Being an enthusiast from Malaysia, it surprisingly wasn’t too long ago that I came across the brand Alcadus on Instagram. Through a good conversation over coffee with the founder, Yook Hong, I had the opportunity to understand the brand on a deeper level and of course, try on a number prototypes and ready-to-buy pieces. Being one who loves vintage-inspired divers, the Dromo immediately caught my attention. So, let’s get into it.
What’s being talked about today is the Alcadus Dromo, a vintage inspired diver with modern-day specifications. Before I begin, is it just me or do the words “vintage inspired” make us happy and judgemental at the same time? Don’t you think so? Well, let’s dive deeper to find out.
First off, looks. It’s very balanced in terms of visuals and I love that. If I were to change one thing though, it would be the indices positioned at 3,6 and 9 o’clock. Although sized proportionately, I personally find that having larger indices might add more character to the dial and also fill up the space a little better. When looked at from the top, the mentioned indices look a little skinny to me and to be honest, lacking character by the slightest bit. But again, it’s all personal preference. Bezel wise, there’s the option of either a lumed sapphire or stainless steel insert (only for the salmon and yellow dial). Personally, the latter option really brings out more vintage vibes. If given a choice, I’d go with the steel insert because they’re both equally as functional and by going stainless, there’ll be less obvious fingerprints anyway. Though I must say, the dial options that come with the sapphire insert are great! Especially the one in red. To add to the vintage charm, a 2.5mm thick box sapphire crystal is chosen. Of course, it might not give you the warmth that comes with a hesalite crystal, but hey, it does give you more of a hassle-free experience as you don’t have to worry too much about scratches.
Moving on to the case, besides the sweet 39mm diameter, my favorite element would be how the lugs elegantly taper down as they move away from the case. Not to mention, the inclusion of drilled lugs! For its size, a thickness of 12.7mm (including the crystal) feels right when worn on the wrist. Detail wise, it’s worth noting that the presence of polished chamfers really makes a huge difference in terms of how the lines on the case looks more defined. As the case finishing is entirely brushed, it is indeed a very practical watch that is daily-watch worthy. To add on, there’s also scratch resistant coating! Before moving to the highlight of this diver, the engine of choice enclosed within this case is a Miyota 9039 automatic movement that hacks.
Now here’s the highlight of this piece, the way it wears. With a lug-to-lug length of 45.5mm, it has essentially no overhang when worn on my 16cm wrist. I smile every time I look at how the downward angle of the lugs allow the case to hug my wrist. Weight wise, it’s balanced when worn on both a strap or bracelet. Not head-heavy by any means and definitely comfortable! Although I would like to see the Dromo with a beads of rice bracelet fitted to it, the flatlink bracelet wears comfortably as is. Another thing worth applauding would be the adjustability of the clasp where on-the-fly adjustments can be easily done. Though I must say, the mechanism does slide back (shrinks the bracelet) a little easier than how I’d like it to. As it doesn’t have too much resistance, a slight knock at the right angle might shrink the clasp based on my experience. Or maybe I’m just clumsy.
After having the opportunity to experience the Dromo for a week, I find that it is a great daily watch that wears great, has clean aesthetics and slides under the radar. Overall, I’d say the watch looks more modern than vintage. Hence, if you’re in the market for a modern looking diver with great sizing, this is one that’s worth considering for 449 USD. With there being five color options to choose from, the yellow dial is my favorite. Head over to their website here to check it out!
feedthewrist. 