A small French brand doing it properly
By Tom Hargreaves, Falmouth, Cornwall ยท
Military issue dive watches from the sixties and seventies were small, plain and built to be read, and Serica, a little Paris outfit, clearly agree with me on that. The 5303 takes that look and makes it at a sensible size, 39 mm by 12.2 mm, with 20 mm lugs.
It's a chronometer, rated to 300 m, closed back, no date. The Soprod M100 inside gives you 42 hours. Marco would probably have more to say about the Soprod than me; my view is that it's a reasonable Swiss movement that any decent watchmaker can deal with.
The dial is very clean and the lume is strong. The bezel has a good chunky edge you could find with cold fingers.
Criticisms: 42 hours is a bit short, and you have to buy it direct, which means no chance to try it on first. Price is $1,750 to $1,910. Fair, for what it is.
I'd buy it for the size and the honesty of the design. Nothing on it is there for show.