Vostra Vector: Retro-futurism at an affordable price

by Tyler Frederick

Populuxe inspiration

Oh, hey. It’s been a while since I’ve written one of these, but coming back and talking about something that excites me is….well, exciting! My collecting habits and brand enthusiasm stem entirely from the passion a brand carries and its design. I’m honoured to call Huiy Tang from RZE a friend, and a couple of months ago, he approached me about a new project in the works–a watch inspired by the 1950s-1970s “Populuxe” design era. When I saw the first images and theme for the brand, the ear-to-ear grin and the feeling in my chest made me want to experience it to its full extent. Luckily, I just so happened to get my hands on the NEW Vostra Vector in Gamma Grey, and let me tell you, I was not disappointed.

Vostra Vector Watch Review — ^{Vostra Vector in Gamma Grey @horologyobsessed}

Check out the RZE Valour 38 Date

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Key Features of the Vostra Vector

The team at Vostra are big on community and bringing people together, hence the brand name: Vostra is the Italian pronoun for “yours” or meaning “belong to you.” As I was told, Vostra is not just a brand but one that implies community and bringing others together who collect not only watches but also all sorts of cool stuff. This is why the images on their site and social media include toys, Hot Wheels, etc. As someone who collects many different things, I was immediately hooked on Vostra’s intention, and the Vector is the icing on the cake. It’s such a fantastic watch on and off my wrist.

The Vector combines a unique, “futuristic” design with modern reliability and specs. I might be biased, but it’s one of the coolest watches I’ve seen in a long time, and having it on my wrist feels outstanding. With a 40mm case diameter, 47mm lug-to-lug and thickness of 13mm, it’s a well-proportioned watch with the perfect amount of wrist presence while feeling fluid–not to mention the flat-link bracelet looks integrated into the case, which looks incredible. The bracelet features quick-release spring bars, allowing for a quick swap to the Vostra Slice-2-Size rubber strap, which I didn’t try since I’m obsessed with the look of the bracelet.

The dial uses a monochrome colour scheme of grey, black, and white with pops of teal, which is a welcomed contrast and a great blend of simplicity with colour. I immediately think of the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team, but that’s just another interest of mine stepping in. The Vector implements the Seiko VK63 meca-quartz, the best of both worlds. The functionality is straightforward: 3 o’clock is a 24-hour scale, 6 is your seconds, and 9 is your minute counter for your stopwatch function. The VK63 is an awesome choice to help reduce the cost while still being a reliable and high-functioning movement.

Specs

Case	Micro-blasted Stainless Steel 40mm Diameter 47mm Lug-to-lug 20mm Lug width 13mm Thick Screw Down Crown & Case Back 100m Water Resistance
Dial & Crystal	Sapphire Crystal Matte Gamma Grey Dial Applied Indices Baton Hands Super-LumiNova
Movement	Seiko VK63 Meca-Quartz Chronograph
Strap	Stainless Steel Flatlink

Vostra Vector Gamma Grey

Quibbles

Overall, the Vector is a fantastic watch. My only issues were the flat-link bracelet and the lack of micro-adjustment. I have smaller wrists, and sizing the bracelet is easy, but obtaining the perfect fit takes effort. It still feels great on the wrist, but I like my bracelets nice and snug with little to no movement. Still, the bracelet feels great.

Final Thoughts

There are so many things to love about the Vostra Vector, including its specs, design, and branding. However, I haven’t covered the price. Vostra’s Kickstarter campaign is now available, and those who back the campaign can pick one up for only $199. After the campaign is over, the watch will retail for $279. The budget-friendly category of watch collecting is one of my favourites, and the Vostra Vector is an excellent watch for the money. Be sure to check out their Kickstarter.

About the author

Born into a family obsessed with motorsport, Tyler Frederick became enamoured with speed and beautiful cars at a young age. His love of Formula 1–and all things mechanical–eventually lead him to horology. You can follow him on Instagram.

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