I think sometimes it takes an outside eye to really push a brand to where it needs to be. There are brands that seem meander along, not failing or excelling, just doing their thing. I think Weiss Watch Company is one such brand. A champion of American-made watches — to the extent that one guy can do that without charging $85,000 — Weiss has long offered a staid collection of field and dive watches that keep things simple while offering excellent quality, with many of the watches’ components made in house or with American manufacturers. The brand’s idea of adventure so far, though, has been some bright dials and a DLC watch. New York fashion house Todd Snyder, on the other hand, has had plenty of fun with its designs, including a smorgasbord of watches designed with Timex. While not as wild as some of those offerings, the Weiss Watch Company x Todd Snyder Field Watch is a breath of fresh air from Weiss.

Weiss watches have always been about designs that last, and like it or not, designs that last aren’t usually very exciting. Exciting, edgy designs are ephemeral reflections of market trends at any given point. Long-lasting design is basic and has mass appeal; think of the Patek Philippe Calatrava or almost any Rolex. While the Weiss Watch Company x Todd Snyder Field Watch is neither a Rolex nor a Patek, it does have a case that embodies a certain timelessness. Made from stainless steel and sized at 38mm with a 46.2mm lug-to-lug, the watch is just 9mm thick; the dimensions are sure to sit well on most wrists. The finishing is kept to the basics: the main case is completely brushed, while the black DLC version has a matte bezel and the steel version has a polished bezel. The watches are rated to 100m water resistance and will come on 20mm handmade leather straps that coordinate with the dials.

Two dials are offered: Olive and Tan. (In keeping with the brand’s straightforward approach, there’s no effort to even embellish the color names as, say, “American Dirt” and “Vintage Military.”) Personally, I think these are Weiss’ best dials yet, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the fact they come out of a collaboration. As with all its watches, the layout is simple and reflects the movement used. Massive sword-style hands are coordinated to other elements on the dial: the dial itself for the Olive, and the Arabic numerals for the Tan. Both dials are accented with orange minutes and seconds tracks (and orange seconds hands), which gives them a great outdoorsy pop. The logo is the only dial text you’ll see, and I think the pair has done an excellent job blending the two logos into something that is cohesive and complementary. The brand is also happy to let you know that the dials are all hand-painted.

 

I mentioned above that Weiss has been the vanguard for American watchmaking (along with a few others). Weiss Watch Company and its owner, Cameron Weiss, finish and assemble all the movements in-house. The movement is branded as a Caliber 1005 but is based on the ETA/Peseux 7001. That means a hand-wound movement with a 42-hour power reserve at 21,600 vph. It’s unclear what if any components are actually made by Weiss, though I know he has the ability and has, in the past, made bridges and plates. That said, everything is finished and assembled in-house, which is no small feat. The caseback features engraving, also done in-house, showing the collaboration and individual numbering of 30.

Weiss Watch Company hasn’t had this much fun in a while (if ever), and it seems that a collaborator like Todd Snyder is exactly what the brand needed to give it a bit of oomph. Fans of either or both brands should delight in this collaboration, as it brings a higher-level timepiece to the Todd Snyder catalog and adds some flair to Weiss’ portfolio. The Weiss Watch Company x Todd Snyder Field Watch is priced at $2,200 USD and is limited to 30 pieces in each color; the watches will be available exclusively through Todd Snyder’s website and select Todd Snyder boutiques. For more information, please visit the Todd Snyder website.