Nubeo Atari 2600 Console Automatic Limited Edition

by Tyler Frederick

Pixelated Memories

It’s no secret that I love video games and watches. When you combine both worlds, I’ll freak out and need to get my hands on it as soon as possible. The world of games and watches seems to go hand in hand, not only from the level of passion and enthusiasm shared among collectors or enthusiasts in both spaces, but also from a design perspective and their ability to tap into the nostalgia of many as well. The gaming industry is full of nostalgia; I’m the type that falls head over heels for ’90s SEGA and Nintendo, and the watch industry is primarily built on nostalgia, with many releases harkening back to older models, and most watches following the same lineage or blueprint of a watch from the past; both industries share the nostalgia spotlight.

Today, I have the chance to check out a watch I’ve loved since its release. It brings one of the most iconic consoles of all time into a wearable form factor on your wrist: the Nubeo Atari 2600 Console Automatic Limited Edition.

^{Retro gaming goodness @horologyobsessed}

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“Lost in a colourful world”

Gaming means so much to me. To put it simply, it has been my safe space for years, and in a sense, still is. When I have the time, getting lost in these colourful worlds and experiencing the beatific splendor of stories and characters I’ve loved since I can remember is something I hope to experience forever. It’s the same with watches; these mechanical objects that rely on kinetic momentum to work keep such accurate time without a computer or any form of electronic assistance—that’s mind-blowing.

Having both in the Atari 2600 Console Automatic is a dream come true. It’s a watch that I’ve been wearing and having so much fun with. It’s a reflection of two things I’ve loved so much, and they’re both significant in the sense that they’ve captivated me with their mystery and whimsy to the point I’ve become obsessed and want to know all the lore.

Key Features of the Nubeo Atari 2600 Console Automatic Limited Edition

Retro returns

Over the last couple of years, the popularity of all things retro has reached an all-time. I’ve seen a large number of retro-styled games on modern consoles being released, and while not all of them are successes, it’s still cool to see developers focusing on the more influential years in the game industry. Now, while the Magnavox Odyssey is technically the first home console, I believe the title belongs to Atari due to the fact that the Atari 2600 was the first console with cartridge-based games and was surprisingly attainable, making it a true home and family console. It had such a cultural impact and influenced other companies to start their legacy—we see you, Nintendo.

That’s why I love the Nubeo Atari 2600 so much. The Atari 2600 is the grandfather/grandmother of console gaming—something that brought me so much peace throughout the many trials and tribulations of my life. It’s a nod to one of the greatest industries to ever exist, and one that I, and many others, will carry in our hearts forever.

An Atari on your wrist

This is a watch that can be worn, but it’s also meant to be a conversation starter. and to appease the inner nerd that lives within us. We collect and obsess over watches; we’re all nerds here. From a specs list perspective, it’s a pretty big watch, measuring 42mm in diameter with a 45mm lug-to-lug and a thickness of 16mm. While the compact lug-to-lug definitely makes the 42mm more wearable, the thickness is where most of the chunkiness comes from, and the faceted mineral crystal doesn’t help much. But let’s be honest, this looks so damn cool.

It’s thick and a tad on the large side, but I haven’t thought about that. It’s a freaking Atari on your wrist; how cool is that? The lug width of the rubber strap is 26mm, which helps bring more structure and balance to the wrist and overall wearing experience. Long story short, you definitely notice it’s on your wrist, but I love being reminded that the watch is there because it means I get to stop everything I’m doing, look at my wrist, smile, and let the urge to play Missile Command grow.

Fun for the whole family

The main attraction of the watch is the dial. The literal Atari 2600 encapsulated behind this faceted or angled mineral crystal. It’s a replica of the console, with the deeply etched plastic and that sweet woodgrain bottom panel featuring the white Atari logo. The placement of the Nubeo logo is where the cartridge slot would be. The Atari 2600 was designed with the thought of a family home in mind, hence its mix of dark colors and woodgrain; TVs were often encased in a natural wood box, also known as console TVs, so the Atari was designed to match, or come close to, the other electronics in the living room or den of the house, which is genius from a design perspective.

The Atari was revolutionary in terms of design meeting function. They accomplished what many strive for; making something fun and approachable for the whole family. There’s such a level of fun with this watch that could make the whole family fall in love with Atari all over again.

SPECS

Case	316L Stainless Steel 42mm Diameter 45mm Lug to Lug 16mm Thick 26mm Lug Width Display Case Back 50m Water Resistance
Dial & Crystal	Mineral Crystal “Binary Blue” Dial Sword Handset Atari “Woodgrain” Panel
Movement	Seiko NH35A 24 Jewels 21,600vph 41 Hour Power Reserve
Strap	Rubber Strap

Nubeo Atari 2600 Console Automatic Limited Edition

^{An Atari on your wrist @horologyobsessed}

Quibbles

I understand this watch won’t be for everyone; I couldn’t care less. This is why I fell in love with watches, and both my favourite worlds colliding into one wearable piece of retro gaming fashion is amazing. It’s bigger, a bit thick, and I know everyone isn’t a gamer, but for the inner child in all of us who grew up playing video games and has an appreciation for retro, I’m happy this exists. No quibbles here apart from the obvious ones regarding sizing, but again, who cares? It’s an Atari on your wrist; what else do you need?

Final Thoughts

This wasn’t so much a review as it was a reflection on something that makes me happy. I’ve spent plenty of time with the Nubeo Atari 2600 Console Automatic Limited Edition (that’s a mouthful) on my wrist, and it’s an experience I’m happy to keep having. I was brought back to when I was a kid, and that seems to be how I go about collecting or bringing watches in for review: feeding my inner child and revisiting that nostalgia I mentioned earlier. I’ll keep this short: if you love gaming in all aspects, or if you’re a retro game lover and you love watches too, just get one of these.

I’ve been trying to figure out how to word this, but remember when you were a kid on Saturday morning, with the sun shining through the window and the warmth in the living room as you sat in front of the TV with a big bowl of cereal to watch cartoons? That’s how this watch made me feel, and I smile every time I look at my wrist.

The Nubeo Atari 2600 Console Automatic Limited Edition is sold out in most colours. At the time of writing this, green is still available and is so beautiful, but it might be sold out by the time this is posted, so if you can get your hands on one second-hand, I recommend checking it out.

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.

Off The Cuff articles are full-length, hands-on reviews of the watch in question and represent the opinion of the author only. All photos are original, unless specified otherwise. If you would like to have your watch reviewed on this site, contact us here.