Of all the general categories of watches, field watches are perhaps the most overshadowed. The key characteristics of the category- legibility and durability- are quite far from many of the current trends. There are no rotating bezels, no sub dials, no skeleton designs, and there are certainly not any gemstones adorning the dial. This is all by design: a field watch is built for function, and not for fashion. A recent addition to the field watch scene has been Bertucci watches, an American brand selling affordable watches. While this review is of a sub-$100, quartz, plastic watch, the brand has models that range up to titanium automatics. But Today, we are looking at one of their most affordable models, the DX3, model 11039.
Brand
Bertucci is an American-based microbrand digging out a very specialized niche. They are solely concerned with making fixed-lug field watches. The case shape of their models are all quite similar, but built at a couple sizes, and out of a couple materials. They all have a very recognizable design, which is a great sign for a small brand. That being said, the company’s size and specialization mean that the brand isn’t well known. Perhaps that is going to change, though. There are now homages to this design popping up from Chinese manufacturers like Boderry.
As a side note, there is a mega-chain restaurant with quite a similar name in the US, and I have actually had people inquire about the watch to then ask why a restaurant was making watches now. While this is just a funny misunderstanding, it’s also worth noting.
Value
Building a watch for under $100 is a difficult achievement. Doing it as a microbrand, where the economies of scale are against you is even harder. Bertucci haven’t nailed the price on this model. No spec of this watch is particularly good for the price. It basically has the minimum specs possible, and specs nearly identical to Timex field watches costing about half the price, like the very popular Expedition Scout 40.
Case
The case design on the DX3 is quite interesting. With fixed lugs that are very long and slope aggressively downwards, it is very distinctive, and a selling point for the brand.
The case material is a matte poly-resin, another interesting choice. It is very lightweight, and Bertucci claims it to be very strong. I’m not going to test its structural integrity, but it doesn’t flex at all in-hand, which is a good sign. The crystal is, unsurprisingly, a mineral crystal. For a field watch, this isn’t great. Mineral glass with scratch and break if you put it through anything rough. A similar story, the water resistance rating is simply too low. 50m of WR basically means it will usually survive a quick submersion. The case back in stainless steel and lists out all of the specifications, plus a little logo of a dog! There is also a push-pull crown signed with the Bertucci shield logo, protected by large crown guards.
The lugs are 22mm, a relatively common size, but only pass-through straps will work, since it has the fixed-lug design. This is a great feature for a workhorse watch. The thought process is that, if somehow the watch got pulled very hard from your wrist and a lug broke, the other would stay secured to your wrist.
Dial and Hands
Field watches are supposed to have simple and legible dials, and the DX3 certainly doesn’t break that. The dial here is completely flat and printed. While we’re on aesthetics, Bertucci has introduced LOADS of colorways, and there are some really fun options. Seriously, there are models in orange, red, green, camo, and full lume. This review, of course, has one of the more boring classic field-watchy colorway going on. It is a single color, with little square hour markers, and only 1 color of text. It really is the simplest dial you could imagine, with 24 hour markers. There are sword hands which look good though. The seconds hand is also fun, with a square tip and Bertucci’s shield logo for the counterbalance. The seconds hand is probably the best part of the dial, and that is sort of saying something.
Lume
There technically is lume on this watch. The hands and hour markers all have the signature off white color, and are gilled with lume. This is great, for about 10 minutes. The lume fades extremely quick, which really is a bummer for a field watch.
Movement
A “Japanese Quartz” movement is used here. No doubt a hyper-affordable movement, the 1 Hz Quartz is the simplest and cheapest choice they could have made. They quote a 4-year battery life, but seeing as they don’t say what the movement actually is, it’s hard to trust that number.Bracelet or Strap
The included strap is very nice. With signed hardware and a thick, durable construction, there isn’t much to complain about. Of course, a nylon nato-style strap is the cheapest type of strap to manufacture, but they did do a great job.
Fit
On wrist, it’s far from perfect. It wears quite large. As shown above on my average 7 inch wrist, its lugs make it borderline too large. The protruding lug design, while visually appealing, only draws the eyes to its length, and I think it should have been streamlined more, personally. The pass-through strap also has to fold back over the lug towards your wrist, which also adds perceived length. They do have a slightly smaller version, which I would get if I were to do it all again.
While large, the poly-resin is extremely lightweight. It is easy to forget that you are wearing it, especially because the strap is nice.
Versatility
This watch is a casual-only watch that can’t really get wet or banged around. That isn’t a whole lot of options.
Originality
As much as I have downed this watch, Bertucci have managed to come out with a new, unique design at an affordable price point, which is quite the feat. The dial isn’t very imaginative, but the case shape is refreshing. I also love that the brand has really run with the design. There are 30, 36, 40, 42, and 45 mm versions of it available, and it comes in poly-resin, steel, or titanium. It really helps them stand out in the oversaturated micro-brand market, and they know it.
Diameter: 40 mm
Lug-to-Lug: 50mm
Lug width: 22mm
Case Material: Plastic
Strap: 1 Piece Nato
Crystal Material: Mineral
Movement: 1Hz Quartz
Water Resistance: 50m
Lume: Yes
Crown: Push-Pull
Color Options: Many Options, See Store
Brand: 3/10
Value: 3/10
Case: 3/10
Dial and Hands: 3/10
Lume: 2/10
Movement: 2/10
Bracelet or Strap: 6/10
Fit: 4/10
Versatility: 2/10
Originality: 9/10
WatchScore : 37/100
So what’s the verdict? The Bertucci DX3 is a very interesting product. At a very affordable $75, you get a watch that is distinct in its looks. It’s going to be hard to mistake this model for another. It looks rugged and purpose-built, it is not as purpose-built as it appears to be.If you want field watch aesthetics, and an unmistakable case shape, then the DX3 is a great option, and is totally recommended by us. If you need a workhorse that will last, I’d suggest looking elsewhere. For $95, you can pick a Chinese-made Boderry. With extremely similar styling, an automatic movement, sapphire, and 100m Water resistance, it is better in every way, for not a lot more money.
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