NFW Valor | Finding The Highest Quality for Every Budget

Not too long ago at the grocery store, I decided on an impulse to pick up a copy of Forbes Magazine. I typically go for the tactical gun type magazines, but I wanted to change it up a bit.

The article that caught my eye was one on Steve McQueen’s Rolex Submariner watch, that will soon be going up for auction. Man would it be awesome to own one of those, but it’s a bit outside of my budget. One of the opening columns in the magazine was titled ‘A Blueprint to Living The Forbes Life’.

The Forbes Life is described as “finding the highest quality for every budget.” Seeing that and the article on Steve McQueen’s Rolex got the wheels turning in my head with regards to watches. Specifically the NFW Valor.

The Rolex Submariner base model starts at around $7,500. That is obviously way outside of my budget, but the brand that immediately came to my mind was NFW Watch Company. NFW has several different models of watches to choose from, but the one I want to focus on here is the Valor timepiece. The Valor with the metal band will start at around $540.

Comparing the Rolex Submariner to the NFW Valor isn’t exactly an apples-to-apples comparison, but there are some similarities with regard to quality and attention to detail. Let’s take a closer look at the two most prominent.

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Bracelet/watch band

The Rolex has the signature Oyster bracelet which uses a locking clasp in conjunction with a Glidelock in order to make finer adjustments once it is clasped around your wrist.

The NFW Valor incorporates a similar system of a locking clasp with a slide system for finer adjustments once the watch is on your wrist. This is a bracelet/band system that I have not seen on any other watches other than these two. I’m not saying it doesn’t exist, only that these two are the only ones I’ve seen that feature set on.

I was not a metal band kind of guy until I started wearing these and now that’s damn near all I wear. The stainless steel watchband design has really blown me away. I’ve never worn a watch with stainless steel type watchbands because I could never get them to fit quite right and removing the links proved difficult at times. NFW Watches has remedied that issue with the absolute best stainless steel watchband design. Instead of using pins, the watch band links are secured via screw bars, which are not only easier to remove but provide more strength (10x stronger) over traditional pins.

Using the included tools I was able to remove the necessary amount of links and have the band back together within 10 minutes. Once that adjustment was made, I put the watch on and clasped the band around my wrist. From there I was able to make fine adjustments with the ratcheting deployment clasp. Both the screw bar design and ratcheting clasp make this the best stainless steel watchband design out there.

Crystal

Both the Rolex Submariner and NFW Valor use a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. Most higher-end watches will use the sapphire crystal, while others will just use some type of hardened mineral scratch-resistant crystal. I was pleasantly surprised to see the NFW Valor using a sapphire crystal.

Those are the two most notable features that are the same amongst the two watches. The reason I bring that up is that you can still have a quality timepiece on your wrist that contains some of the same features as those of watches worn by the elite such as James Bond. One of those companies that offer the higher-end options, but with affordable prices is NFW Watch Company.

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NFW Valor watch specifications:

• Movement: Citizen Caliber 9015 Automatic, with 40-hour power reserve
• Bracelet Attachment: Screwbars, 10 times stronger than standard spring bars
• Watch Weight: 200 grams / 7.1 oz.
• Case Thickness: 14mm
• Lug Width: 22mm
• Crown: Screw-down, double-gasket, with NFW Trident Insignia
• Caseback: Screw-in, stainless steel with Sapphire Exhibition Window
• Case Material: 316L Surgical-Grade Stainless Steel
• Case Finish: Fine Brush

A watch is an ultimate way to finish off your look. I own several timepieces from NFW and they are nothing short of rugged, dependable, and bad-ass. NFW Watch is a smaller American owned and operated business with a great reputation and mission statement.