Stolas is a fairly new, entry-level brand started here in the U.S. by outdoorsman and watch enthusiast Curtis Stolas. Reflecting its Founder’s passion for design and nautical sports, Stolas offers a trio of sport/dive watches, all offered at a reasonable price point. I recently reviewed Stolas’s Harbormaster Gennaker model and can say that it is a worthy choice for any watch buyer who is seeking a limited production, versatile dive watch with excellent lume characteristics and an affordable price tag ($619). All Stolas watches are available for purchase direct from the Stolas website.
Enjoy the review…
STOLAS Harbormaster Gennaker Watch Review (Video)
STOLAS Harbormaster Gennaker Watch Review (Photos)
(c) Perpetuelle.com
Stolas’s signature design element is undoubtedly the “lightning bolt” seconds hand — seen here on the Gennaker, but as well on the other Stolas models. For me, it took some time to get used to a jagged-looking seconds hand — definitely a conversation-starter!
The Stolas Harbormaster Gennaker also features a carbon fiber dial, which I really like — on some watches this type of dial can reduce legibility, but not on the Gennaker.
Curtis Stolas tells me that his technique for applying lume to the bezel (all the way from “12″ to “4″, or 20 minutes) is patent pending, and that Stolas is among the only watch brands to feature a luminous 20-minute bezel (luxury brand IWC Schaffhausen is another)
The case is stainless steel with a polished black PVD finish — it looks good out of the box, though I do wonder how it might look 5-10 years down the road after a lot of wear.
You can check out the full Stolas collection at http://www.stolaswatch.co/watch/home.html.
