March 11th, 2025
Boldr Tuesday is back baby and it’s a badass way to bring it back. Allow me to introduce you to the Expedition White Sands or as I like to call it the Boldr Storm Shadow! It might be a little premature but this my friends might be my personal favorite Boldr watch that I have gotten my grubby little fingers on. I have wanted one of these since they have come out and now I finally have one in my possession. Boldr is currently getting ready to release their new Exhibition II so stay tuned to their website for that exciting release.
There is something special about a white dial especially when it’s a full lume white dial. Yes, you read that correctly, this dial is full lume!!! I will get some pics of the lume action during my review of this watch. The contrast between the white dial and the black numerals are what caught my attention first when I opened up this box. The legibility of this dial is off the charts. You can be assured that legibility is just as good in the dark thanks to the Swiss Superluminova BGW9.
What I noticed next was the double domed crystal was the next wow effect while I was first studying this watch after I removed it from its packaging. It came in a cool little round travel case that zips up. I absolutely love double domed crystals.
SPECIFICATIONS
Case: 316L Stainless Steel
Movement: Swiss-made Sellita SW200-1, self-winding, hacking seconds, 38-hour power reserve, 28,800 bph.
Water Resistance: 200m (660ft) / 20ATM
Crown: Dual Screw-down crown with custom embossed BOLDR logo
Bezel: Inner rotating bi-directional bezel
Dial: Matte “Full-Lume” dial with Swiss Superluminova BGW9
Hands: Customs hands with Swiss Superluminova old-radium
Lens: Double dome sapphire crystal with Anti-Reflective coating
Strap: Black canvas strap
Case size: 41mm
Case thickness: 14mm
Lug size: 20mm
Lug to lug: 46mm
Case Back: See-through case-back with BOLDR signature artwork
Limited to 300pcs with individual serial numbers, from 001/300 to 300/300
March 18, 2015
Boldr makes a great grab and go beater. There’s nothing better than grabbing your watch on the go and strapping it on your wrist. Not caring about the ASA it’s about to sustain as its job is being a beater watch. I’ve only had one issue with a mechanical/automatic movement failing me but it wasn’t from any abuse. It just stopped working. I had another watch’s movement become magnetized during shipping. Almost 3 decades abusing watches and I never had the movement give me any issues. This watch has a Swiss-made Sellita SW200-1 ticking away inside and I have abused plenty of watches with this movement inside.
Peering through the double domed crystal into the white dial and marveling at its sheer beauty is something I enjoy getting lost in. The white is beautiful and the black numerals, markers, text and hands are extremely legible. Plus the black & white combo looks damn good together. The length, shape and overall design of the hands are perfect. I even love the small detail of orange on the second hand which nicely compliments the orange around the knurled crown. There’s an appreciation I have for those subtle details that highlights a company’s commitment to consistency of the design language of a watch. Yes, it’s two tiny details that one might even overlook but for this #watchnerd, it’s two details that are big/important & speaks loudly for Boldr’s commitment to design.
I like the position of the date window as it doesn’t interfere with the compass cross design on the dial. Another reason I like the positioning of the date window is because it’s inline with the crown that controls the inner-rotating bezel. The Boldr name and logo underneath the 12H position is balanced with the text above the 6H position. This dial has a nice balance to it that I find appealing. The lume on the dial itself which glows blue and the lume on the hands which glows green, both come together allowing for some optimal nighttime legibility. This watch glows like a god damn flashlight!
March 25th, 2025
The Expedition White Sands aka Storm Shadow, the watch with the incredible white dial. An exceptional dial in terms of legibility. The dial compliments the case and the case complements the dial. A brilliant balance is one of the highlights of this watch. This dial is extremely easy to read at quick glance referencing for when you can only afford a second or two in order to read the dial. Like I mentioned before, it’s also legible in the dark thanks to the full lume dial.
The crowns function without any complications. The top crown, with the orange and knurled edges, is the crown that controls the rotating internal bezel. I reviewed a Gavox watch with an internal rotating bezel and it was a pain to keep the bezel lined up where you wanted it when you tried to screw the crown back down. So I was a bit hesitant about this internal rotating bezel but much to my delight this one operates perfectly. The Gavox was a great watch, that was its only flaw.
