Resco R-TAC | Hands On Watch Review

Resco R-TAC

 

Resco is definitely a different cat in the microbrand world. They are not the cheapest by far and actually might be the most expensive in their segment. The model I am reviewing today, the Resco R-TAC is a 44mm quartz piece that comes in at around $1100. There is no shortage of completion, that is for sure, so how can Resco justify their prices and more important, can you justify the price when you are deciding what your next watch purchase is going to be? Resco assembles and tests in the US, but manufacturing and parts are done all around the world. The owner is also an active duty Navy Seal and tests his watches in real “out in the field” situations. If battle tested does not mean much to you, and you just want to know how it compares to others on the market, the build quality, design and more, read on.

 

 

 

Resco R-TAC Specifications:

• Case 316L Stainless Steel Bead Blasted
• 200 Meters
• Matte Black Dial with C3 SuperLuminova
• Movement: Swiss Quartz 515 Ronda
• 4.5 year standard battery life
• Scratch resistant Sapphire Crystal with single inner AR (Anti Reflective) coating
• 22mm Lug
• 44 mm Diameter
• 13mm Thickness
• Hex Screw Lug bars
• Dual Screw-down Crowns
• Internal Rotating Bezel

PRICE: $1105

https://rescoinstruments.com/collections/rtac

 

 

 

Let’s touch a little more on Rob being active duty military. Resco has been around longer than most microbrands on the market today and as I have said, they have never been what most would call cheap or inexpensive and they do not follow most microbrand trends such as Rolex or Tudor homages, bronze pieces, crazy silly water resistance with 12 helium valves, massive super domed crystals- none of those things are present on a Resco. Their main customer base is not what we in the community have come to label as a watch enthusiast or watch nerd either. You know, the forum guys, Facebook group guys, etc. I am in the watch nerd camp for sure, in case you were wondering. I mean, I kind of have to be to run this site. Back to Resco. Who is their customer base you ask? Military and law enforcement and their friends and family. Now, I’m not saying there are no watch enthusiasts who own Resco watches, there are a decent amount out there, but from what I have seen, that is not the bulk of their customer base. Why is that? Well, the reality is, most are looking for that massive bang for the buck, the we put everything in this watch, have it assembled in China and sell it for $350. We review some of those here on Watchreport for sure and those watches have their place.

 

 

Well, that begs the question, what are you getting when you purchase a Resco R-TAC? First and foremost, a USA assembled piece, by a USA company. That means a great amount to some people and to others, nothing at all. Case construction is top notch, all the way around. The entire case comes across as bomb proof, even though it is not. The quartz movement is Swiss and while I know many beg for an automatic and shutter to think of a quartz watch being this expensive, it should be more shock resistant than many autos in this price range. If a metal movement holder is used as opposed to plastic, even more so. Full disclosure: I have not taken the back off, so I do not know if it is plastic or metal, but there is not rattling sound that can usually be attributed to a plastic holder, though nothing is more proof than seeing it with your own two eyes.

 

 

When it comes to functionality, the Resco R-TAC passes in spades. The GMT hand works with the fixed bezel to track 24 hour time or another time zone if you choose, it is a dive watch with a inner elapsed time bezel that is operated by the second crown. Everything here is machined to perfection in my opinion, and again, at this price, it should be. The bead blasted case just screams tactical and the strap can be switched with a hex tool (included). The R-TAC is also not ridiculously thick, as a matter of fact the entire profile is pretty slim, making it easy to fit under a shirt cuff.

 

There was a 42m auto version of the Resco R-TAC, which has since been discontinued and was also about $900 more. The size has been bumped up to 44mm here but with a relative short lug to lug, it is not an issue for my wrist. One thing that is an issue though-the strap. As you can see in the many photos posted here, I show it on a green canvas strap. That is NOT the strap that comes with this piece, it is an aftermarket strap. Unfortunately, it comes standard with a thin NATO strap that does not equate to the price tag in my opinion. I am not a fan of NATO straps in general as many of you know but if this was a high quality strap I wouldn’t say a word. Resco sells many straps on their website that you can add to your order, and hey, good business; if you don’t like the strap that comes with your watch, spend $40 more to buy one from them. I get it. I feel though at the asking price, a decent strap should be included.

 

7 1/2 inch wrist

 

I am not what you would call a lume junkie, but I always say, if you are going to apply lume to a watch, please do it right. Resco got it right, though I am not sure why the triangle marker was not lumed on the internal dive bezel.

 

 

So, the question here: Is the Resco R-TAC worth $1150? Well, that is something you will have to decide for yourself. The build quality is fantastic, and it has a great look and feel. The movement is one you can find in watches for much less, but I always say you shouldn’t just a watch on the movement alone. That being said, I think if you are going to use a quartz movement such as this, the rest of the watch should be outstanding, and I would say for the most part, on build and looks, it is, but the cheap strap leaves something to be desired. I want to say I love this watch, but I don’t. Design, colors and style are all here for me, but the internals and the strap do not excite me. You may agree with me, or the design and case quality are enough for you to overcome what I consider the downsides. If I were to give a letter grade on this watch, it would be a B-.

