If you’ve been following my writing for more than a few weeks, you know I’m a big fan of Spinnaker watches. Their timepieces are nautically themed, as evidenced by the Spinnaker Croft SP-5058-03, the Spinnaker Wreck SP-5065, and the Spinnaker Dumas SP-5070, all of which I’ve reviewed in the past.
Today, I’ll be looking at the Spinnaker Hull Riviera SP-5073, the latest limited edition watch in their collection.
The Movement
The Riviera is powered by an old stalwart, the reliable Seiko NH35 movement. This Japanese-made movement is one of the best you’ll see on a boutique dive watch. It’s automatic, with a long-lasting 41-hour power reserve that won’t stop ticking just because you decided to leave it at home for a day.
At 21,600 beats per hour, the NH35 is relentless for an affordable movement. It’s accurate to plus or minus 6 seconds a day, which is also good for the price. And it’s reasonably quiet, too. You can hear it ticking if you put your ear right up to the watch, but otherwise it’s pleasantly silent.
The case itself is manufactured from corrosion-proof 316L steel, with a polished black finish that’s formal and stylish enough for a business meeting and durable enough for sports and scuba diving. It has a nearly-square profile, with bulges on the sides to accommodate the diameter of the crystal.
In terms of width, the Riviera measures 42 mm (not including the crown). It’s 48mm from lug to lug, and 15.5 mm thick. If you like a big watch that makes a statement, you’ll appreciate the feel of this beefy timepiece. That said, due to its size, it sits fairly high on your wrist, which is something to consider if your shirt cuffs need to stay buttoned on the job.
The Riviera Dial
The Riviera has a minimalist design that’s nonetheless beautiful in its own way. It’s decorated with a sunburst pattern, which transitions from deep navy blue at the outer edges to golden brown in the center. There’s only a single complication, a simple numeric date counter.
The hands themselves are gold, with white highlights on the hour and minute hands and a decorative white diamond near the tip of the slender second hand. The scala is Spartan, with elegant gold hash marks instead of traditional numerals.
The Crystal
The face of the crystal is slightly curved, with a blue tinted coating that ever so subtly accentuates the gold sheen on the dial details. The back of the crystal is mineral coated to reduce glare and highlights from your environment.
Here’s the only area where the Riviera disappointed me. For some reason, despite the nautical theme, it’s only waterproof down to 100 meters, less than most Spinnaker watches. This was an odd choice on their part, but then again 100 meters is more than enough for the vast majority of divers.
The Crown
This watch is very easy to operate, mostly because the display is so simple. Without a stopwatch, 30-minute timer, or other miscellaneous complications, there’s simply no need for pushers when a basic crown will do the job just fine.
The crown itself has a screw-down design, to prevent it from snagging on anything and accidentally getting pulled out while you’re in the water. To set the time, simply unscrew the crown, then pull it out to make your adjustments. Setting the date is a little bit trickier. You have to pull the crown out only halfway. It’s awkward the first few times you do it, but once you get the feel of it it’s easy.
The Extras
The Riviera comes with a waterproof, top grain leather band. The band features stitched ribs, which evoke an image of old-school reliability in today’s world of disposable products. Extra thick gold stitches reinforce the edges of the band where it secures to your lug, supplying a little more support in the spot where you’re most likely to exert extra stress.
This watch also includes a case. It’s a plain black cardboard box with a foam insert that keeps your watch from getting jostled around. This isn’t the most elegant case we’ve seen, but it does a reasonably good job of protecting your watch during storage or transport.
The Inspiration
As its name implies, the Riviera is inspired by the Riviera region of Europe. This stretch of land spans the border of France and Italy along the Mediterranean coast, and is one of the most scenic areas in the world, whose iconic roads have featured in many Hollywood films, from Alfred Hitchcock to James Bond.
This region also has a strong nautical history. The Italian port of Genoa has been a hub of Mediterranean trade since Roman times, and during the middle ages it was one of the most powerful city-states in history. It’s also the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, making it a fine inspiration for any seaworthy timepiece.
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