The color palette carries over to the uni-directional rotating bezel as well, regardless of which case finish you opt for; it clicks around pretty solidly, but I did notice a little up-down play in the spring. Not a major issue, just something to be aware of if you feel you are going to be using the watch in particularly dusty areas. One very pleasant surprise was to be found with the bezel, however.
Looking at it, I was of the mind that it was a simple black bezel with the numerals filled in (probably via spray-and-wipe) for a bit of contrast. Surprisingly enough, they’re actually lume-filled. This is not quite so common on these simpler steel bezels, and does of course make it a bit easier to use the bezel for timing at night. The one wrinkle is that this lume, plus that on the dial itself, makes the lume strip on the handset seem a bit under-performant; perhaps the next iteration can address that (fully-lumed hands, perhaps)?
Wearing the watches went just about as well as you could expect. The 44mm case is right on the upper edge of my personal sweet spot, with the 20mm strap keeping visual bulk down (as well as making things pretty comfortable). Strap-wise, the leather one was immediately the most flexible, and conformed to the wrist nicely. The Cordura strap is visually great, but it is a bit on the stiffer side. Once it is broken in and curved to your wrist, however, I am guessing that it will be a strap that will be around for the long haul.
The Astor+Banks Chrono watches worked well at the office and around the house, and I found it quite easy to read the time (and date) at a glance, which is what you ask for from a watch. The chrono registers might be a bit on the small side for some eyes, but I think Perez has gotten things as legible as they could be without making the dial (and case) gargantuan.
In the end, the Astor+Banks Chrono is a fun watch, and one I am glad I got to spend some time with. It certainly does not hurt that they are built locally, with material sourcing moving more and more locally (as is prudent) over time. I also like the fact that they have got their location set up to host new customers, allowing you to get a feel for the brand and feel welcome. It is really like you are becoming part of the Astor+Banks family, not just buying another watch to chuck into the box. Watches are a passion for Perez, and he has certainly brought a solid entry into the field.
Pricing for the Astor+Banks Chrono starts at $575, and the PVD Chrono S comes in at $595. You can opt for any of the strap choices at that price point, or add a second into the mix for $29.95. If you are not in the market for a new watch, but like the looks of the straps, those can be grabbed from their “spare parts” section for $39.95. astorandbanks.com
Necessary Data:
>Brand: Astor+Banks
>Model: Chrono / Chrono S
>Price: $575 (stainless), $595 (PVD)
>Would reviewer personally wear it: Yes – but as I’ve personally been moving away from chronographs, this would be low in the rotation.
>Friend we’d recommend it to first: As I mentioned in the review, this has very much a Speedmaster feel to it – so the person who admires those, but needs a more affordable price point, is a perfect candidate.
>Worst characteristic of watch: The minimal lume on the handset. I’d love to see these go full-lume in a future revision.
>Best characteristic of watch: Of all the design elements, I find myself drawn back to the details around the lugs, with the exposed screw bar ends and the narrow (for this case width) strap choices.
