Elliot Brown Bloxworth 2.0
A few years ago, Michael Wolfe, a former reviewer here at Watchreport, did a pretty comprehensive review on the Elliot Brown Bloxworth. You can find that review here: https://www.watchreport.com/elliot-brown-bloxworth-watch-review/.
The version I am reviewing today, which sells for $750 US direct, as Alex from Elliot Brown puts it, is an evolution and not a revolution of the model. Besides the aesthetic differences, which I will discuss in more detail below, a few minor things have been done to elevate the Bloxworth in production. The case back surface is now a little flatter and cleaner, and the chamfer that runs along the outer edge of the watch is sharpened up. Minor details here, but E.B is always looking to improve and make the best watch they know how. This 2.0 version comes in a few different colorways, but I was very struck by this grey/blue dial. It certainly is unique. The specifications have stayed the same, so you can grab that info from Michael’s review, but I will be discussing what I love, like and one thing that I do not like at all.
First and foremost, I love the look of the this Elliot Brown Bloxworth. It still has an elapsed timing bezel, but this time it has a silver aluminum bezel insert as opposed to black or blue. It just gives it an overall cleaner aesthetic and does not scream dive watch (This model is not considered a dive watch anyways). The blue/grey dial is flat out awesome. Elliot Brown lists this as grey dial, but it definitely, to me, is more blue then grey. I would label it a steel blue maybe. Wherever it lands on the color scale, it is striking. EB wanted to create a more relaxed version of the Bloxworth, more of an every day watch, and the dial played an important role in that. While the red accents and large dial markers still evoke that of a sport watch, it is less rugged looking than previous versions.
At 44mm, it is in my comfort zone of what I personally will wear these days, but more importantly, it has a lug to lug of 53mm. That is a tall watch, yet it does not feel like it on the wrist for some reason. I never got to try the original version of the Bloxworth that Michael reviewed, which was on a stainless bracelet. That may wear a little large, but the curved ends of the strap allow it to wear less flat on my wrist than I initially thought it would. The push-pull crown is easy to get at while on the wrist, as are the pushers, and I just find this watch to be comfortable on the wrist, even though it is at the top end of the size spectrum for every day wear for me. If you have not read Michael’s review yet and are not familiar with the specs, even though this does not have a screw down crown, it is still water resistant to 200 meters. Below is a picture on my 7 1/2 inch wrist.
As I mention in the video, I did find one area to be improved on this Elliot Brown Bloxworth 2.0 version. That would be the deployant on the strap. The pebbled leather strap is beautiful and well made and has blue stitching that gives it an ever so subtle pop of color. I can not complain about the strap at all. The buckle though is another story. The deployant just needed to be sanded down more, it is sharp on all almost every edge of it, and you can really feel it on the wrist. I am sure someone handy could sand it down and buff it and in a few minutes it would be fine, but they should not have to. I am hoping this is just my example. On a more positive not, the buckle has a lumed logo, just like on the previous models, which is a cool touch.
Lume shots can always be deceiving. First, any time you go to take a lume shot, you charge it up first with a light source. Then, depending on your aperature and shutter speed, you can really overexpose the lume and make it look like a torch. I always try my best here to give you a look at what the lume really looks like in person. Yes, it is fully charged in the photo below, but this is what it will look like after being charged for about 30 seconds or so. It is a nice cool blue Super-luminova and while the hands and markers glow pretty bright, the little bit of lume on the bezel insert is mostly useless.
With this model getting and extensive review in the past, I keep directing you to Michael’s review linked above, but I want to point out a few key aspects of the Elliot Brown Bloxworth, without rehashing what Michael wrote. At $750, the Bloxworth is on the high side for what many are willing to spend on a quartz watch. Keep in mind, this is not just a regular quartz watch. I think you can see from my photos and video, just how well this watch is put together and Elliot Brown tests their watches to extremes, as I have talked about in the past. Do not let the leather strap on this model fool you, it still has a Swiss Made Ronda 5030D movement, steel and elastomer movement holder for superb shock resistance, triple sealed crown and pushers, bolt down case back with over-sized seals, and a hardened mineral crystal. That last one, yes, I prefer sapphire, but EB chose mineral because while it can scratch easier, it is more impact resistant, and that is what they want with these models. As I always state, I am not here to sell you on the watch. I really like this new version of the Bloxworth, minus the deployant buckle, and I think it offers a nice alternative to the original versions.
If you want to check it out, you can do so in the link below. I have also included a link to a few videos that Elliot Brown sent me, showing some of the tests they have done to their watches.
https://www.elliotbrownwatches.com/bloxworth/929-015-l16
Thank you for reading.
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