Straight from Australia, we had the pleasure of reviewing the Loimu Glacier model by Galvin Watch Company. Behind this emerging brand is Susan Galvin, a talented Australian watchmaker. While we always enjoy supporting new microbrands and independent creators, we have an extra appreciation for female professionals in the watch industry – especially in a field where women are still underrepresented.
Our brief experience working with Susan has shown us she’s not only passionate and skilled, but also an absolute pleasure to engage with. But now, we’ll let the watch speak for itself – read on and decide what you think.
After a successful kickstarter campaign that was funded in only 6 minutes, the Loimu collection it made its way into mass market production relatively quickly, and frankly, it’s an interesting watch that might spark interest among fans of independent watch brands.
Let’s get into the watch detailed review now, unboxing style.
So we will start with The Box which is surprisingly very impressive and practical.
The watch arrives securely packed in an elegant case that feels built to withstand bumps or even a fall. It includes extra compartments for storing documents or the branded cleaning cloth, which is actually very useful for keeping the watch in top shape.
The Build Quality
The overall construction is solid – and honestly, better than expected at this price point.
The case feels premium, with clean finishing and a refined look. The sapphire crystal is smooth, clear, and appears to have high-quality anti-reflective coating. There’s a good chance that people seeing it from a distance will assume it’s more expensive than it actually is.
This is a unisex watch with a very wearable 38mm case width, fitting most average wrists — whether male or female. While the case may look a bit thick from the side due to its clean design and dial depth, its actual height is only 11.6mm, which is fairly modest for a sport-style watch. The multi-layered dial and details add to the sense of depth, possibly creating the illusion of a chunkier case than it really is.
The Design
The dial texture is clean, pleasant, and uniquely attractive — especially in the color we’re reviewing here.
There’s a good sense of visual harmony between the numerals, indices, hands, and other elements on the dial.
There is a slight design dissonance where the dial meets the case, but overall, the face of the watch stands strong and presents a distinctive look. It gives off the vibe of a watch for someone who wants something a little more interesting than just another safe, solid-color dial.
Some may even get that “wow” effect when noticing the finer details.
Personally, I really liked the hands. The date window is very legible, as are the large 6, 9 & 12 numerals.
The texture is hard to capture properly in photos due to its reflective quality, but in real life, it’s much more appealing — even eye-catching. The zig-zag dial pattern creates a flowing motion toward the center that I found quite dynamic.
It’s framed nicely by a decorated metallic ring, which also features a slim, angled tachymeter scale. While it adds a sense of depth and dimension, I’m not convinced it’s necessary for this type of watch. Still, it contributes visual weight to the case even though this isn’t a chronograph, GMT, or high-depth dive watch (it’s rated to 100 meters).
The Lume
The lume is well executed using Swiss Super-LumiNova C3.
Each hour marker has a clean, elegant lume dot, and the glowing hands make it easy to tell the time at a glance in low light.
A pleasant surprise: the crown features a luminous ring around the logo, giving it an extra touch of character. The screw-down crown locks securely in place, even though this isn’t technically a dive watch. The case design leans toward diver-style, while the dial maintains a refined dress-watch look.
Case Size & Fit
The stainless steel lugs are gently curved, a little reminiscent of an Omega Speedmaster lugs, but a bit slimmer.
It has a 19mm lug width and 45mm lug-to-lug length.
In terms of proportions, the watch wears well and feels well-balanced on the wrist.
Cool Caseback
The caseback is nicely done – echoing the zigzag texture of the dial, radiating inward toward the engraved logo in the center.
Around the textured surface, you’ll find engraved specs like the case material and water resistance rating.
The Movement
Inside ticks the Japanese Miyota 9015 (Premium range), a reliable and robust automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve – impressive for a watch in this price category.
The Bracelet
The bracelet has a classic three-link design and looks great with the case and dial.
However, I’d list it as one of the weaker points – it feels a bit too light and slightly less premium than the rest of the watch. That said, the finishing is nice, it’s comfortable on the wrist, and moves well without being bulky or annoying.
The butterfly clasp is sturdy and easy to operate, with quick and convenient closure.
Pros
- Unique and versatile design with personality – suitable for many styles and occasions
- Universally wearable size
- Good value for money, especially considering the full package: travel case, quality leather strap, and accessories
Cons
- Slightly thick case profile, visually heavier than expected
- Mixed identity: the watch combines elements from diver, dress, and sport watch categories
- Lume from the dive world
- Refined textured dial from dress watches
- Tachymeter scale from performance watches This fusion might confuse some – from the side, you’d expect a dive or GMT watch, but the dial tells a different story.
Warranty, Shipping & Service
Free worldwide shipping.
Customs duties and local taxes are the buyer’s responsibility.
The warranty policy offers a 24 month manufacturer’s warranty, service and repair in Australia, and they offer reimbursement for shipping costs for international customers.
Available Colors
- Glacier (Turquoise)
- Polar (Green)
- Tundra (Purple)
- Arctic (Black)
- Midnight (Dark Blue)
Community Reactions
Check out what our Reddit community had to say:
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The post The Galvin Loimu Glacier watch review appeared first on Microbrand Watch World.
