Something that I think feels really entrancing about the layout, is the amount of depth it has (something that wasn’t as apparent in the marketing images). The tachymeter ring features hashes and sits on top of the gunmetal dial. The chronograph sub-dials sit recessed and even deeper is the date window. The yellow accents on the gasket, chapter ring, and handset tie the entire dial together and give the CHR a look well above its price range. My only gripe about the CHR is the lume. The hour and minute hands are not lumed and feature yellow accents where lume would fill – meaning that only the chronograph hands are lumed. While I understand this isn’t a hardcore tool watch, I think the watch would have benefited from lume on the hour and minute hands, even if it was just on the tips.

Powering the watch is a “High Precision” Miyota 6S10 quartz movement with a 1/20 second sub-dial, a 60 minute counter, and date. Additionally, the CHR is water-resistant up to 50m and comes with 2 sporty quick-release straps – a black leather racing strap and a silicone band (more on these later).

Moving on to the SSD Three, the case is similar in size, but the SSD is a millimeter thinner (accounting for it not being a chronograph). While both watches have a steel and a black-PVD model, the SSD I have is blasted steel and does not feature a black-PVD coat. Of all the models in ROUE’s collection, this one is hands-down my favorite. Featuring a Seiko VD78 quartz movement, the dual hand model has a seconds sub-dial at 6 o’clock. Let me start by saying that this is one of the few faux-vintage watches I’ve been able to really get behind. I typically find that start-up or micro brands tend to attempt to appeal to a market they may not fully understand, and that tends to produce a kitschy vibe. The SSD Three does not.

Once again, the yellow gasket lends a frame for the dial. The graphite dial features a raised chapter ring with 5-minute interval indicators and 20-second hashes between them. Again, like the CHR, the depth of the dial feels largely out of its sub-$200 price range. The seconds register features a recessed ring, with a raised yellow center that’s superbly finished and legible. The printed hour and seconds indices are reminiscent of race car numbers of old – circa Le Mans during the early 1970s. The printed yellow logo at 12 o’clock adds to the retro vibe. The handset is also unique, as the base of all of them are finished in a dark gray ring, and the minute’s hand features that same finished tip. I’ve heard mixed reviews on this. One camp says the hand is too long, while I think it is befitting to racing influences. While this doesn’t have a long seconds hand, the black tip perfectly contrasts the off-white chapter ring and makes it a lot less difficult to determine in-between minutes (at least in 20-second intervals). Is it something that will be used often, or even at all? Likely not. But it doesn’t take away from the overall design DNA and attests to ROUE’s way of meticulous uniformity of crisp and distinct lines.

The SSD is also rated for 50m of water resistance, features a sapphire crystal, lumed hands and hour markers, and comes with the same quick-release black leather racing strap as the CHR. However, in lieu of the silicone strap, a light gray nylon-top and leather-belly strap comes with it – and it matches the case beautifully.

Which brings me to my second favorite aspect of ROUE’s watches, the quick-release straps. Not only is the quick-release button a great and rare feature for affordable watches, both models I chose feature the most right-out-of-the-box comfortable leather straps I’ve ever had… So much so, that since I had two, I changed out a totally unrelated watch with the extra leather strap because I liked it so much. While leather in this price-category tends to be stiff and needs a long “break-in” period of scratching, rubbing, and soreness, the leather included with the ROUE models was comfortable, soft, and flexible from the minute I put it on. While some may be attributed to the large holes typical of racing leather straps, I was genuinely surprised by the quality presented in a watch that comes in under most fashion brands.

The silicone strap fit great and wasn’t hair-pulling. However, it wasn’t my favorite of the three as it felt a bit thin for the case. The nylon-and-leather strap ended up being my favorite on the SSD. Again, it was flexible, not scratchy, and genuinely attractive. In all fairness, I didn’t think I would like it at initial glance, but it ended up being my default for the SSD. The only issue I had was that it is almost a matte finish, and that makes it difficult to clean. However, it would likely be argued as par for the course with nylon bands.

Overall, it would be a laborious task finding better value propositions in the price range ROUE Watches is competing in. If you’re looking for a watch that’s a little eccentric while still maintaining a bit of minimalist and Braun design elements, ROUE Watches may be for you. I found myself consistently finding unconventional lines and characteristics in the CHR and SSD without feeling like it was too much – something reminiscent of Swatch watches twenty years ago. With a sapphire crystal, high-quality finishing, and great strap options, a lot of my boxes were checked. I had a hard time finding anything to complain about in either model. With as solid of a watch as I saw in ROUE’s first offering, I am excited to see what’s to come in future releases. Price for the ROUE CHR One is $230, while the SSD Three comes in at $190. rouewatch.com

Necessary Data
>Brand: ROUE
>Model: CHR “One” and SSD “Three”
>Price: $230 and $190 respectively
>Size: 41.5mm
>Would reviewer personally wear it: Yes.
>Friend we’d recommend it to first: Fans of quirky but refined minimalist designs who have a penchant for clean lines.
>Best characteristic of watch: The value proposition. Sapphire? Check. High quality finishing? Check. Multiple straps with quick-change feature? Check. Low price? Check.
>Worst characteristic of watch: Honestly not a whole lot. The CHR would benefit from some lume on the handset and perhaps a thicker silicone strap, but other than that, not much to complain about.