Ickler (Archimede) was founded in 1924 by Karl Ickler in the watchmaking city of Pforzheim, Germany, Ickler has built a nearly century-long legacy of precision engineering and exceptional case manufacturing. Pforzheim, often referred to as the epicenter of Germany’s watch and jewelry industry, provided the ideal foundation for a company dedicated to quality, innovation, and craftsmanship.
From its earliest days, Ickler quickly earned international recognition for producing high-grade watch cases, supplying both domestic and global watchmakers. Today, nearly 100 years later, the company remains a proud family business, now in its third generation. Remarkably, Ickler continues to carry out almost every stage of production in-house—from design and prototyping to parts manufacturing, surface finishing, laser engraving, assembly, and rigorous quality control.
This comprehensive vertical integration ensures that every Archimede watch, the house brand of Ickler, benefits from decades of expertise and a deep commitment to excellence. The cases for all Archimede models are crafted within Ickler’s own facility, embodying the brand’s philosophy of in-house value and precision German manufacturing.
The Archimede collection primarily focuses on purpose-built tool watches, including pilot’s watches, field watches, and divers—each reflecting a commitment to function-driven design. However, the brand also offers timepieces with a more refined, classic aesthetic, all subtly infused with the clean lines and disciplined elegance characteristic of German watchmaking. Archimede watches are offered in automatic, hand-wound, and chronograph formats, all powered by carefully regulated, high-quality Swiss movements. Each piece is assembled with attention to detail, combining German engineering with Swiss reliability to produce timepieces that are as functional as they are enduring.
This blend of heritage, technical prowess, and design versatility makes Archimede not just a microbrand, but a genuine heir to Germany’s storied horological tradition.
In a world increasingly dominated by delicate tech and throwaway goods, there’s something reassuring about a watch designed to be tough—really tough. The Archimede Outdoor 41 AntiMag is one such piece. Built by Ickler, a German manufacturer known for their precision engineering and hardened steel cases, the Outdoor 41 is a modern field watch with a distinctly retro feel and seriously rugged credentials.
Whether you’re deep in the wilderness or navigating the electronic chaos of daily life, this watch is designed to keep ticking without missing a beat. Below, we break down its core features to see if it lives up to the hype! I also have to say huge thanks to Aude from Archimede for a chance to check out one of their watches and loaning me the Outdoor 41!
The Archimede Outdoor 41 arrives in a modest, no-frills black cardboard box. Inside, you’ll find just the watch—nothing more. After watching a few unboxing videos to confirm, it appears this minimalist packaging is standard for the brand. While this approach keeps things simple, I do feel a more functional presentation—such as a travel pouch—would elevate the overall unboxing experience. Given the watch’s price point of €1,280, a reusable storage solution would not only enhance the perceived value but also add practicality for owners on the move.
That said, first impressions of the watch itself are quite positive. The casework immediately stands out, showcasing excellent machining with crisp lines, defined angles, and a strong sense of precision. However, one aspect that caught my attention—and not in a good way—was the interaction between the bracelet end links and the case. The end links make direct contact with the case, and over time, this could result in noticeable wear marks. In my view, this could have been avoided by slightly narrowing the bracelet to better align with the lug width. It’s a relatively small detail, but one that could have a long-term impact on the aesthetics of the watch. For a brand known for meticulous German engineering, this feels like a rare oversight.
At the heart of the Outdoor 41’s durability is its hardened stainless steel case, manufactured in-house by Ickler in Germany. Measuring 41,3mm in diameter and just 11,2mm thick, with a lug-to-lug span of 46.5mm, the case strikes an excellent balance between wrist presence and wearability. Despite its rugged tool-watch pedigree, the proportions are surprisingly versatile and comfortable on a range of wrist sizes.
But it’s not just about dimensions. The case is hardened to an impressive 1,200 Vickers (HV)—several times more scratch-resistant than standard 316L stainless steel. The finish is entirely brushed, enhancing the utilitarian aesthetic and minimizing the appearance of wear over time. Its overall silhouette, a quasi-cushion shape with integrated lugs, hints at 1970s design language while still feeling thoroughly modern. A signed screw-down crown is nestled between robust, angular crown guards that provide protection without overwhelming the overall design. Coupled with an anti-reflective sapphire crystal and 200 meters of water resistance, the Outdoor 41 is built to handle anything from rain-soaked trails to shallow dives.
