Vaer C4 Tactical Field Solar Hands-on Review

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Vaer C4 Tactical Field Solar

The Vaer C4 Tactical Field Solar is the latest from the California-based brand, and this new model packs a lot for an affordable price tag. This 41.5mm field watch is available in an all bead blasted steel model, as shown in this review, and an all DLC model, which has even more tactical-ness, if that’s even a thing. The case design is my favorite aspect of this new model. While it takes inspiration from a lot of models, I find that it reminds me of the Seiko Slim Turtle, or 6105-8000, but this is not a copy. This is an all-new case, not a catalog case being reused, and combined with a very military-style dial, rotating bezel, and a screw-down crown and case back, this C4 Tactical is very capable. It’s currently up for preorder as the first batch has already sold out, and the price starts at $479, which includes two straps. 

Specifications

41.5mm Width

48mm Lug to Lug

20mm Lug Width

12.8mm Thick

70 Grams

Bead Blasted Stainless Steel

Sapphire Crystal 

200m Water Resistant

Japan-made Epson VS-42 movement

6-month reserve (from 6 hours of light)

3D Printed C3 Lume Blocks

Vaer Waffle Strap

& Choice of Second Strap

Assembled and tested in the USA

Price $475 (Blasted) $499 (DLC)

https://www.vaerwatches.com/products/c4-tactical-field-solar-41-5mm-usa

At first glance, the Vaer C4 Tactical Field Solar (that’s a long name, btw) is just a simple and clean field watch with a familiar cushion case and a simple military-style dial. And while that is true, there’s more to it than that. This new case, while inspired by many watches (Marathon, Benrus, Seiko, and others), is an all-new case, made for Vaer, and it’s a great example of a cushion case, with slightly rounded and beveled edges to the case sides and all finely beadblasted with integrated crown guards and a screw-down crown.

The crown, located at 4 o’clock, is easy to unscrew and set the time, and it screws back down smoothly. The entire thickness, including the bezel, is only 12.8mm, making it relatively thin. It’s not a dress watch or in the ultra-thin category, but the mid case itself is pretty trim, and it feels even thinner on the wrist. The only thing missing is drilled lugs, but most of the Vaer straps do have integrated quick-release pins, though I still think drilled lugs would have been nice.

While labeled a field watch, the overall design does lend itself to a dive watch as well. I mean, they really could have called this a tactical diver, or a military diver, etc., and with 200m water resistance and a screw-down crown and case back, it can definitely function as a dive watch as well. The coin edge bezel rotates unidirectionally, 120 clicks, and the insert is DLC-coated steel, not aluminum as I originally thought. The bezel is also indexed to 20, but Vaer lists this as a 12-hour bezel, so it really can do double duty as an elapsed timer up to 20 minutes or be used for tracing a second time zone, a poor man’s GMT if you will, but I have never really cared for that term.

Only a black dial is available, whether you choose the bead blasted or all DLC case, and since they are going for that tactical military style feel, it makes sense to stick with a matte, not reflective black dial. The dial is relatively clean, though they could get rid of that USA assembly text; it’s very easy to read with the large syringe-style hands and very large Arabic numerals. Under each numeral has 24 hour time displayed as well, but when you get up close, you realize these are no ordinary numerals.

They are 3D lume block numerals, like we have seen on Vertex and Boldr watches, and now brought to an affordable solar watch. Both the numerals and the minute rectanel markers are 3D lume blocks, and of course, it makes it easy to read in both the light and the dark. Covering the dial is a sapphire crystal, with a beveled edge, which really gives this watch a slightly more upscale appearance, as you don’t normally see that type of crystal in a watch under $500.

And that night view? The website states that the Vaer C4 Tactical Field Solar has the strongest lume rating, with a 10/10, and I absolutely agree. This watch easily has the best lume of any Vaer I have reviewed, and not only does it look good, but it lasts. Those lume blocks hold the light well, and you should be able to get a good 7-8 hours of darkness readability.

Vaer went with a solar movement, the Japan-made Epson VS-42 movement, as they wanted to keep this watch not only affordable, but dependable and rugged. This is meant to be a hard-use tool watch and a solar movement with a 6-month power reserve from just 6 hours of light, meaning you won’t have to worry about a battery, nor will you have to worry about your automatic movement taking a good shock and crapping out on you when you need it the most.
My one complaint would be that the second hand does not hit all of the markers dead on, something I have been told to let go of, as it’s common with watches that are hand assembled versus machine assembled.  Still, I would love to see that second hand be a little more accurate.

At 41.5mm, Vaer C4 Tactical Field Solar wears like a dream on my 7 1/2 inch (19.05cm) wrist. The size and shape, with a short lug to lug, looks and feels very propotined for my wrist, and a size that I like to wear these days, while still having. a large and easy-to-read dial opening. As with all Vaer watches,  you get one strap as a default, in this case, a black waffle FKM, and a choice of a second strap. I had them send along the olive single-pass nylon. Both are great straps, I prefer the waffle FKM, it not only feels great but I love the look, and prefer it over the tropic style rubber straps. Unfortunatley there is no bracelet option for this watch, which I hope they add at some point. At just over 70 grams, it’s an easy watch to wear daily.

As you can probably tell, there’s not much I don’t like about this Vaer C4 Tacial Field Solar. I would have probably gone with a shorter name, and yeah, drilled lugs would have been nice, but I would probably never take it off this waffle FKM strap anyway, so that’s moot.  To some this may be a simple and boring watch, but I love a nice cushion case, especially ones that have that crown mostly recessed, and while  I am not out in the field doing any kind of tactical adventures, this is a perfect every day casual piece that’s lightweight, easy to read, and I find it to be a pretty attractive watch as well. Oh, and I just love that lume.

You can see more about this piece over at the Vaer Website, which, at the time of publication, is up for its second preorder.

https://www.vaerwatches.com