While enthusiasts are infatuated with the concept of purpose-built timepieces specifically created for various activities and environments, there is also something to be said for watches that are simply intended to be a person’s go-anywhere everyday timekeeping companion. Aesthetics can range from dressy to sporty, and while these types of watches are rarely the most technologically complex or aesthetically adventurous, they excel at effortlessly integrating into a wide variety of lifestyles. Among the standouts in this highly versatile category of timepieces is the J&Berg B2. This inaugural model for the Finland-based brand is crafted from grade 5 titanium, with a price point that comes in significantly below the thousand-dollar mark.

We first covered the J&Berg B2 in a sponsored post earlier this year, and based on its specifications alone, the model appeared to be an incredibly compelling value proposition. While its clean Scandinavian design is the detail that first caught my eye, I became increasingly impressed by J&Berg’s debut offering as I learned more about its materials and construction. Although the J&Berg B2 is assembled in Hong Kong, it uses a Japanese automatic movement, and both the design and final quality control are carried out in J&Berg’s home city of Oulu, Finland. However, when we first covered the B2, the model was still in the initial pre-order phase. While everything about the watch seemed incredibly promising, execution is crucial when it comes to producing a successful timepiece. As such, I was interested to get my hands on the J&Berg B2 to see if the final product would live up to my fairly high expectations.

Between its purposeful design and industrial style of finishing, the J&Berg B2 exists firmly on the utilitarian side of the aesthetic spectrum. However, while its overall appearance may be a far cry from the timeless elegance provided by something like a traditional dress watch, the B2 features clean lines and carefully considered proportions which ultimately afford the model a surprising degree of aesthetic versatility. Realistically speaking, the J&Berg B2 probably isn’t going to be a person’s first choice when it comes to black-tie events or decidedly formal settings. However, the watch would hardly look out of place if worn in most business environments, and it also offers more than enough durability to contend with weekend camping trips or a day of splashing around at the beach.

When I first learned about the J&Berg B2, the single detail that stood out most was that the model uses grade 5 titanium for its case components, rather than the more common grade 2 variety that is most frequently featured on affordable titanium watches. Grade 5 titanium is stronger than its grade 2 counterpart, although it is also more expensive, both from a raw-material cost and manufacturing perspective. Unlike grade 2 titanium, grade 5 titanium can be high-polished for a more refined appearance, although the J&Berg B2 features entirely sandblasted surfaces to further lean into its fundamentally purposeful and understated aesthetic. While you may not get the luxurious appearance of polished grade 5 titanium, the B2 still benefits from its superior durability, and I struggle to think of more than a handful of watches that feature this premium variety of titanium at an entry-level price point.

The sandblasted grade 5 titanium case of the J&Berg B2 measures a versatile 38.5mm in diameter by 10.4mm thick, with lugs that are set 20mm apart and extend to create an overall lug-to-lug profile of 45.2mm. Fitted within the smooth fixed bezel is a flat sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on its interior surface, while the reverse side of the B2 receives a solid screw-down titanium caseback that features a matte sandblasted finish to match the rest of the case. At the 3 o’clock location is a 6mm titanium crown that is signed with J&Berg’s stylized ampersand logo. Just as you would hope from a go-anywhere, do-anything watch, the crown screws down to the middle case to help create a solid 100 meters of water resistance. Additionally, for those curious about weight, the J&Berg B2 comes in at 42 grams for just the watch itself, or 53 grams if you also factor in its included strap.

At the time of writing, the J&Berg B2 is available in three different colorways, with the sole difference between the models being the color that appears within the central section of the dial. Alongside turquoise and copper dials is the dark brown version featured here. This arguably offers the most formal appearance among the trio, with a deep chocolate brown color that reveals lighter shades as its circular brushing catches the light. Regardless of colorway, all of the J&Berg B2 dials feature the same fundamental design and layout with a sandwich-style construction formed by a black ring-shaped upper layer with cutouts for the luminous hour markers. The colored section is part of the base layer, and it sits recessed in the center of the dial, while the cut-outs in the upper ring reveal the luminous material that is applied to the base layer below.

