Hello everyone, and welcome to my first review of 2021! On this shiok Saturday, I’m reviewing the new Bolido X.
The Bolido X is the Swiss brand’s latest watch offering. I previously did an introductory article on the watches here, back when the watches were up on Kickstarter. After 10 months, the production watches are finally ready, and Bolido kindly sent over the Bolido X (Log variant) for me to review. Let’s see if it’s any good!
Bolido X – Video Review
If you would like to see some hands-on video footage of the watch, do check out my Youtube review of the Bolido X below!
Bolido – the Brand
Bolido is a Swiss watch microbrand, founded in 2017 by the duo of Pierre Nobs (of the now defunct Ventura) and Simon Husslein. I’ve previously covered the Bolido brand story in my review of the Bolido Halo – for those interested, you can read the article here.
Bolido X – Build Quality
Like the Boldio Halo, I’m pleased to report that the Bolido X has similarly strong build quality – not entirely surprising, given its 100% Swiss-Made pedigree.
Firstly, the Bolido X utilises a curved sapphire crystal. As aforementioned numerous times in my previous reviews, I’m a huge advocate of sapphire crystal due to their inherent scratch-resisting properties. Personally, I always look for sapphire crystal in my modern watches as it adds greatly to the durability of the watch. Unfortunately, there’s no AR (anti-reflective) coating applied to the crystal, which can lead to unwanted reflections at times especially when taking pictures. In addition, the Bolido X has a mere 30M WR rating, which renders it incapable of withstanding anything more than tap water or rain. Given that its predecessor had a 100M WR rating, this is a slight disappointment. That being said, I wasn’t planning on bringing the Bolido X to the pool anyway, so the lower WR rating has little effect in everyday usage.
The Bolido X is powered by the Swiss STP 1-11 movement. For those unacquainted with the movement, the STP 1-11 is a relatively new automatic movement from the Fossil Group, with self-winding and hacking mechanism, 44-hour power reserve, beats at a high 28,800 Hz frequency, and features Incabloc shock protection. The STP 1-11 is very much in the same league as the ETA 2824/Sellita SW-200 movements, though serviceability may be an issue simply because your local watchmaker would likely be less familiar with the STP 1-11 movement. The movement is also regulated by Bolido in 5 positions to ensure unerring accuracy. Due to internal regulation, the movement should be accurate to -0/+- 15 seconds per day. That’s laudable – few microbrands (or even big brands for that matter) under $1K USD go the extra mile to regulate the movements they purchase from their suppliers. For those wondering, the exhibition caseback is made out of sapphire as well, with lovely Geneva Stripes decoration visible, along with blued screws.
You can configure the Bolido X on a number of strap options, such as Caoutchouc rubber, Savanna leather, exotic camel leather, and the Milano steel bracelet pictured above. Out of the abovementioned options, there is no doubt that the Bolido X looks best on the Milano steel bracelet – it just goes incredibly well with the silver case. It’s also very comfortable on the wrist. However, the Milano steel bracelet costs $129 CHF more than the base Caoutchouc option in the watch configurator, which I think is an eye-gouging amount. The plot thickens when one realises that the price difference between the two (if you purchase the band only) is a slightly less exorbitant $90 CHF. While the Milano steel bracelet is definitely better than the base Caoutchouc option, it’s definitely not worth an additional $129 CHF, or even $90 CHF in my opinion. You could get a nice handcrafted leather strap for that money, which is exactly what I recommend you to do.
Lastly, the Bolido X even possesses Swiss Superluminova on the hands and the indices, so reading the time at night shouldn’t be an issue. It’s not the brightest lume out there, but its presence alone is already a pleasant surprise.
All in all, the Bolido X largely retains the solid specifications of its predecessor. I’m impressed by the curved sapphire crystal, the regulated Swiss STP 1-11 movement, and the Swiss Superluminova applied on the dial. However, I would have loved to see some AR coating on the sapphire crystal, as well as a higher WR rating.
Bolido X – Design
The unique selling point of Bolido has always been the intriguing design of their watches, and that remains unchanged with the Bolido X.