Comment below if you agree or disagree with my take on the Resco R-Tac.

The post Resco R-TAC | Hands On Watch Review appeared first on WatchReport.com.

Momentum Fieldwalker | Hands-On Watch Review

Momentum Fieldwalker

 

I am not sure if many watch enthusiasts have been asking for a Damsko homage, but that is what the Momentum Fieldwalker is, at least to me. While I don’t know if that was the intention of Momentum or not, I would find it hard to believe they did not notice a resemblance. The Fieldwalker is not an exact copy of a Damasko, there are a good amount of differences of course, just as there are similarities. Coming in at $400, it is a nice budget option of the aforementioned German timepiece, and as usual, Momentum is able to offer a lot for little coin.

 

 

Momentum Fieldwalker Specifications:

• Case diameter with crown: 47.30mm
• Case diameter: 43.90mm
• Lug to Lug: 50.75mm
• Thickness: 14.00mm
• Band Width: 22.00mm
• Weight: 83 grams
• Sapphire Crystal
• Seiko NH35 Automatic Movement
• 200 Meters Water Resistant

Price $395.00

https://www.momentumwatch.com/products/fieldwalker-automatic-leather

 

 

I think my first disappointment with the Momentum Fieldwalker is the size. Now, this is very much a personal thing, but I would have loved it at 42mm vs 44. There is a trend towards smaller watches again and I think many fans of the brand it homages would probably have jumped on this if it had been a bit smaller. Now, it could be Momentum knows their target audience and that is why they chose to go with 44mm, and of course they know that better than I do and while I would have liked it a bit smaller, I think it wears very well for its size especially with short lugs.

 

 

Momentum chose to go with a bead blasted case, which I feel is appropriate for this style of watch. It gives it that subtle, muted look and what I think of when I think of a rugged field watch. Everybody is a little different and I know there are a decent amount of watch nuts out there who hate bead blasted cases. Usually their biggest complaint is that you can not refinish it yourself it if gets scratched or gouged. I understand that but feel this is the type of watch that scratches should not really be a big concern. Over time, especially small scratches will blend away and while I know $400 is not throw away money for anyone, this watch is meant to be used, not babied. Don’t be afraid to wear this and give it some character.

 

 

On the whole, the Momentum Fieldwalker ticks a lot of boxes. A solid steel case, 200 meters water resistant, sapphire crystal and an automatic movement. Oh-a good amount of lume as well, but more on that later. The movement is familiar to many these days, the Seiko NH35, and while I might be getting bored seeing this movement, (I see more watches than most), and as I have said many times over, it is a decent movement that will do the job. I could do without the writing on the display case back though.

 

 

The crosshairs of the dial are what one notices immediately and again, I can not help but think of Damasko when I see them. While Damasko was not the first brand to do this dial design and the function is sometimes questioned-is it for better time reading, or is it more aesthetic? I think it is probably a combination of both. The crosshairs separate the dial into 4 different quadrants allowing you to focus on exactly what time it is easier, or so has been said. The dial setup works though and I like everything else going on here, with one exception: the second hand. It is a tad short for me, especially for this design and every time I look at it, it aggravates me to the point I want to pop the crystal off and see if I could stretch it to fit. That is ridiculous and not possible of course, but it is what goes on in my head.

 

 

When I received the Momentum Fieldwalker, I looked over the leather strap and said to myself, “This a damn nice leather strap!” Yep, I actually said that. You don’t believe me? Well, I did. Moving on- It is a well made strap that is padded and covered with soft leather. But the real intriguing aspect is the back of the strap, the part that no one  besides you ever sees. At first, I just thought it was a neat design aspect, but when I looked on the site, I see they refer to it as Cloud Leather. My first reaction to that: “What in the blue hell?” Now, I am no stranger to seeing marketing speak from brands, I mean, they all do it, no matter the product. Beyond that, how does it work? Well, it is a metallic lining that is supposed to wick away moisture, which should improve the life of the band and keep your wrist dry in those humid summer months. Does it work? I would say it did, at least in the past month or so that I wore it. Think of Under Armour or any other company that produces moisture wicking clothing and hats etc. How will it hold up in the long term? I do not have my DeLorean handy to find out, but I guess we will see in a year or two from customers what these straps look like after some use and abuse.

 

 

The lume you ask? Oh yeah, it is beautiful. Dual color lume and it glows bright. Is it Seiko lume? No, but it is damn good and don’t think anyone would be disappointed. If you are, do not blame me, blame yourself for being too picky. I’m picky as well though, so I get it.

 

 

The bottom line is, Momentum has produced another good watch that won’t break the bank. Whether you are just a fan of Momentum, wanted a Damasko but can’t afford one, or just like the look of Fieldwalker and want to try one out, I think it is a good watch for the money. The AR coating could be better on the sapphire crystal and I hate the writing on the back crystal but the strap is fantastic and the watch looks and wears well on the wrist. Momentum, if you really want to make a future version of these that would get people excited even more; titanium and 42mm. Just a suggestion.

Comment below what you think.

Thank for reading.

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