As many of you will know, I am a big fan of Farer. Their ethos and design language hit all the right notes, and their constant use of color brings something to the table that most other brands simply cannot match. Having spent time with two of their dive watches (now owning one of them), I got in touch and asked if I could borrow one of their newly re-released field watches to take for a spin in the tropics. A few weeks later, a parcel arrived, and I can safely say that this was another home run for them.

Dial Details

The Farer Field Collection comes in three different colors and designs. I was sent the cream-coloured Pembroke II, possibly the boldest of the trio. Starting with the dial, we get a lovely off-white color and a very grainy, textured face. The markers consist of numerals for most of the numbers, while there is an inverted triangle at the top and three horizontal rectangles at the 3, 6, and 9 positions. All of these are outlined in a very dark blue, with the markers themselves consisting of a healthy chunk of Grade X1 Super-LumiNova. While this leaves the markers almost the same color as the dial, the legibility remains fantastic due to the dark blue surroundings.

Beyond the markers, we have a railroad-style chapter ring followed by what is possibly the best feature of the field watch collection. Around the outermost edge of the dial are the days of the month, courtesy of the pointer-date complication. On the Pembroke, the dates are printed in mid-blue with the exception of 28-31 in bright red to remind you that an adjustment in the date might be necessary. The pointer hand itself is a similar color to the dial, with the end branching into Farer’s ‘A’ logo, also in bright red. This gives the appearance of the ‘A’ floating around the chapter ring. The rest of the hands are painted in the same matte dark blue that surrounds the markers on the dial, making them very legible. All three are brimming with lume, too, which makes reading the watch in low light a breeze.

Case Details

The cases of the Field Collection are very similar in almost every aspect to those of Farer’s Aquamatic collection, although their website states that there is a half-millimeter difference, with the Field watches being 38mm across. Nonetheless, they all bear the same asymmetric profile that their diving cousins do, with a slight increase in thickness on the crown side of the case. The size of the case is almost perfect, in my opinion, as it leaves the watch easily wearable for a wide range of people. Given that the bezel is a simple steel affair and that the dial appears larger than it is, the watch also wears bigger than its slightly larger aquatic cousin. At only 45mm long, the case also sits comfortably across the wrist, adding to the overall comfort of the watch. The flat sapphire crystal also comes with a healthy coating of anti-reflective coating, meaning that even the pale dial of the Pembroke II is perfectly legible in all lighting, something that turned out to be very useful when used as a timekeeper to keep track of the watch keeping shifts on the diving boats here in Cairns.

The only area of the watch that I didn’t find to be 10/10 was the bracelet and strap option. The Field Collection comes with both a sailcloth strap and an oyster-style bracelet. The sailcloth is color-matched to the dial, so in the case of the Pembroke, it is a lovely navy blue color. That being said, I found it to be a little short and skinny-feeling compared to the case. While the case is neither large nor particularly bulky, it presents itself in a way that requires something a little thicker, in my opinion. Nonetheless, the hardware on the strap is nice and sturdy, complete with the Farer logo on the buckle and a quick-release system for easy changing. The bracelet is something of a mixed bag for me as I enjoyed it, but it also left me with several questions. I loved the fitted end links and quick-release system, but for me, the highlight is the Nodex adjustment system in the clasp. It allows for on-the-fly adjustment without any necessary tools and is a very welcome addition to the watch as a whole. That being said, the bracelet felt significantly heavier than the jubilee-style one that comes with the Aquamatic range and lacked some flexibility, resulting in a less comfortable experience. Nonetheless, neither of the straps takes away from the watch as a whole.

Final Thoughts

All in all, I’d say that even though I was already looking forward to getting hands-on with the Pembroke II, it still managed to surprise me. The attention to detail that Farer has invested in all three models is astounding, especially considering the prices they charge. The addition of a pointer date function serves only to highlight their commitment to thinking outside the box and offering something slightly different from the rest of the market. As with all the Farer models I’ve come across, the use of color goes a long way to accentuate the details of the Pembroke II in ways that a lot of other brands would never do. The 38mm size is also perfect for appealing to both men and women too. There are only two things I’d change, and neither of them is a deal breaker, so please pinch yourself some salt as you read on.

Firstly, I’d change the minor cosmetic detail, which is the logo sitting just under the 12 o’clock position. Rather than having it sunk into the textured dial, I’d have it applied so it stands out more. The other option would be to simply swap the bracelet options available between the Aquamatic and Field collections. The Jubilee, with its butterfly clasp and lack of adjustment, works wonders on the field watch, while the beefier oyster, with its Nodex system, works better for those in and out of dive gear. Given that these are the only two qualms I have, I’d say that the Field collection is a welcome re-addition to the Farer family, and those of you looking for an understated yet rugged and charming field watch would do well to check them out.

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