an equal amount of thoughtfulness given to the brand’s entire catalog. Second, is the fact that the watch is superbly manufactured and finished. Yes, once again, I’m very enthusiastic but you’ve got to see the Seeker 37mm in person to understand where I’m coming from here. 

It isn’t everyday that I write about how a watch feels to the touch. And part of what makes the Seeker 37mm special is the tactile experience this model offers. From holding the watch and feeling its gentle heft, to the unique experience that emanates from operating the conical crown and its knurled angled sides—as well as pulling it to the hacking position which feels firm and precise. And running my fingers over the delicate sandblasted case flanks makes me pose to admire how well thought out this model is. Wearing it, I do seek to embark on a new type of adventure. 

Lastly, I would argue that $519 isn’t a lot to dish out for such a fine watch. As you’ve heard me say before, we can’t put a price tag on design. And the fact that Beaucroft managed to come up with such a thoughtful design and matched with good components and superlative finish, clearly shows how much passion was infused in this project. Remember, for $519 you not only get a novel design but also a premium Japanese caliber, a sandwiched sapphire construction, superior finish, as well as (and something I didn’t mention before) a decent 50 meters of water resistance. All of this constitutes, according to yours truly, a solid offering in today’s market. 

Conclusion 

Smaller everyday and elegant pieces are finally becoming more and more available for those of us watch enthusiasts who support and love micro and independent brands. Because we don’t need or want to wear a tool watch everyday, and that having options is a good thing in this context. The Beaucroft Seeker 37mm therefore is a welcome novelty and a great addition to the small but growing catalog of $500-ish elegant, daily wearers. And if you don’t fancy Mint as a dial color, know that the Seeker comes in four additional versions: Teal, Salmon, Mint Rose, and Monochrome (this one has a blacked-out case.) Each version, except for the latter, can be had with one of several leather straps and, as it is the case with the Mint, Teal, and Salmon dials, a mesh bracelet. 

If you want to know more about the Beaucroft Seeker 37mm, I recommend checking out the brand’s website here. This model is currently available for immediate purchase and shipping. 

Thanks for reading.