Time travel doesn’t exist. I mean, maybe they did crack that code deep in an underground bunker on the east end of Long Island between the 1950s and 1980s during what’s known as the Montauk Project. Our civilian watch enthusiast selves will never know the truth. Admittedly, I’ve been rewatching The X-Files a little bit too much lately and recently camped out in the Camp Hero parking lot to do some fishing. Fortunately (I have ZERO desire to mess with that) the closest we can get to time travel is courtesy of watch brands like Vario. They’re making some seriously cool, vintage-inspired pieces that hit on nostalgic elements of classic watches while providing all the convenience of modern construction, movements, and water resistance. Really, you’re getting the best of both worlds – vintage looks paired with modern construction. Today, we’re looking at the Futurist. A new watch from the Singapore-based brand that features a 39mm case, old-school faceted crystal, and a unique crown position that really got me thinking about why the default position is somewhere around 3 o’clock. Let’s take a closer look at this green-dialed stunner.
Case
The first thing I noticed about the Futurist is the lack of traditional crown placement. No, there’s no crown at 3 or even 4 o’clock. It’s positioned at the top of the case, nestled between the lugs at 12 o’clock. The wide, flat crown has textured edges that make it easy to manipulate. Simply pull it out, set the time (no date here), and be on your way. Unless you’re doing some serious globetrotting or have a ton of watches in your rotation, using the crown isn’t really an everyday affair. With the crown being tucked away, you’re not only getting the protection you would from crown guards, but a much less intrusive way of doing so. There’s nothing jutting out from the sides of the case, making for a sleek appearance and comfortable wrist presence. There’s no sneaky measurements going on here either. At 39mm, the case has two symmetrical sides with nothing to poke you in the wrist while it’s bent. Compared to other watches in my collection, this one looks almost like it’s missing something. That’s not to say that I miss the crown in a traditional position. I really dig the streamlined look and feel.
Another thing that stood out to me immediately was the finely machined lines radiating from the sunburst dial. The flat bezel sharply slopes down into the top of the case, where it rests against this interesting machined pattern. Further towards the outer boundaries of the case, there’s a polished bevel that terminates in some short and angular lugs. Fine brushing on the mid case breaks things up a bit, giving the Futurist a lot to take in, but remains tasteful and never overbearing. Given the $650 price point, there’s a lot to like about the finishing of the watch. Dare I utter the watch reviewer’s trope and say that in terms of finishing that this one punches above its weight? I definitely think it does.
On the case back, you’ll find a scene inspired by 2001: A Space Odyssey in which Dave is walking down an angular hallway. Here, you have an astronaut walking down a very similar hallway engraved onto the case back. It’s a cool little nod to the 1970s space travel that inspired the design of the watch.
Dial + Hands
A space-inspired watch with a SUNburst dial – see what they did there? I had the pleasure of spending some time with the green dial variant. It starts out as a vibrant, emerald green and fades to black at the edges. The etched pattern catches the light, giving that signature sunburst effect. One of the cool things about the sunburst dial is that it meshes nicely with the machined lines on the outer edge of the case. The text is kept to a minimum, with only the brand’s name residing in a fine typeface at 12 o’clock. Twelve applied indices mark the hours. They’re highly polished and angular, with a small hit of luminescent paint running down the middle. They remind me almost of the indices on my Grand Seiko SBGV245. They’re not the same level of finishing, but they do look pretty darn good.
The rectangular hand set mirrors the look of the indices, each featuring their own line of lume running down the middle. There’s a small break in the end of each hand, giving them some more character. Highly polished hands aren’t always the easiest to read at a glance, but the contrast between the silver of the hands and rich green dial is more than enough to tell the time.
Another interesting feature of the Futurist is the faceted sapphire crystal. Popularized by Seiko in the early to mid 1970s, faceted crystals were a bit of a flash-in-the-pan, as they made an impression but didn’t stick around for all that long. Seiko brought them back on a recent SARB model, but other than that, you don’t see a whole lot of faceted crystals in the watch world. On the Futurist, the crystal adds to the 70s aesthetic while making the watch just that much more interesting. While looking at the dial head-on, the transition between flat surfaces distorts the dial ever-so-slightly. At more extreme angles, the effect is much more apparent. I’ve found myself just staring at the watch, observing from different angles throughout the day. Photographing the watch was a bit more of a challenge too, but one I welcomed with enthusiasm. It’s rare to see this type of crystal, but it fits the vibe of the watch to a tee.
Movement
Beating away inside the Futurist, you’ll find a Miyota 9039 automatic movement. This Japanese-made workhorse beats away with a 28,800vph that sends the seconds hand smoothly around the dial. A 42-hour power reserve and automatic winding means that it’ll stay on time for nearly two days between wearings. At just 3.90mm thick, the 9039 is an excellent choice for watches that you want to stay thin. The 10mm overall thickness of the Futurist benefits from the slimness of the Miyota movement, making it a great choice for the watch. These movements have a stated accuracy of -10/+30 seconds per day, which is just fine. The rotor can be a bit noisy at times, but to me, that’s just a gentle reminder that you’re wearing a small time-telling machine on your wrist.
Strap + Wearability
Included with the Futurist is a green veg tan Italian leather strap. The strap has a thick internal pad up by the lug attachment points, and tapers down at the buckle. A single contrasting stitch runs down each side of the strap. The included strap isn’t terribly remarkable, but I’m sure after a break in period, it’ll be comfortable on the wrist. Also in the box was a pair of unique stretchy steel bracelets. The steel option has a distinctly vintage look. The brushed segments are spring-loaded, providing a comfortable and sleek wearing experience. I personally prefer the look of the watch on the bracelet. It adds to the vintage look much more than the leather strap.
Measuring in at a reasonable 10mm thick (thin?), the Futurist represents a pretty ideal size for most wrists. For reference, my wrist measures in at 6.75”. It’s sleek, comfortable, and the case elements are balanced nicely with each other, hitting that sweet spot for me.
Conclusion
Admittedly, Vario wasn’t on my radar before this watch popped onto my desk. Sometimes, that’s a good thing. It removes preconceived notions and allows you to approach something with no inherent bias. I really enjoyed the approach to 1970s design queues without feeling forced. Each element of the watch is constructed skillfully and tastefully. I enjoyed the finishing techniques used, especially the machined lines on the top surface of the case. In my humble opinion, the $650 price tag is justified. There’s a lot to like about the watch and it’s clear that Vario approached this with a tasteful eye. The subtle nods to the past, which ironically were looking at the future results in an interesting and engaging timepiece. The Vario Futurist is now available directly from the brand. You can choose from the green seen here, or from the silver, red, or blue variants. Let us know how you feel about the watch in the comments below — too much retro-futurism, or just right?
Oh, and P.S. – you’re more than likely overdue for a re-watch of 2001: A Space Odyssey just like I was. Vario
Ed Jelley
2025-11-10 17:00:00