Review of the Bernoulli Wayland Men's Watch
Walter Shillington is an avid collector of mechanical watches. His reviews focus on inexpensive but often intriguing Chinese timepieces.
Bernoulli Wayland Men's Watch
Walter B Shillington
Because of how I’ve set my preferences, the timepieces I receive from Watch Gang all conform to a specific pattern. They are uncluttered and fitted to quality leather straps. This month, however, the watch club decided to widen my horizon, sending me a Bernoulli complete with a large rotating bezel and a shiny metal strap. That was fine with me. It was time I tried something different.
Description
The Bernoulli Wayland weighs in at 126 grams (4.46 ounces). Its diameter reaches 47 millimeters, and the watch is 11 millimeters thick. It arrived enclosed within a sturdy cardboard box and strapped around a large white cushion.
This timepiece features a gray dial with lines indicating the minutes, and large, well-defined hour marking. The hands are reminiscent of those found on an antique pocket watch. Both hour markings and hands are heavily coated in luminous paint.
The quartz movement, a Seiko PD21J, is enclosed within an ion-plated metal case, which includes a sturdy crown protector. The dial is shielded by a mineral glass crystal, which is surrounded by a large, rotating bezel.
Bernoulli equipped this timepiece with an ion-plated metal strap.
Specifications
• Brand: Bernoulli
• Model: Wayland
• Condition: New
• Place of Origin: Probably China
• Gender: Male
• Display: Analog
• Movement: Seiko PC21J
• Functions: 12-hour time and rotating bezel
• Band: Ion plated metal with fold-over clasp
• Band width: 20 millimeters
• Dial color: Gray
• Dial window material: Scratch-resistant mineral crystal
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• Case material: Ion plated metal
• Case diameter: 47 millimeters (including crown)
• Case thickness: 11 millimeters
• Weight: 126 grams (4.46 ounces)
• Water resistance: 3 ATM (unsuitable for swimming.)
The Manufacturer
There are indications that Bernoulli is based within the United States, but I was unable to pin-point this company’s exact location. At the time this review was being prepared, I discovered that their website, bernoulliwatches.com, was no longer active. A trademark search failed to find a watch manufacturer/importer using this name.
Bernoulli is—or was—an importer of quartz and mechanical watches. My expectation is that these timepieces were designed by the company and manufactured in Guangdong, China. These watches are widely available online. Bernoulli timepieces range in price; the Wayland, for example, sells for $149.50 at most sites. Their automatics tend to be more expensive.
Bernoulli Wayland Men's Watch
Walter B Shillington
Deployment clasp of Bernoulli Wayland Men's Watch
Walter B Shillington
Visual Appeal
Perhaps because I’m fond of pocket watches, I find the Wayland’s antique style hands and easily viewable hour markings to be very attractive.
Bernoulli made heavy use of luminous paint, ensuring this timepiece looks great in the dark. A dot of this paint is also applied to the rotating bezel. This would be useful for measuring elapsed time in darkened conditions.
In my opinion, however, the Wayland’s rather striking dial is overridden by the watch’s large bezel, metal case, and ion-plated strap.
I have recently reviewed the Lige Fashion Automatic Watch. This came equipped with an excellent stainless steel strap. I especially liked the design of this timepiece’s deployment clasp. In comparison, the more expensive Bernoulli’s band appears drab and cheap.
Durability
The Bernoulli Wayland’s case and strap are composed of ion-plated metal. I would have preferred stainless steel due to its superior resistance to corrosion, but this material should ensure a long lifetime.
This watch features an adjustable bezel. It works well, but when rotated, its action is sloppy. Often these bezels rise slightly above the crystal, protecting the mineral glass from damage. Bernoulli chose not to include this safeguard.
A Seiko PC21J movement is utilized to power the Bernoulli Wayland. Seiko has amassed a good reputation, and this mechanism should serve well for several years.
Overall Impression
I really like this watch’s dial and appreciate Bernoulli’s use of a movement manufactured by Seiko. I don’t, however, understand why a timepiece in this price range would fail to use a case and strap composed of stainless steel. When this lack of quality components is coupled with my inability to track down and contact the importer, it is impossible to recommend the Bernoulli Wayland.
Stainless steel components are useful because of their resistance to corrosion. Drawbacks to this material include price and weight. In the following poll, I am attempting to determine my readers' opinion of the use of stainless steel in watches.
© 2018 Walter Shillington
