It’s tax season over here, and what a busy, and mundane week last week was. I’m really glad to be able to sit back today and just review this lovely AVI-8 CVRT 3775A Night Shadow – which is actually a collaborative release with Worn & Wound, the mainstream watch publication I’m sure many of you are familiar with.
So, what’s the low down on this watch? It’s been designed by enthusiasts, so many of our pain points have been addressed with this rather low key release. For one, the sizing and proportions have been executed with care. It has a 37.75mm case, and it’s only 11mm thick, with a lug to lug span of 46mm. So as you can see, it’s a compact field watch, without actually being too small or dainty due to its nice long lugs, and simple uncluttered dial.
Initial Impressions
One of the very first things I noticed about this watch, was the vintage explorer styled numerals, which on first glance appear painted on, but are actually applied and fully lumed. Instead of only a 3-6-9, a 12 o’clock marker has been added, as well as tapered baton markers – I can only assume to differentiate it from being an exact replica of the explorer. A small round date wheel has been thrown in between the 4 and 5 markers, which has a black background, making it quite inconspicuous.
As we continue to inspect the watch, you’ll also notice the very small touches or red, which have been implemented very tastefully so as not to be overwhelming. The tip of the arrow shaped seconds hand is a nice deep crimson red, along with the color matched CVRT text located directly under the AVI8 logo at 12 o’clock.
Overall Vibe
AVI-8 and Worn & Wound did a great job of creating a sporty, yet refined watch, something that can be worn casually as well as with smart casual attire. It certainly gives off an “outdoor adventurer” type of vibe, and the rubber strap it comes on accentuates this feeling. As expected, with this sizing and proportions it’s an excellent fit on my 6.5 inch wrist, and can easily accommodate a half inch wrist size variation in either direction.
There’s three other unique and unexpected points to bring to your attention. Firstly, you’ll notice the black ring around the bezel, this is knurled but of course does not rotate as there is no function here, it simply adds some textured depth. Secondly, the crown is located at the 4 o’clock position and is also capped in the same glossy black as the bezel ring. And last but not least, we actually have a good Japanese Miyota 9015 automatic movement in this watch.
Final Thoughts
This is a very well executed watch, but due to the enthusiast driven ideology behind it, the desire to meet the known needs of watch enthusiasts has limited its own character and creativity that could have been taken advantage of during a collaboration like this. This is still an excellent watch for those of you who really value some of the best features and style cues taken from known field watch icons.
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