The evolution of the Raven Trekker continues, and the latest version, released in 2024 with new stainless steel bezel variations released earlier this year, is a svelte 39mm case, and the thinnest Trekker to date at just 12.5mm, while still being 200m water resistant. The design harkens back to the roots of the Trekker, when it was known as the Vintage 40, and evokes a vintage Rolex vibe, while not being a direct copy. In fact, that is the true definition of an homage, a word that has lost all meaning in the watch world in the last decade or so. It’s also the least expensive it’s been in almost a decade at $650, down from $750 in past iterations, while still using a Miyota 9015/9039 movement. Available in grey, blue, as well as a black dial version with a black DLC bezel and crown.
Specifications
39mm Stainless Steel Case48mm Lug to Lug12.5MM Thickย 20mm Lug Widthย WeightCeramic Bezel Insertย 200m Water ResistantScrew Down CrownDomed Sapphire Crystalย Miyota 9015 MovementStainless Steel BraceletPrice $650
https://ravenwatches.com/pages/trekker
If you have been a fan of Raven since the beginning, then you know the Raven Trekker has undergone quite a few changes. In 2021, the size was reduced from 40mm to 39mm, but that was a very different Trekker, more of a Tudor Black Bay homage, at least with the case and crown, and a dial that has been carried over only on the latest two-tone black and steel model. The bracelet was different as well, so the latest Trekker is an all-new watch, but is it? Well, it is a new case and crown, but the design inspiration comes from the Vintage 40, before the Trekker name was born. That model was vintage Rolex-inspired, including the dial. In contrast, this latest version takes elements of previous Trekkers and incorporates them into a similar design, but now with a thinner case, a bigger crown, and 200m of Water Resistance, down from 300m.
Beyond the case design changes, the other big changes to the Raven Trekker is the case thickness, which is also now 200m water resistant instead of 300m water resistant. Some of course may be bothered by this, but I ask, how many of you have put the 200m water resistance to the test, let alone 300m? At least the majority of people I talk to, whether in person or online, their watches never see anything more than pool water or a couple of splashes in the ocean. It of course retains a scrfew down crown, an oversized screw down crown, and unless you really are planning on an extremely deep dive, this Trekker should be able to handle your trek.
The 12.5mm includes that domed box sapphire crystal, making it the thinnest Raven Trekker to date. Even the original incarnation, the Vingate 40, which employed a similar case design, was a whopping 14mm thick, which is quite thick for this style of watch, especially for one measuring 39/40mm. The finishing is distinctive for this style of watch, all satin brushed with a polished bottom chamfer, instead of a polished top chamfer, and it’s very nicely done, not just for this price point. If you want something more rugged, the two/tone steel and black version does have a blasted version. As thin as this watch is, Raven still included drilled lugs, so if you have straps that don’t have quick-release pins, you can still easily remove the strap.
Stainless steel insert bezels are now available on the Raven Trekker, but I love a ceramic bezel, and even more than that, I love a grey ceramic bezel, as I love grey, but more importantly, how rare a grey dial/grey bezel watch actually is. The insert is a gloss ceramic, and I would prefer a matte finish, but the dial is gloss grey, so it wouldn’t make sense to have a matte bezel on this model. The bezel itself is 120 clicks with a nice coin edge, easy to grasp and and it turns solidly with great feedback.
The dial, for me at least, is a little bit of a mixed bag, but it has more to do with the crystal than the dial itself. The dial of this Raven Trekker is grey, but it looks a lot darker most of the time due to the combination of the glossy finish and the box crystal with a blue AR coating. This makes for not only a lot of reflection off the crystal, but it also darkens the dial to almost a bluish black color in most light. While many of you don’t care about how a watch photographs, I will say I found it difficult to capture the actual color of the dial. As far as the layout, it’s a nice and clean dial, with polished surrounds on the applied indices, stick hands, and a date located at 3 o’clock. To break up the monochromatic color, the second hand and Trekker model name are done in orange, for just a touch of color. If you prefer something even more subdued, maybe check out the blue dial, as it has sword hands and no accent colors.
The bracelet is a standard oyster link style, brushed top, polished edges, and a nice thickness at 3.5mm, using one-piece screw links to hold the links together. A few notes here. The screws definitely have Loctite in them, so make sure you have a good-tipped screw driver and one that has a good amount of torque to be able to loosen them, and once you are done sizing the watch, you’ll want to apply Loctite upon reassembly. Also, if you have a large wrist, well, you are in luck, as I had to remove 3 and a half links (yes, it includes half links, a very welcome addition) for my 7 1/2 inch (19.05cm) wrist. These days, especially for a watch this size, I generally have to remove one link or two at best, and all this is to say, if you have a larger wrist, this Raven Trekker should fit out of the box.
If you want even more adjustability, the Raven Trekker uses the latest version of the Nodex Clasp, which is dual finished with a Raven logo. It’s a push-button clasp, and the extension is the newer style of the Nodex, easy to push open and use, but it’s still a thin piece that does have some side-to-side play, and is meant for more of a micro-adjustment instead of a dive extension clasp, like most of the new style extension clasps. It’s functional and will either give you more length or help you dial in the perfect fit on the wrist, but I am still not a fan of how it looks when it’s extended.
On my wrist, even though I do generally prefer a watch that is 40mm or larger, I find this Raven Trekker to wear slightly larger than the 39mm size would suggest. I don’t find it to look tiny on my wrist, and with a flat, unadorned case back and a bracelet that can really be dialed in for the perfect fit, it’s extremely comfortable.
Lastly, the lume is really good, as good as any microbrand diver in this price range, and glows a nice solid blue, as it uses BGW9 lume application. I didn’t find it to be a glowing constant type of lume, but it should last around 5-6 hours before fading out.
In the past few years, watches, especially microbrand watches, have been getting smaller and slimmer. Each day, another microbrand releases a watch in a smaller size, and that is because microbrands have more of a direct line of communication to their customers, and that’s what a good number of customers want. Raven listened to this, and not only do we have a new case design for this Raven Trekker, but one that harkens to the roots of the model, while also being the smallest and slimmest version of the Trekker to date.
As much as I love this grey dial and bezel, I think the two tone black and steel model is still my favorite, as I feel its more sporty/rugged looking and its a style I just gravitate towards, but for a great every day dive watch, one that can easily fit under most shirt cuffs and go with a lot of outfits and a lot of activities, this is a great option. Let’s not forget the Raven Trekker is the least expensive it’s been in a decade as well, something not to overlook, especially these days.
I've been an avid watch lover since the age of 7. Watches are not only my hobby but a passion. My favorite style used to be dive watches, but field or non bezel watches have been growing on me. When I'm not reviewing watches I am either cooking or with family and friends.
