Wenger Urban Metropolitan Review – A Better Way to Buy Swiss
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For below £100, there aren’t many Swiss watch brands to choose from. If you’re lucky, you might be able to snag a cheap Tissot, or alternatively a plastic Swatch. However, for something that feels more substantial, it might be worth looking at a different brand.
Founded in 1893, Swiss Army knife manufacturer Wenger are highly regarded for their multifunctional tools. It was only natural that in the late 1980’s they ventured into wristwatch production; with watches being a trusty companion for military personnel.
Chances are you’re more familiar with the much larger Victorinox brand, who acquired Wenger in 2005. Victorinox sell some highly popular military dive watches under their own name but they’re typically more expensive.
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Price
For this blog, the lower-cost Wenger brand fits the bill. The specifications looked awesome for the price and very few people online have any decent reviews of this brand, so here’s one worth reading.
At the time of purchase, this watch was retailing for around £80 on Amazon, who kindly covered the cost of this watch. Some of these Wenger models are available on prime, however, it appears many options are only shippable from Switzerland, meaning delivery is likely going to be a bit longer.
So, what do you get for your £80?
Packaging
Well, the watch arrived inside some really impressive packaging, with a white box featuring the Wenger logo and a red Swiss tab. The plush leather pillow inside is probably the best I’ve come across for a watch in this price range.
While the packaging is lovely, that doesn’t necessarily indicate a good watch. So, how good is the product inside?
This watch doesn’t appear to have a clear product name, simply appearing under the code on screen. I opted for this black variant with a NATO strap, though there appears to be a couple of colourways, along with several similarly designed pieces.
Watch Case
It’s not quite as big as the chunky styling suggests, coming in with a 41mm diameter, 10mm depth and 48.2mm lug to lug. Small wrists are going to have to look elsewhere, however, it’s very wearable for average wrists, given the sub-50mm lug to lug size.
Probably the most impressive part of this watch is the case. It’s fully constructed of 316L steel and features a gorgeous glossy, curved bezel, which sits atop a brushed matte case. It’s admittedly very simple, but it just works and suits the utilitarian look of the watch. The metal itself feels very weighty and durable; I imagine this would hold up quite well against bumps and scratches.
A key aesthetic feature with this watch is the thick lugs. These sit strikingly alongside the strap and almost look like they bend outwards, despite being straight. While far from my usual taste, I like them and I think they give some added bulk and weight that make the watch feel even more durable.
I’ve got no real complaints about the glossy crown either, which is well-sized and has sufficient grip for easy adjustments, though perhaps a branded signature would have been a nice touch, to make it look less plain.
Performance
Aquatic performance is also solid, with the notched case-back contributing to a strong 100m of water resistance. As such, you should have no problem when it comes to swimming, showering or doing the dishes; this is just a great peace of mind feature that’s greatly appreciated. 10bar is a great specification that I often look for, for just that reason.
Another engraving on the case-rear indicates that the watch utilises a sapphire-coated mineral crystal.
This is a lesser known type of mineral crystal, which features a thin sapphire layer on the surface for added scratch resistance. I’ve reviewed one or two watches with this material before and it falls somewhere between standard mineral crystal and sapphire; in fact, Victorinox claim this material is around twice as hard as the standard mineral glass found in most watches around this price point. The crystal here is flat and does protrude a fraction from the main case, though not enough to be a problem.
Dial
As with many Wenger watches, this one comes kitted with a very simple dial. This features the typical bold numbers around the perimeter, with those at 3, 6, 9 and 12 all enlarged. Admittedly, the dial is flatter than I’d like and I think a small amount of added texture would spice it up a bit. Additionally, the black hands kind of blend into the dial, which doesn’t help visibility. I think some of the other Wenger models at around the same price point avoid both of these issues, though they weren’t available at the time of checkout.
However, there are areas of this model I do like, such as the black date window, which is integrated particularly well, and the red arrow hand, which is slim and bright.
While it’s not the most attractive watch in the world, I think it looks pretty good for an everyday watch. My fiancée said it looked a little bit like a premium Timex and I’m inclined to agree.
Watch Movement
The watch is powered by a Swiss Ronda 515 quartz movement, which delivers an accuracy of -10 to +20 seconds per month. It comes with a good reputation for reliability, though this unit seems to be slightly misaligned, usually hitting a fraction to the left of each marker; whilst sometimes hitting bang on.
Strap
By default, this one came fitted on a 22mm genuine leather tan NATO strap; though when examining it, something took my eye. I noticed that one of the spring-bars had a dent in. I then whipped off the strap and noticed the other was exactly the same, with a kink at the exact same spot. Excluding the possibility that both are somehow identically damaged, it appears these are a variant of the curved spring-bars found on some watches. Potentially this is there to accommodate the thickness of the included strap, though I’m sure a straight spring-bar would fit with no issues.
Outside of that, the strap is of above-average quality. The leather feels supple and comfortable and the keepers and buckle look really good, considering it’s such a budget watch. I think for most people, this will be absolutely wearable, though be aware that the on-wrist depth is boosted to over 13mm, with the two layers under the case.
Are Wenger Watches Good Quality?
Overall, I think this is a very solid and well-priced watch. It’s up to you how much significance the ‘Swiss Made’ badge holds, personally, it doesn’t make a great deal of difference to me. I think this is a good hardy watch, regardless of where it’s made. If you’re after a durable watch with chunky styling that isn’t enormous, I think this and some of the other Wenger watches are certainly worth considering.
