I’m a very big fan of the 70s racing era watches and this was even when I wasn’t writing about watches. 3-4 years ago when I started to get deeper and learn all these microbrands that were slowly making its way in the watch industry with big dreams, I noticed a new brand, called Nezumi. A Swedish company who before watches made Denim jeans and somehow found a way to start making watches, and Voiture was their first model, but in much simpler colours, now the Voiture comes in many colour variations and Nezumi has also some other watches like a pilots chronograph and diver. It is actually weird that we see such designs from Sweden as usually all the watches that come from Sweden in for a review are more of a modern, hipster, simple watches.

I wanted to review the Voiture for a couple of years and finally, I got my hands on one. Nezumi sent me the Voiture in two-tone with panda dial which now isn’t available as it is sold out, but they restock from time to time. The first impressions when I received the watch were great, it was everything I hoped for it to be. From the cool 70s racing era design to build quality it is perfect.

The case of the Voiture is made of 316L stainless steel. The case is made very well, all the machine work and lines are very precise, can’t see any mistakes there. The case shape is round and done in the classic chronograph design. The diameter is 40mm, from lug to lug it measures at 47mm and the thickness of the case is 11,5mm excluding the domed sapphire glass. The size is actually very good and I like when companies actually make them in classic sizes and not oversized like many microbrand chronographs are. The case has satin brushed finishing. The finishing is done really good. At 3 o’clock we have two pump pushers for the chronograph function and a push/pull crown with the Nezumi logo on the side in gold tone. Thanks to the Seiko’s VK63 mechanical quartz movement the pushers feel good, they have that mechanical click that most of the quartz only chronos lack. On top, we have a fixed gold-tone bezel with black aluminium bezel insert with Tachymeter scale. Some may see some similarities with Omega Speedmaster or Rolex Daytona, but in my opinion, it looks completely different. The solid screw in case back has a very deep machined logo and it must be one of the best-looking case back from a microbrand chronograph. Usually, companies don’t even bother to engrave anything except specifications, not even talking about deeply engraved/machined case backs.

The dial is in black and white colours. With gold hands and applied hour markers. The style of the dial kind of reminds me the Tudor Montecarlo with how the 9 and 3 subdials are accented with those shapes. The subdials also have that circular texture and it gives a little bit of depth to the dial. I like how the dial looks, it is busy, but yet simple and panda-like dial works so well with gold tones. I wish they had a bracelet version as it would look killer on oyster like bracelet or even on the jubilee bracelet in two-tone. The hour markers and hands are lumed with Superluminova, the lume is good, but as you expect it isn’t the best as it fades away after an hour or two. And again we can see some resemblance to the Rolex Daytona with those hands, markers, and chapter ring. However, the hands on the subdials and other design details are unmistakably Nezumi. The gold tone chronograph seconds hand bears the Nezumi logo “N” on the counterbalance. I felt that it was redundant as the same logo in a similar size is printed on the dial and there is no need for two logos, just writing “Nezumi” would be enough. On top of the watch sits a double domed sapphire crystal with an AR ( anti-reflective ) coating on the inside. The water resistance is 5ATM (50M) which is ok for some light rain and hand wash, but no swimming!

The Voiture chronograph is powered by the Seiko VK63 mechanical-quartz movement. Yes, I said quartz. Please don’t stop reading as it isn’t your typical quartz. There is no slow and awkward clockwise reset here. The smooth chronograph seconds hand and elapsed minute sub dial instantly “snap back” counterclockwise to zero. The exposed pushers pop and snap with classic tactile feedback. Of course it still a quartz and some may not like, but if you want a quartz piece, then this is the movement you need to have in your quartz piece. Of course, it would be very interesting to see a Voiture version with the Seagull ST19 movement. It would be very cool if they did that or even a Valjoux 7750 version.

The strap that came with a watch is a leather perforated rally strap n black colour. I really like rally straps in chronographs, it just makes them look a ton better. Weekend racers used to put holes in everything; seats, gloves, interior panels, etc. in hopes of shaving off another tenth of a second from their lap times. Of course, the rally strap had a different purpose, the holes aren’t meant for shading weight, but so your wrist would bread as race car drivers in those times had very hot cabins and your wrists would sweat with regular strap and so came the rally strap. The tang style buckle that comes with the Voiture is also in that gold tone and has Nezumi logo on it. On the wrist Voiture feels very good, the supple leather strap wraps your wrist and the holes make the daily wearability very comfortable.

Overall this is a very well made and thought out 70s racing era inspired chronograph. It was everything I was hoping it to be. They nailed the size, the 40mm is, in my opinion, the perfect size for a tool watch. I like when companies go back to the 38, 39 and 40mm sizes, it just makes the wearing experience a lot better and it suits the wrist well. Some time ago I wearing 42-44mm watches and thought that it is a better size as I have slightly above average size wrists, but now after I tested all these smaller size watches, and I like them more. So when it comes to the question: “Would I recommend to buy it?” … Hell Yeah! It has a great design, good build quality, sapphire crystal, perfect 40mm size, one of the best quartz chronograph movements and a very nice leather rally strap and that all for less than 400euro. I have never seen a watch guy that has bought one and be disappointed.

Price: € 366.73 @ nezumistudios.com

DIAL & HANDS

• Off-white & black dial, off-white & black subdials with a circular texture
• Polished hour/minute hands, gold chronograph hand, black & off-white subdial hands
• Off-white Swiss Luminova on steel hands and indices

CASE

• Double domed genuine sapphire crystal glass with AR ( anti-reflective ) coating on the inside.
• Brushed/polished 316L Stainless Steel case
• Diameter: 40mm excluding crown
• Lug to lug: 47mm
• Height: 11.5mm excluding the domed sapphire glass
• Lug width: 20mm
• Fixed bezel with a Tachymetre scale insert, satin black with silver markings
• Push down crown with N logo
• Screw on, machined case back with branding
• Waterproof to 5 ATM

MOVEMENT

• VK63 Hybrid mechanical quartz movement
• Made by Seiko