Then there’s its defining feature: anti-magnetism. While the “AntiMag” in the name might seem like a marketing flourish, it’s backed by engineering. The case integrates a soft iron Faraday cage that protects the movement from magnetic interference up to 80,000 A/m (1,000 Gauss). In a world filled with smartphones, laptops, and magnetic wallets, this is a hugely relevant and often underappreciated advantage.
The Outdoor 41’s dial is a masterclass in functional clarity with a touch of style. Available only in black, the dial surface is matte and highly legible. Large, white printed Arabic numerals circle the dial, offering high contrast that makes time-telling instant and effortless. The design cues are very much rooted in traditional field watch aesthetics, but not without subtle flair. Rectangular hour and minute hands are generously filled with Super-LumiNova, providing solid nighttime legibility. The heat-blued steel seconds hand features a luminous rectangular tip—a nice blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern function. This blued hand adds a splash of color and reflects Archimede’s attention to detail.
At the 3 o’clock position, the watch features a date window with a white date wheel. While a black date wheel to match the dial would have offered a more seamless aesthetic, it’s likely that the white was chosen to preserve visual balance and maintain the dial’s overall symmetry.
Also worth noting: the dial is a key part of the anti-magnetic shield. Alongside the inner iron case and movement holder, it forms part of the Faraday cage that protects the movement. It’s functional, not just aesthetic—a rare instance where the dial is structurally integral to the watch’s protection.
Inside the Archimede Outdoor 41 is the Sellita SW200-1, a Swiss-made automatic movement that’s widely respected for its robustness and serviceability. Beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) with a 38-hour power reserve, it’s a known quantity among enthusiasts. Archimede didn’t just drop in the standard version, though. The Outdoor 41 uses the upgraded SW200-1, which includes improved gear train components and an anti-magnetic Nivaflex hairspring. These tweaks enhance both accuracy and durability, aligning perfectly with the rugged brief of the watch.
Thanks to the anti-magnetic cage, the movement is shielded from everyday sources of magnetism that could otherwise cause drift or stoppage. The result is a timepiece that’s not just accurate out of the box, but likely to remain accurate even in tech-heavy environments. This hidden protection is what separates the Outdoor 41 from other field watches in its price range—many of which feature similar calibers but lack the magnetic resistance, hardened case, or elevated construction.
The Archimede Outdoor 41 is offered on multiple strap options, including leather and millanese bracelet and in stainless steel full link bracelet. Like the case, it’s made in-house by Ickler and features the same hardened steel for increased scratch resistance. The bracelet links are fully brushed, with a tool-like flat three-link design that complements the watch’s utilitarian nature. It tapers slightly from the lugs, enhancing wearability without sacrificing durability.
The solid end links integrate seamlessly with the case, contributing to a cohesive and robust overall look. However, they’re not without their issues. As noted in the initial impressions, the end links make direct contact with the case flanks—a design quirk that, over time, is likely to result in visible wear or scuffing where the links repeatedly rub against the case.
It’s a surprising oversight from a brand renowned for its meticulous case machining and engineering precision. The solution, however, seems relatively straightforward: slightly tapering or narrowing the end links at the point of contact could prevent this issue entirely. While it may seem like a minor detail, addressing it would better reflect the high standard of craftsmanship that Archimede and Ickler are known for. The folding clasp is milled and features a secure push-button release. While it doesn’t include a diver-style micro-adjust system, it does offer six fine adjustment holes for dialing in the fit.
The Archimede Outdoor 41 AntiMag is a compelling field watch not because it reinvents the genre, but because it refines it. It’s a timepiece that understands its purpose and delivers on that mission with German precision. You get hardened steel for real-world durability, anti-magnetic protection that actually works, a reliable Swiss movement, and clean, legible design—all housed in a slim, wearable case that’s equally at home in the office or on the trail.
At roughly €1,280.00 ( US$1,472.00 ), it’s not the cheapest field watch on the market, but few offer this level of in-house engineering, thoughtful construction, and real-world resilience at the same price point. For anyone looking for a rugged everyday watch with genuine tool-watch specs—and a clean, unpretentious aesthetic—the Archimede Outdoor 41 AntiMag should be high on the list. It’s the kind of watch you buy once and wear for decades, through whatever life (or the elements) throws at you.
KaminskyBlog 