All three colorways of the J&Berg B2 are fitted with the same handset, which consists of a thin needle-shaped seconds hand paired with wide pointed batons for the hour and minute hands. The B2’s handset features matte black central sections that complement the black-finished upper ring that surrounds the periphery of the dial, and the tips of the hands are finished white and filled with Super-LumiNova to create a strong visual contrast. In terms of proportions, the J&Berg B2 also delivers a very well-considered package, with the hour hand existing within the recessed central section, the tip of the minute hands reaching its corresponding markers, and the seconds hand extending all the way to perfectly align with the outermost ring that forms the perimeter of the minute track. Additionally, the luminous material applied to all the hands and hour markers is Super-LumiNova BGW9, which means that the B2 offers a bright blue-glowing display in the dark.

Fitted to the lugs of the J&Berg B2 is a two-piece strap that is constructed from gray canvas with a soft leather lining. Tapering from 20mm at the case down to 18mm on the underside of the wrist, the B2’s strap offers an inherently casual yet versatile appearance that complements the pared-back utilitarian aesthetic of the watch. Additionally, the canvas material appears in a medium shade of gray with a slight greenish tint that creates a gentle contrast against the lighter matte gray hue of the titanium case. While all of the case components on the J&Berg B2 are crafted from grade 5 titanium, the brand uses the more common variety of grade 2 titanium for its buckle. Fitted to the opposite ends of the B2’s canvas strap is a thick tang-style buckle with a matte sandblasted finish that is engraved with J&Berg’s stylized ampersand logo.

Powering the J&Berg B2 is the Miyota 9039, which is the time-only version of the Japanese manufacturer’s popular Cal. 9xxx series of automatic movements. Just like its date-displaying counterpart, the Miyota Cal. 9039 runs at a frequency of 28,800vph (4 Hz) with a power reserve of 42 hours. Because it lacks a calendar complication though, the J&Berg B2 operates as a proper time-only watch, without the functionally-innocuous yet irksome “ghost position” that can frequently be found on affordable no-date timepieces with off-the-shelf internal movements. Given that J&Berg is a European company based in Finland, I could easily understand a desire to opt for an entry-level Swiss caliber; however, I am personally glad that the brand decided to use the Miyota 9039 inside the B2, as it offers similar real-world performance, while also allowing J&Berg to sell its inaugural model for a more affordable price.

In terms of minor nitpicks, the Miyota Cal. 9xxx series features a unidirectional-winding rotor that spins freely in the opposite direction, and this means that its motion is noticeably louder than what you get from a movement that winds itself bidirectionally. Due to the J&Berg B2’s minimalist titanium case, the rotor’s motion is more audible than what you would experience from a chunky stainless steel dive watch that uses this same internal caliber. Beyond having a slightly noisy movement, drilled lug holes (or a strap with integrated springbars) would have been a welcome addition that would have facilitated the ability for users to swap out straps. A domed crystal would also have likely offered a bit more visual intrigue, although it would have inevitably resulted in a taller case profile, while also adding to the cost of the watch.

The bloom of microbrands that have emerged throughout the last couple of decades has created a highly competitive space within the affordable segment of the market, and I frequently say that many of these small-scale independent brands offer some of the most bang for your buck within the entire watch industry. Given its choice in movement and grade 5 titanium construction, I was fully anticipating the J&Berg B2 to cost somewhere just below the thousand-dollar mark, but with an official retail price of $529 USD, the model is quite a bit less expensive than my initial expectations. All things considered, I struggle to think of any major oversights when it comes to the J&Berg B2’s general design and construction, and while it is hardly an example of haute horology, the B2 was never intended to be a luxury timepiece, and it instead represents an incredibly well-considered overall package that is designed for everyday life. For more information on the J&Berg B2 watch, please visit the brand’s website.