In 2018 we looked at a very nice watch from a company called Collins. It was a very nice 40mm chronograph. But today we have something new and special from the company and it is called Hyperion, and yes, it is automatic!

The Collins company is based in the United States, Los Angeles. The company was founded by Jimmy Collins. As a recording studio owner and lifetime musician, Collins spent years collecting audio equipment. Marvelling over the complex dials, precision controls, and robust engineering of compressors, pre-amps, consoles, and EQs, he noticed a clear parallel with another obsession: watches. Like a quality watch, a piece of studio equipment requires considerable expertise and attention to detail to manufacture. And, while rooted in function, aesthetics and perfectionist design are of paramount importance to both. In essence, it was a melding of passions that led Collins from watch enthusiast to watch designer, and now to watch entrepreneur.

The Hyperion was actually funded recently on Kickstarter. They got 110 backers who pledged $57,056. Collins had an automatic model similar to this in the past, but this is much better with Swiss automatic movement, different dial options and assembled in the good old USA!

The watch is a review sample and it has been to some other watch reviewers in the past so don’t mind the scratches or something. The box is the same as last time, we have the cardboard outer box and then a clamshell-style, black leather box. Pretty good and simple packaging. Jimmy also threw in a UV flashlight for me so I could make the lumeshots much easier at any time o the day! The first impressions are that the watch feels very solid, it doesn’t feel like a cheap watch. I really like that the Hyperion is just 40mm in diameter, I like when companies do watches 40mm and under, I just think it is a great size. The strap really impressed me too.

The case of the Hyperion is made fo 316L stainless steel. The machine work is really good, all the lines and angles are nicely finished. The whole case features satin-brushed finishing which looks killer on the watch an is done really well. The diameter of the case is 40mm, the thickness is 14mm with the domed crystal and from lug to lug it measures at 49mm. The watch has really nice proportions, on the wrist, it wears very comfortably and due to the long lugs it feels bigger, but not in a bad way! At the right side at 3 o’clock we have the push-pull crown which is signed with the “C” of the Collins watch company. The crown action feels really good and it is very easy to grip it. I just wish it had a screw-down crown as I would feel safer with it going into the water, because it has 100m water resistance and you could definitely swim with it, but not dive. The exhibition case back features a flat sapphire crystal. Around the exhibition window, we have some specifications and the writing that it is assembled in the USA. I know that the USA is kind of a gimmick, but I guess it appeals to people more and especially to the Americans. If it comes to me, I kind of doesn’t care where the watch is made, as long as it is well made and will last me a very long time. On the front, you will have a double domed sapphire crystal which gives almost zero distortion when you look from any angle.

The dial on the Hyperion that Collins watch company sent me is a very simple one in matte black. They also have some carbon and meteorite dials which look stunning, but I kind of like the matte black one on this watch. Around the dial, we have the minute track in this old radium lume colour, and Collins actually nailed the colour. At 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock we have Arabic numerals also in the same colour as the minute track. At 4:30 we have a square date window with a black date wheel. I actually wish they did a no-date version, I just think it would look cleaner that way. At 12 očlock we have the Collins logo and at 6 o’clock a small writing “automatic”. The sword-shaped hour and minute hands are matte black with old radium colour insides. The second’s hand is just a stick-shaped with the same old radium colour on most of it. The lume is applied on the hour markers, hands and the logo which is a nice subtle touch! The lume is pretty great, it is Super-LumiNova and it lasts for about 3-4 hours which is decent! The whole dial is actually pretty legible and it is very easy to read time by just a glance. The whole watch is actually very simplistic and “straight to the deal”!

The movement that is inside the Hyperion is the Swiss Made self-winding Sellita SW200 movement. It is a pretty popular movement that is getting used more and more in microbrand watches as it is cheap, reliable and well made.  I have it in a couple of my watches and it never lets me down and it has very great accuracy. Collins actually regulates their movements in six positions so they are very accurate! Mine was running only at +4 to +5 seconds a day which is right where it supposed to be. Collins also went an extra step by adding a custom rotor on the movement with some gold accents.

The strap that came with the watch was also a very nice surprise. As I wasn’t expecting such a good strap on it. The strap is made from dark brown genuine leather with brown stitching. The stitching is done really good and I can’t see any loose threads. The strap is pretty thick, but very soft and curves your wrist nicely. The strap is 20mm wide and is straight cut. The buckle is made of stainless steel and is signed with Collins logo.

Overall the Hyperion is probably one of my top 10 watches this year so far that I have reviewed. It has everything from a well-made case, automatic movement, sapphire on both sides, the amazing leather strap and of course the very simple design that is made functional to the last detail! The watch right now is on sale for a moment just for 495$ (mine example), the other ones with meteorite and carbon dials cost more and they also have a PVD coated case ones too! If you like microbrands, I think this is one of the watches you must try for sure as it is amazing!

Price: 495$ @ collinswatch.com

Movement: Sellita SW200 Swiss-made Automatic Movement with Custom Rotor Plate – Regulated in six positions
Crystal: Double-Domed Sapphire
Water Resistance: 10ATM (100M)
Lume: Super-LumiNova “Old Radium”
Dial: Velvet Matte Black
Case: Brushed 316L Stainless Steel
Dimensions: 40mm Diameter / 48mm Lug-to-Lug / 13.5mm Thickness / 20mm Lugs
Case Back: Sapphire display back
Strap: Collins Geniuine Leather Strap with Custom Matching Hardware