As I talked about in the video, Strider Watches are manufactured in China, in partnership with Android watches, and hand assembled in the USA. These are not Android watches though. The entire case, bezel, crown, dial, and hands were designed by Jim.
The design definitely stands out amongst other micro divers. It is not an homage, definitely not your classic design, and that is what I like about it.
I will be honest. When I first saw the Hyperdive announced with the photos, I was not sure what to think. The knife blade hands, the style of the hour markers, the large dots and rectangles on the bezel, etc. But the more I looked at the Hyperdrive photos, the more I started to appreciate the different look.
When the watch arrived for review, I really started to appreciate how unique it was, while still retaining the basic DNA of a dive watch. It has all the goodies; 9015 automatic movement, sapphire crystal, sandwich dial with dual lume, large screw down crown, and as many know, my favorite, the ratcheting dive clasp.
The dial has a pebbled texture, and while it is black, in certain light it plays more of a dark charcoal grey. The minute hand is designed to resemble a tanto knife blade. The hour markers are huge, and allow for greater readability at a glance. One thing of note though, there is no minute/second hand marks on the dial. From a design standpoint, I get it, but it will be hard to really judge accuracy on this watch, because without those markers you cannot really keep track of exact time. Another thing to note, there is no lume on the second hand. Personally, I do not need to know what second it is in the dark, but if you do, this could be an issue.
The bezel is a pvd plated stainless bezel, and yes, the markers are lumed on the bezel as well. The bezel is very quiet and solid, and turns easily, but stays firmly in place where you put it. The large crown is easy to grasp, whether on the wrist or in your hands, and has a very solid feeling crown as well.
The bracelet we have all seen before on other brands. The bracelet and clasp are the only parts of the watch that are not custom. Just because they are not custom, does not mean they are sub par. The bracelet is 24mm wide, with no taper, and and wraps around the wrist very comfortably. The bracelet attaches to the case using one sided hex screws, and is super simple to remove and put on one of the included straps, or one of your own. All the tools needed are included with the watch in the large packaging supplied. The bracelet uses one sided standard screws, which again, makes sizing a breeze. And for the larger wrists out there, fear not, this watch will fit you. With all the links, the Hyperdive should fit up to a 10 ½ inch wrist, and should size down to just about a 6.5 wrist.
Tim
What a disgrace. China produced watch with Built in USA on the dial. Why did you ignore this?
Don
Hello Tim.
Thank you for your comment.
I didn’t ignore this, I state specifically in the article that it was China manufactured and assembled in the USA. I am guessing you don’t like the wording on the dial of USA built and I agree it might lead one to think it is manufactured in the US. Strider Watches does not hide the fact it is China manufactured at all, but maybe could have gone with USA assembled on the case back and left the wording off the dial. In the end, it is still designed in the USA and assembled here, much like Lum-tec does.
Tim
Thanks for the reply. I still think it’s an attempt to muddy the waters by the designer. I googled the website and looked at a bunch of pictures of the watch and no where is China mentioned. The only marking that would indicate country of origin says Built in USA. Kind of misleading, especially because it’s on the dial. I also couldn’t find that Lum-tec did this.
Oh well. I won’t be buying, so whatever will be will be. Thanks for the review.
john
Well I think that was a great review of the watch I don’t mind if it was built in china at all wish there was a retailer who sold them in the uk so we did not have to pay hi import tax.Have had a look at the lume looks great.
Balajiachar
I bought it … (025/175) what a watch…. well made…Thanks Jim for your commitment in making an awesome watch.
Jim
Received one yesterday.
As per http://www.striderwatches.com web site and watch review by Jim Skelton:
1. The watch should be calibrated to +/- 5 seconds per day ( Miyota 9015 automatic movement, will be adjusted in-house to run within 5 spd) . Upon receiving, put watch on the timegrapher and it’s ahead +16 seconds per day.
2. “All markings are white in the light, then glow green (C3) or Blue (BGW9)” .
On the watch I received, all markings glow green (C3) only. No Blue glow.
Disappointed with misinformation.
Jim Skelton
I appreciate your concern, and I did receive your email. Customer Service will be contacting you soon. I was surprised that we did not get the opportunity to reply to you before you posted this. The accuracy issue is easily remedied, and we do strive to ship all running within 5spd. As to the Superluminova, there is absolutely no misrepresentation. You can easily see in this review, and the hundreds of customers who have posted their lume shots on Facebook, Instagram and watch forums that every watch gets BGW9 and C3 applications. When we regulate your watch, I will be looking at your lume to see if somehow, someway ONE single watch came through with the wrong lume application. It is extremely unlikely, but anything can happen I suppose. Please allow us to contact you to resolve. Thank you.
Alan Adams
Hi Jim,
Need a exhibition caseback for my Strider Hyperdrive.
Just pulled from storage and it’s bnib. Can’t believe I stored it this long. Don’t know why I didn’t order it with the exhibition caseback!
Alan Adams
Palm Springs
Don Evans
I can almost guarantee Jim will never see this, and with this watch about to be 10 years old next year and the company out of business, unfortunately, I don’t think you will be getting an exhibition case back. I would reach out to Jim on Instagram, but I doubt he would be able to help at this point. His Instagram is @skeltonbladeworks.
Jim
Hello Jim,
Holiday Greetings !
Thank you for you respond.
Actually I purchased two Stainless Steel and Black Coated STRIDERS from OKO Interrnational Inc. (Android-USA.com)
And both watches running ahead +12 to +16 seconds per day , depend on which position they are.
They were sold in a bundles : AD800ABU_ST001BKK and AD720AK_ST001BK
There are accuracy (calibration) problem with all four, plus AD800ABU has issue with case back screws damaged and pinched gasket sticking out. Probably, casing cover were not assembled properly and screws were overtorqued. And AD720AK lagging 26 seconds per day which is does not match ETA2824 performance.
All together just on these three orders I spent over $2000. Plus around of $140 COD fees.
Would you contact me directly onto this email address to solve issues.
Thank you
Marco
Jim, Were issues expressed to Jim Skelton ( re: Strider Hyperdive watch) dealt with in a manner which met your approval?