The crown with the polished top, is the crown that controls setting the time and the date. Setting both of those is done with smooth fluidity. The crown is sturdy without all that extra play/wobble. There are two things that I would recommend changing on this watch and Boldr already addressed one of those suggestions on there new Expedition watches. The new version has a solid caseback. One of the things I love about Boldr’s solid casebacks is the artwork. I was lucky enough to draw up and design a caseback for Boldr’s Odyssey model about 6 or 7 years ago. It was a huge honor when they asked me to do it. My other suggestion for this watch is, yep you guessed it, I would love drilled lugs with screw lug bars.
April 1st, 2025
What I appreciate about Boldr is that their watches are geared for adventure. Those of you who have been into watches for a long time remember how we would call these types of watches ‘daily beaters.’ There is something special about this White Sands Expedition and not just the Storm Shadow nickname. This one has a more adventure vibe to it. If I wasn’t all about watch photography on my camping trips, I could see myself having this as my one watch companion on one of those said trips. The legible dial, the full lume dial, the water resistance, and the double dome sapphire crystal with Anti-Reflective coating all make this watch a great option for some outdoor wear and tear!
It would be a great watch to throw on a longer strap and wear on the outside of my sleeve. I have taken 4 or 5 Boldr watches on camping trips with me over the years and they all held up without any issues. I know this watch would be no different. When a watch of mine gets some ASA (adventure sustained abuse) it is like a post card from that adventure. A permanent memory that is as powerful as a song or that trigger of the olfactory nerve that instantly transports you to a specific moment in time. That’s what the ASA on my watches do for me, when I see a scratch or dent, I am instantly transported back to that moment. That is pretty damn cool to me.
I’ve worn watches on my outdoor adventures that were 50+mm x 25+mm thick, so obviously size & weight isn’t an important factor for me considering what watches to wear. That said, this Expedition I comes in at Case size: 41mm x 14mm thick, and a lug to lug measurement of 46mm; therefore, those who have a very specific size preference, this Boldr will wear very compact. It’s an extremely comfortable watch to wear. I know when on Arctic adventures, weight of the gear is crucial. This watch would be one that would fit the criteria for that Arctic EDC.
April 8th, 2025
In the “rainforest” with the Expedition I White Sands though I prefer to call it Storm Shadow. This compact watch is an ideal choice for outdoor adventures. That’s one of the main reasons why I was originally drawn to Boldr. They make watches for those outdoor adventures but also watches that can endure the every day adventures too. They transition seamlessly from work to play. There are definitely a lot of microbrands that have taken cues from Boldr. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
So what about this watch do I like so much that it makes it my favorite Boldr yet?!? Well for starters the full lume dial is a detail that I have loved on watches since owning a Chronoswiss Timemaster some 20 or so years ago. The fully lumed dial looks amazing under the double domed sapphire crystal, which brings me to another detail on this watch that I truly appreciate. There’s something about a double domed crystal that makes me happy. I don’t know if it’s because of how it adds character to the side profile of a watch or what. I just know that I prefer domed crystals over flat ones.
The dial itself is another detail that I am in awe of. That awe covers everything on this dial, from the design of the hands, to the style/font of the numerals, to the compass style and the internal rotation bezel. It’s funny how small tastes in details change over time. I have always been drawn to unique watches and dive/tool watches, that hasn’t changed nor will it. I used to prefer external rotating bezels but a few years ago I started to prefer fixed bezels more. I guess I am a purest that way since some of the earliest dive watches had fixed bezels. I love that Boldr gave me the best of both worlds on this watch, I have a fixed external bezel with an internal rotating bezel.
April 15th, 2025
There are a number of details that I have discussed truly played into why it is one of my favorite field watches that I have owned/reviewed. The double domed crystal, the full lume dial, the dial layout, the case finish. If it had a solid caseback, drilled lugs and screw style lug bars then it would have taken the top spot. Are those dealbreakers for me? Nah, just details that would improve the wearing experience of this watch for me personally. There are plenty of people who appreciate the way this watch is as it sits in front of you in these pictures.