The Bolido X comes in two dial variants – the Log pictured above (which has a slide rule internal bezel) and the CD, which features an internal count-down bezel. Of the two, the Log is definitely the more unique variant. Whilst slide rule bezels may not be unfamiliar in the horological world, they are still relatively uncommon. In fact, you would be hard-pressed to recall a Swiss automatic watch with slide rule functionality that isn’t a Breitling. The Navitimer certainly made the slide rule part of its iconic look, but the instrumental aesthetic has never caught on, at least until now.
Despite its slide rule functionality, the dial of the Bolido X Log comes across as minimalist and clean, with a touch of Bauhaus. The design impetus of co-founder Simon Husslein – who previously designed watches for German brands such as Braun and Nomos – can be felt keenly here. In fact, I would say that the slide rule bezel looks better on the Bolido X Log as compared to even the Breitling Navitimer, which can look crowded and complicated, with legibility impacted at times. In contrast, legibility is a strength on the Bolido X Log due to its use of white-tipped hands, which juxtaposes nicely against the black centre dial. I also like the black date wheel, which blends in well with its black background. The round date wheel is good use of shapes too, as it references the circular nature of the watch’s case. In addition, I appreciate the eye-catching “Panda” aesthetic of this dial, though there is also a stealthier all-black dial variant available.
I have to commend the Bolido team for their execution of the bezel – it’s one of the best execution I’ve seen thus far. There’s no bulky bezel, as one might see on a dive watch. Instead, the rotating bezel is subtly denoted by the coin-edged portion of the case. It’s a minimalist, almost seamless integration of a rotational bezel, one that doesn’t require an additional crown or anything of the sort. There’s a functionality to the design that is reminiscent of the engineering found in home appliances. It really is quite an ingenious design, one that I haven’t seen before in watches.
Although the cases of the new Boldio X models are now larger than their previous offerings, the brand’s award-winning case design – Bolido won the Red Dot Design in 2018 for it – continues to be present. A ton of thought has been poured into the archetypal case of the watch, and it shows. Firstly, Bolido added a second rotative axis to the case. This not only tilts the face of the watch to facilitate time-reading in situations like car-driving, but also increases the case height at the top of the dial to allow for the integration of a large winding crown in an unusual but well-protected position. Most watches feature the crown at 3 o’clock, which though convenient, expose the watch to accidental impact that impairs water resistance. Tilting the case also allows Bolido to mill an inconspicuous notch into the underside of the crown tube, facilitating the winding and time-setting of the watch. Having a hard to wind crown is one of my personal pet peeves when it comes to microbrand watches, so I’m really happy that Bolido had paid close attention to what seems like an insignificant detail.
I also love the juxtaposition of textures that can be found on the case. The case is a lovely brushed matte silver, a finishing that feels premium to the touch. This brushed matte texture is contrasted by the coin-edged surface of the bezel as well as the crown. Bolido executed a wonderful play on textures here, with the coin-edged texture denoting the parts of the watch can be rotated. Not only is the contrast in textures visually striking, it is also functional.
At 45.5mm wide, the Bolido X is a tad larger than its predecessors (the Bolido Halo that I reviewed previously had a diameter of 43mm). However, due to the complete absence of lugs, the Bolido X wears smaller than its width might suggest – it feels more like a 42mm watch. I should also point out that the Bolido X wears beautifully on my 7-inch wrist, due to how the case is engineered. As mentioned above, the case of the watch tilts upwards towards the wearer, and the result is one of the most comfortable watches I’ve ever worn. It feels as though the Bolido X was engineered to fit my wrist.
All in all, I love the design of the Bolido X. The new slide rule functionality (if you opt for the Log model) is cleanly executed in a legible fashion, the bezel is integrated ingeniously, and the Bolido X still retains the wonderfully engineered case of its predecessors. It’s a watch that looks strikingly unique in every manner possible – the dial, the bezel, the case, the crown, everything.
Shootout: Bolido X vs Gorilla Fastback GT
I must admit, I had great difficulty in thinking of a similar watch to compare the Bolido X to. There wasn’t another automatic watch with slide rule functionality in the same price point – the closest option was Breitling’s time-only Navitimer, which costs 5x that of the Bolido X. There also wasn’t another watch with a similar circular case-shape that I could think of. Eventually, I recalled that I previously compared the Bolido Halo with the Gorilla Fastback, and thus thought it might be apt to compare the new Bolido watch to the Gorilla Fastback GT, which is the brand’s update to the Fastback.
