Heimdall’s Workshop: Vegvisir Adventure FirstLook
Norse folklore inspired designs on your wrist...
It’s always exciting to find a UPS delivery “sitting” on the chair on a Friday afternoon before Playoff Weekend!
Unboxing
A few readers pointed us to Heimdall’s Workshop after reading one of our wristwatch reviews. They were intrigued by the US-based watch maker and wanted to know if their watches were for real or not.
We reached out, had a great conversation with the folks, and decided to take a FirstLook at their Vegvisir Automatic.
The watch came well-boxed. By the time it was unpacked and ready for its “FirstLook,” there were three empty packing boxes and a beautiful matte black display one on the bench.
FirstLook
Quality wristwatches always come packaged in a high quality presentation case. The one that accompanied the watch from Heimdall’s Workshop was a beauty!
Check out some of the details of the case:
The understated elegant matte-black case is roomy, well-padded, and a perfect home for the Vegvisir Automatic. We loved our FirstLook of the entire presentation so much that we probably opened and closed the case a dozen times before handling the watch for the first time. LOL.
Face Details
- Dial: Vegvisir Symbol
Vegvisir is derived from two Icelandic words: vegur and vísir. Vegur means “way, road, path,” and vísir means “path, guide.” The watch is a representation of the different paths that can be taken, a guide for mortals, and a symbol to help find one’s path.
In the Huld Manuscript, the Vegvisir is mentioned as a symbol of guidance and protection; the sentence approximately translates to: The wearer of this symbol will not lose his way during storms and bad weather, even if he does not know of his destination.
The pattern on the watch face is often attributed to the Vikings, and some refer to it as “the Viking compass.” However, those who have studied its origin say there is no direct evidence for that.
We are novice in all things Norse, but we mention the history of Vegvisir symbol because it is boldly presented on the face of the watch.
- Glass : Double Domed Sapphire Glass
- Bezel : Uni-directional rotation
The face of the Vegvisir Automatic is covered by sapphire crystal glass. Sapphire crystal glass has better impact resistance than mineral glass, and can only be scratched with diamond.
The sapphire crystal is also double-domed. This means it is round on both the inside and the outside. The design reduces visual distortion, and stands up to the pressure of deeper dive depths. It also has an anti-reflective coating for increased clarity.
The rotating bezel has Nordic-inspired markings and moves counterclockwise only. Go here if you want to know why.
Other Details
- Crown : Screw Down
- Case Material : 316L Stainless Steel
- Case Diameter : 44.8 mm without crown
- Case Thickness : 15mm
- Caseback : Screw Down with Gunhild Axe Insignia
- Bracelet : Stainless Steel – With microadjustment
- Strap Material : Stainless Steel
Fitting
The bracelet is large enough to accommodate Thor’s wrist, but can be resized for humans: we had to remove bracelet links from both sides of the buckle so the bracelet would fit us.
Since we have resized many watches over the years, we automatically got out the tools we thought we would need. However, upon closer inspection, we saw that the links were secured by screws, not tension posts, hence Hemdall’s inclusion of a jeweler’s screwdriver.
Removing the links was easier and faster than punching it out with a standard extraction tool (and also less likely that we would scratch anything). All in all, we removed six links (3 from each side) and fine-adjusted the clasp to make the bracelet fit exactly how we like it.
Glass : Double Domed Sapphire Glass
Features
- Movement : Automatic Miyota 8215 Cal
- Bezel : Uni-directional rotation
- Bracelet : Stainless Steel – With security clasp
- Water Resistance : 660 Feet (20 ATM)
- Lume : Super Swiss Lume
The watch is powered by a Miyota 8215 non-hacking twenty-one jewel, three-hand-with-date automatic wristwatch movement. Its winding system is uni-directional (clockwise), has an accuracy of -20 to +40 seconds per day, and a power reserve of over 40 hours when full (hand-wind via the crown 40x).
Crown : Screw Down
The watch movement can be hand-wound when the crown is NOT screwed in, but not pulled out (Position 0). Set the time by pulling the crown out one click (Position 1). Set the date by pulling the crown out again (Position 2). There is a “warning” in the directions to NOT set the date while the time is between 9:00pm and 1:00am. We are not exactly sure why, but it probably has something to do with the tripping of the “date” to the next day.
Bracelet : Stainless Steel
The bracelet is secured by double lock clasp with a push-button release and a V-security clasp typical of high-end dive watches. The only improvement we could imagine is if the clasp was of the wetsuit ratchet type, but that would be overkill for most people, and possibly veering into poser territory…of course, not if you are actually a diver!
Bracelet : With micro-adjustment
Many of the watch’s details take their inspiration from Nordic folklore and weaponry. One such example is the double-headed bearded battle axe—a design most commonly associated with Viking-age Scandinavia—that is embossed on the back.
Caseback : Screw Down with Gunhild Axe Insignia
Swiss Super-LumiNova® pigments are non-radioactive, highly temperature resistant, and the choice of watch-makers looking for the highest possible afterglow performance. It is used in the bezel, dial, and hands of the Vegvisir Automatic. The glow is bright and very visible.
Lume : Super Swiss Lume
FirstThoughts
The attitude of the folks at Heimdall’s Workshop is: “We aren’t here to compete with luxury brands.” That’s a good thing for the “luxury brands” as the Heimdall offerings would CRUSH them!
The Heimdall Vegvisir Automatic screams of quality in appearance, feel, and finish. We love how the designers infused Norse iconography and spirit into this rugged timepiece.
Most of all, we are stunned by the value offered by these American watchmakers!
We’ll be wearing this Vegvisir Automatic for the next few months to see how we like it and how it performs out in the wild. We have a suspicion that our expectations for what to expect from a wristwatch at the sub-$400 price point is about to be reset!
Look for a FirstUse/InTheWild writeup later in the year.
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