We all have personal preferences and suggestions that would improve upon the watch on a personalized/individualized perspective. When we make suggestions, it’s not something a company has done wrong, it’s more about making a watch that fits into our personalized ideals. That’s part of the reason why I began to realize that case size is irrelevant. That’s a detail that has no bearing on my experience with a watch. The quality, the engineering and the details are what matters most to me. When I say details I mean, a legible dial, with well proportional hands, an automatic or mechanical movement, a crown that can be easily operated…..and Boldr has given me all those details.
The Expedition I is still available for purchase on Boldr’s website and the Expedition II is about to be released. They both are great options for anyone looking for a field watch option. I can’t speak for the Expedition II because I haven’t experienced one but I can’t speak for Boldr’s quality, designs and execution, and those are always on point. I can speak for this watch and it gets a high recommendation from me.
April 22nd, 2025
There’s so much to love about this watch. An adventurer’s watch. I’ve been watching The Last Of Us and I couldn’t help to think about one of the characters wearing this watch. There are a ton of watches in that show and I could easily see one of the main characters sporting a Boldr Expedition while fighting the infected. That’s a cool vibe that Boldr created with this watch and how a watch can give its wearer their own unique vibe where someone different who owns the same watch, they could get a completely opposite vibe. That’s why watches are such a powerfully personal experience. Those of you who know, can understand exactly what I am saying. Those who can’t understand, well unfortunately aren’t into watches for the right reasons.
I love a watch that can evoke emotion, imagination, thoughts because those are the watches that can tell the best kind of stories. This Boldr Expedition is definitely one of those kind of watches. The longer I am immersed in this hobby, the easier it gets for me to pick the right watches. I still occasionally get one that I don’t bond with, case in point, the Seiko Tuna, the Kobold Seal, the Kaventsmann Hadal II, Seimila Metri and the Carlson Icon. Those are some of the most recent watches that I didn’t bond with. I tried them, loved them but didn’t have that deep connection with them that made them forever watches.
Experiences a ton of watches is the best way to teach what doesn’t work and what does. Looking at pictures isn’t enough. A watch needs to be worn, held, abused, adventured with, then and only then will I know if it’s a lifer or not.
April 29th, 2025
I love a capable beater and Boldr definitely makes a great one. The Expedition 1 here is at the top of my favorite Boldr list. It’s packed full of details that are on my list of design details that pulls my interest into a watch. The knurled crown, a touch of orange accents, a double domed crystal, proportional hands to dial ratio, blasted case finish, full lumed dial…….
It’s a great take on a field watch. Boldr nailed the design on this watch. It has just about everything you need on a field watch without any unnecessary details. Like I said before, a solid caseback and drilled lugs are the two missing details that would take this to the next level. Not dealbreakers, just improvements that would enhance the experience of this watch. The Expedition II will have a solid caseback which is cool to see.
This watch definitely gets my recommendation as a great option for a field watch. I would definitely place this in my top 10 preferred field watch list. It gets a high ranking from me because of the quality, design and details. When you factor in the $ 699 USD price tag, it’s also an affordable value.
May 6th, 2025
It’s been raining every day since last week. I’m not complaining, as it’s my favorite weather. My review of this badass field watch goes live on my blog this Saturday. I seriously can’t believe next month 2025 is half over. Like WTF.
This watch is a capable watch that achieves exactly what Boldr set out to accomplish with it. They designed an affordable beater, with some great features & details and it can handle the daily abuse with ease. The added bonus is that it’s 200m water resistance. Do I need more than that with this watch? Nope. There’s a right tool for every job.
This is definitely a watch I grab when I am headed out to hike. It’s also a great work watch. It definitely takes hits well. I’ve hit it on rocks, trees, wheelchairs, door frames, and door knobs. It still is keeping excellent time and hasn’t gained or lost more than 12 seconds per day.
When I look for a watch, I look for a few things. Quality and engineering are the front horses of my watch race. I’ve experienced enough Boldr watches to know they meet the first criteria. The next thing I look for in a watch is the design and execution of the dial, case, etc…. I have already mentioned all the design details on this watch that I appreciate.
When you are looking for a watch, what do you look for? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear.
Thank you Boldr and everyone who took the time to read my review!
