Sophie Furley
This timepiece took me a bit by surprise. At first glance, it looked like it was going to be a large-sized man’s watch that would look silly on my skinny wrist, but with its 39 mm size, it fitted like a glove. I took it swimming (it is water resistant to 200 metres) and it looked really good – elegant but tough and sporty at the same time. The version I tested was fitted with a soft black silicon strap, but it also comes with a brown suede strap for a more sophisticated look. The black dial is bold and easy to read thanks to its SuperLumiNova indexes and it comes in a James-Bond-style hard polycarbonate case, which was perfect for travelling to Greece.
Suzanne Wong
You can tell immediately that the Ralf Tech WRB Automatic “First Edition Black” is built for action. It has those large luminous indexes and hands, a tough steel case with robust lugs and an overall rugged design. The screw-down crown is positioned at 4 o’clock, allowing for maximum comfort on the wrist, while the fluted bezel is easy to grip and turn with bare or gloved fingers. I’ve never been one for rubber straps, preferring the texture and softness of quality leather, but the rubber strap on this watch is definitely superior to the suede option in terms of performance. It provides a close fit on the wrist (important for those of us built on a smaller scale than average) and ensures the watch stays securely on, no matter how active you are.
Jordy Bellido
You can see this is a diver's watch to take on the Mediterranean! At 39mm, the WRB Automatic “First Edition Black” knows exactly where it belongs; relatively small in size, it doesn't cause any discomfort when you're at the bottom of the sea, but it doesn't compromise legibility, one of the essential characteristics of deep-sea timepieces. Even if I didn't test its 200m water-resistance — my sensitive ears obliging me to refrain from exploring the depths, alas! — its vintage look was a real eye-catcher on the streets of Athens.
Marie de Pimodan
With their large diameter, thick case and prominent unidirectional rotating bezel, diver's watches are generally a little too imposing for my – although not-so-thin - wrist! Ralph Tech's WRB has it all. First and foremost, its diameter: 39mm, which plays the comfort card. Then, its neo-vintage diver's design, inspired by the great era of tool-watches. And, of course, its functionality. Easily readable underwater, even in the darkness of the abyss, thanks to its luminescent hands and indexes, it meets the demanding criteria of the ISO6425 standard defining diving watches. The result is a versatile watch, ideal for exploring the sea’s depths of up to 200 meters or, thanks to its reasonable proportions, on the deck of a boat. I chose the latter.
Allissa Pataki
The call of seagulls in the distance, the sound of crashing waves ringing in the ear, toes in the sand, the sweet breeze of the sea… Can you picture a more perfect summer scene? Naturally, for an underwater explorer like myself, that picture would not be complete without a pair of fins and mask to take a dip in the deep blue. And of course, a dive watch. Queue the self-winding 39 mm Ralf Tech WRB Limited Edition. Water-resistant to 200m: check. Excellent readability (SuperLumiNova indexes): check. Unidirectional bezel (certified ISO 6425): check. Cool vintage look (because, obviously): check. An evident choice.