In terms of specifications, both watches trade blows. Both watches have sapphire crystal and lume on their watches. The Bolido X, with its regulated Swiss STP 1-11, arguably has the better movement as compared to the Miyota 90S5 movement found in the Fastback GT. However, the Fastback GT uses a plethora of “exotic” materials, such as forged carbon, titanium, and ceramic – materials typically found on more expensive watches.
Both the Bolido X and the Fastback GT are obviously strikingly unique watches that differentiates themselves from the myriad of microbrand watches out there – that’s why I paired them both together initially. However, though the Fastback GT is innovative in its use of differing materials, I find the Bolido X to have a more intriguing design. As aforementioned, I cannot find another affordably priced automatic watch that features slide rule functionality, or anything even remotely close to Bolido’s unique circular, monocoque case design. In comparison, I can name a few affordable sports watches that uses titanium/forged carbon/ceramic materials in their construction – the Vilhelm Talos is just one such example. For me, the Bolido X is the better-designed watch.
There’s also the issue of price. At present, the Gorilla Fastback GT costs about 50% more than the Bolido X, despite it having a Japanese movement and not being Swiss-Made. (Gorilla is a Swiss microbrand, but their watches are made in Asia.) As such, the Bolido X is undoubtedly the better value proposition. Nevertheless, I genuinely like both watches, and would not hesitate to wear either on my wrist.
Conclusion – so the Bolido X “shiok” or not?
Definitely so. Aside from the 30M WR rating, there’s not much to complain about the watch, specifications-wise. It’s impeccably designed as well, with great thought evident throughout the watch. I love the slide rule dial, the panda aesthetic, the uniquely shaped case with its contrasting textures, how well the watch sits on the wrist, and even the funky positioning of the crown at 12 o’clock. It’s a watch that doesn’t follow in the footsteps of other more famous, expensive watches – the same can’t be said for most microbrand watches. Even its incorporation of the slide rule is done in a clean, almost Bauhaus manner that’s worlds apart from the Breitling Navitimer. My only real knock on the watch is its price. Starting at $895 CHF, it’s $200 CHF more expensive than the base model of the older Bolido watches. Given that the Bolido X has virtually the same specifications as the previous watches (aside from the rotating bezel), I’m not convinced that the $200 CHF price difference is justified. The straps are also priced exorbitantly, as mentioned previously. A $795 CHF price tag would have been more appropriate.
For those interested in purchasing the watch, you can click on this link here, which will bring you to the Bolido watch configurator and automatically apply a 10% discount upon checkout. After the discount, the Bolido X starts at a more palatable $805 CHF/ ~S$1206. Ultimately, the Bolido X is a unique watch that defies conventional categorisation. Despite the slide rule functionality, it’s not a pilot watch by any means. It’s also not a sports watch, nor is it a dress watch. It’s just a watch. In an increasingly saturated microbrand market whereby the next watch can’t be differentiated from the last, that’s a laudable achievement in itself.
Purchase the Bolido X here.
View Bolido’s full range of offerings here.
Specifications:
• The engine: Swiss Time Precision movement self-winding mechanism Cal. STP 1.11 decorated with Geneva stripes and engine-turned bridges with ball-bearing, indicating hours, minutes, centre-seconds by hands (stop sec. device), date window at 6 h (rapid corrector) 26 jewels, 28’800 vph, 4 Hz, regulated in the 5 positions according to the COSC certification for Chronometers, average timekeeping of -0/ +15 sec./day, Incabloc; power-reserve of 44 hours.
• Case: Surgical instrument grade, corrosion-resistant stainless steel; turnable precision bezel ring. Black coloured versions: PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition) coated black. Scratch-resistant, curved sapphire crystals, water resistant to 30 m / 100 ft.
• Dials, hands: All models fitted with night-active SuperLuminova® applications to enable time reading in darkness
• Bands: Standard fitting 22 mm allowing a wide array of commercially available of bands.
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P.S.S.S Shiok is a common word Singaporeans use to express admiration or approval. As of 2016, you can find the definition of the word in the Oxford English Dictionary.
