By Brent Robillard
A Canadian solar watch for the everyday
I first met Solios at the Montreal Timepiece Show. One of the pleasures of these events is getting to know the people behind a watch, particularly when those people happen to be building a business here in Canada. There is a fair bit happening on that front these days. Solios gives us another good reason to pay attention.
The Montreal brand will also be in Toronto for the fall edition of the Timepiece Show series. Ahead of that, we had the green-dial Sunseeker in for review. It is a solar-powered quartz watch, assembled in Canada, with a C$505 pre-order price and a rather sensible approach to everyday wear. It also has a fluted bezel, which suggests that sensible needn’t mean entirely buttoned down.
To my eye, this is GADA territory: Go Anywhere, Do Anything. Think of the broad appeal of a Longines Conquest, an Omega Aqua Terra, or a Rolex Oyster Perpetual. There is a familiar combination of a steel case, straightforward time display, and enough polish to carry a watch through dinner. Those references help explain where the Sunseeker sits stylistically. Its price and solar movement give it a different proposition for the person doing the buying.
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From Montreal to the Dragons
Solios was founded by Samuel Leroux and Alexandre Desabrais. The brand traces its early thinking to 2016, followed by a trip to Japan to learn about solar movements. A successful Kickstarter campaign in 2018 helped turn the idea into watches, with the first deliveries following in 2019. In 2021, the founders appeared on Dans l’œil du dragon, bringing their young business to a much wider audience.
There is something appealing about following that progression from a crowdfunded idea to a watch you can try on at a Canadian show. Plenty of brands have a good opening chapter. Building a business beyond it takes considerably more work.
Solios also became B Corp certified in December 2020. The company describes itself as the first watch brand to earn the designation, and B Lab’s directory confirms its certification. That assessment covers how a business operates, including its governance, treatment of workers, and environmental impact. For readers wondering what the designation adds, it gives the sustainability discussion some outside scrutiny.
The Sunseeker takes the Canadian connection a step further. Solios identifies it as its first collection assembled here. Design takes place in Montreal, the movement comes from Japan, and components are sourced through international suppliers. Canadian assembly is a meaningful development for a small brand, and one I am happy to see. It brings another part of the watchmaking process closer to home.
Green with a little extra detail
Our review model pairs its green sunburst dial with a silver-coloured steel case. Black, blue, and silver dials are also available. Green makes sense to me here: there is enough colour to give the watch some personality, while remaining classy.
The stepped construction adds depth, and the floating indices give the markers a more architectural presence. I like the way those details provide interest within a familiar three-hand format. This is the sort of watch that needs to remain useful at a glance, even when its owner has stopped thinking about the design.
The bezel is the part that nudges the Sunseeker towards dressier company. Solios describes its cuts in terms of sun rays, tying the shape back to the watch’s source of power. The fluting adds a decorative edge to an otherwise versatile sports watch outline. For me, that is the right place to spend a little design effort. It gives the Sunseeker something recognisable without crowding the dial.
There is another small reference to sunshine at the tip of the seconds hand. On the 40mm model, a luminous sun makes the rounds. The hands and every hour marker also receive Grade A Super-LumiNova. It is a charming detail on a watch whose appeal is largely practical.
Sized for regular duty
The case measures 40mm across, 46mm from lug to lug, and 10mm thick. Those are encouraging proportions for an everyday watch, especially if, like me, you prefer to keep case sizes reasonably contained. The short overall span matters as much as the diameter, while the thickness should make a shirt cuff an uncomplicated proposition.
Sapphire crystal and 10 ATM of water resistance round out the basic specification. The case uses certified recycled stainless steel, and the 20mm lug width leaves plenty of room for strap experimentation. Solios offers vegan leather, natural rubber, and a stainless steel bracelet designed for adjustment at home, with easily interchangeable attachments. Rubber would be my choice for time around water; the bracelet makes the dressier side of the design easier to picture.
The practical appeal of solar
Inside is a Japanese Epson solar quartz movement. Solios quotes accuracy within about 20 seconds per month and up to 12 months of running time from a full charge. Light passes through the dial to a solar cell beneath it, with the resulting energy stored in a rechargeable cell. Both natural and artificial light can do the job.
That is a useful arrangement for an everyday watch, and perhaps an even more useful one for collectors who rotate through several. There is no winding routine, and regular exposure to sufficient light reduces the need for battery replacements. A year of reserve also provides a generous margin between outings.
I would put a little distance between that convenience and promises that a watch will never stop or never require attention. Solar watches need adequate light, and rechargeable cells can age. The straightforward benefit is already persuasive: accurate timekeeping, a long reserve, and very little routine involvement from the owner.
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Specs
| Case | 316L stainless steel 40mm Diameter 46mm Lug to Lug 10mm Thick 20mm Lugs Fluted Fixed Bezel 100m Water Resistance |
| Dial & Crystal | Sapphire Crystal Sunray Stepped Dial Applied Markers Slim Sword Hands Super-LumiNova |
| Movement | Japanese Epson Solar Quartz Accurate within 20 secs/month Up to 12 Months of Reserve at Full Charge |
| Strap | Choice of Vegan Leather, Natural rubber, or Stainless Steel |
Solios Sunseeker
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A welcome Canadian option
At C$505 on pre-order, with a three-year warranty, the Sunseeker has a clear audience. Someone looking for a versatile first watch gets useful specifications and accessible pricing. A collector gets an easy option for the days when setting another mechanical watch feels like one small task too many.
I like the Canadian story, and the move into local assembly gives us something concrete to follow. I also like that the watch itself belongs in such an ordinary, useful category. The green dial and fluted bezel give it enough character to enjoy, while solar power suits the job. If you are heading to the Toronto show, this is a good opportunity to meet the people behind it. That is how Solios first found its way onto my radar.
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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.
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.
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