Mick Jørgensen’s Nordic Marine Instruments is sure to make waves with the new Østersøen (Danish for Baltic Sea). At the time of publication, the diver is in the final throes of a successful Kickstarter campaign. So, if you like what you see here, don’t waste any time.

---

Advertisement

---

The Østersøen is a quintessential tool watch, featuring clean lines and straightforward, well-crafted design. My impression out of the box was, “Dang this thing is sharp.” Indeed, the watch—which is designed in Denmark and built in Singapore—has nary a stray cue. From its balanced, no date dial, to its stark steel bezel, the Østersøen eschews pretention of any kind. In its place, you get a solid build quality and a Nordic simplicity that is immediately attractive.

Using a technique they call MØRK finishing, NMI employs a diamond paste to polish the metal chamfers to a mirror-shine, adding a sense of depth and lightplay in the otherwise predominantly brushed case. Nicely proportioned at 40mm in diameter and 48mm lug to lug, the Østersøen is also slim for a diver. Despite its robust 120-click bezel, the watch comes in at only 11.9mm. Long, athletic lugs taper down to a 20mm lug width, as well, providing for a sturdy, yet refined silhouette. In combination with a screw-down crown and case back, the Østersøen offers 200m of water resistance.

A particular highlight here is the flat, sapphire crystal which has an excellent undercoat of AR to stave off unwanted reflections and glare—which is perfect, because you wouldn’t want to miss a minute of the delightful wave pattern crafted into the dial. Reflecting the dynamic character of the Baltic Sea, each colourway features the same laser-cut texturing in Arctic White, Sea Green, Sky Blue, or Sea Blue (featured here).

Onto this have been applied white wedge markers, lined with polished steel to match the diamond cut dauphine handset in shape and finish. Interestingly, each timepiece employs a dollop of orange in the seconds hand and the model name, which is in tribute to the orange lighthouses of Denmark’s coast that bring sailors safely home from sea. Like those lighthouses, the Østersøen truly shines after dark, with a powerful application of BGW9 Super-LumiNova. A recessed chapter ring encases all in an easily legible minute track.

The bracelet is a relatively straightforward three-link, using solid female endlinks for a comfortable drape. It really suits the case and tapers from 20mm at the lugs to a slim 16mm at the clasp. However, hiding beneath that clasp is an on-the-fly micro-adjusting mechanism that functions at the push of a button, allowing the wearer to make slight alterations throughout the day, thereby achieving the perfect fit.

At the heart of the Østersøen diver is the Miyota 90S5 Ultra Thin. This newer movement is partially responsible for the restrained case thickness. Like other movements in the series, it has 24 jewels and a 4Hz beat rate. You can expect up to 42 hours in power reserve, as well.

---

SPECS

Case	316L Stainless Steel 40mm Diameter 48mm Lug to Lug 11.9mm Thick 20mm Lug Width 120-click Unidirectional Bezel Screw Down Crown & Case Back 200m Water Resistance
Dial & Crystal	Flat Sapphire Crystal /w AR Undercoat Wave-Textured Dial Applied Markers Dauphine Handset BGW9 Super-LumiNova
Movement	Miyota 90S5 24 Jewels 28 800bph 42-Hour Power Reserve
Strap	Stainless Steel Bracelet /w On-the-Fly Micro-Adjust

NMI Østersøen

---

Advertisement

---

Of Interest

In 2014, Mick Jørgensen turned his @wristporn Instagram account into a cornerstone of the microbrand world that we now know as watchbandit.com. To launch NMI, he gathered the talent of Creative Director, Christopher Waluga, and Production Consultant, Travis Tan. Chris holds architecture degrees from Germany’s Bahaus University and Poland’s Technical University of Cracow and has worked with Mick on WatchBandit since 2018. Travis, founder of RZE, brings his engineering acumen and metal-working expertise to the trio.

Quibbles

Frankly, at the early bird pricing of $399USD, the Østersøen is a steal.

Final Thoughts

With a high-end Japanese movement, a micro-adjusting claspt, top notch finishing, and a clean Nordic design, one would expect a much higher price tag to accompany the NMI Østersøen. It’s no wonder that the fledgling brand has eclipsed its initial Kickstarter pledge and unlocked two of three stretch goals—a bracelet adjustment tool and a free FKM rubber Tropic strap. With the Østersøen, NMI manage to achieve the difficult task of designing a distinctive diver with classic cues and familiar language that looks as though it might well have been around for decades.

Early bird pricing of the NMI Østersøen is $399USD for the first 300 pieces. MSRP following the close of the Kickstarter campaign will be $549 USD. Delivery is scheduled for January and February of 2024. For more information check out the brand website and Kickstarter page.

---

Check out the Dailos Waveform

---

About the author

Brent Robillard is a writer, educator, craftsman, and watch enthusiast. He is the author of four novels. You can follow him on Instagram.

---

Other Watchy Bits include op-ed pieces and articles of general interest. We’d love to hear your opinion in the comments section below.

Please understand that using any links to products on this site may result in us making money.