The Devil is in the details
Royce Wee, co-founder of Tennet Watch, believes “the subtle details of a timepiece, often hidden in plain sight, distinguish it as a collectable work of art…” As a longtime enthusiast and collector himself, he ought to know. The brand’s first offering, the Tennet Somerset, certainly puts this theory to the test. The Somerset is all about subtlety.
Key Features of the Tennet Somerset
To begin, the case takes on what might appear at first blush as a very classic look supported on either end by “bull horn” lugs, like you find on vintage Vacheron Constantin and Rolex. However, up close, the lugs are quite angular and feature scooped edges with a mix of satin brushing and polish. The effect is much more athletic than classic as a result.
The crown, too, is of visual interest. It is faceted with “domino” planes and features a red dot in place of a logo. The latter is a tribute to the brand’s roots; Singapore is a country often referred to and the “Little Red Dot”.
The watch is a very wearable 38mm in diameter with a 46mm lug to lug. It is also quite thin at 9.5mm (not including the slightly raised sapphire crystal). Like the lugs, the case is finished in a mix of satin-blasting (sides) and high polish (bezel). On the flip side, through the display case back we can see the customised SW210, which is a manual winding movement. Tennet have opted for the Top Grade for a fully decorated treatment of Côtes de Genève striping, blued screws, and a perlage on the base plates. The wheel bridge is also engraved in the brand’s logo. According to brand literature, the watch is rated to 200m of water resistance, as well—which is a bit of a surprise, given the timepiece’s dressy aesthetic.
Around the outside of the case back, next to the watch’s name, is the engraving of the brand motto, Nolite Timere: Be Fearless. Each watch is also numbered.
The dial, however, is the highlight here. The brand has taken great pains to develop the sector-style in a monochrome colourway and a synthesis of various texturing. The tear drop hour markers are a motif repeated in the lug shape, the custom Delta-styled handset, and again at the end of the minute hand. The drops, the minute hand, and the twelve o’clock indicator are also treated in Super-LumiNova.
The watch comes on a very nicely stitched leather strap from Delugs. It tapers sharply from 20mm at the lugs to 16mm at the stainless steel clasp.
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SPECS
| Case | 316L Stainless Steel 38mm Diameter 46mm Lug to Lug 9.5mm Thick (excluding crystal) 20mm Lug Width Screw Down Case Back 200m Water Resistance |
| Dial & Crystal | Sapphire Crystal Sector Dial Applied Indices Custom “Delta” Handset |
| Movement | Sellita SW210-1b D4 Hand wound 19 Jewels 28 800bph 42-Hour Power Reserve |
| Strap | Stitched Leather from Delugs |
Tennet Somerset
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Final Thoughts
The Tennet Somerset is a thoughtful design that reveals itself slowly over time. The repeated motif of the teardrop, the finely rendered mix of finishes, and the design flourishes in the dial texturing–or the lug construction–make for a charismatic timepiece. While it certainly conjures up images of mid-century dress watches, at the same time, the Somerset offers up a robust construction with a surprising level of water resistance. Equipped with an attractive and reliable Swiss movement, the Somerset is promising first volley from Tennet.
Pricing & Availability
The Tennet Somerset retails for $1200USD/$1,674.00 CAD. For more information, please visit the brand website.
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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.
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