Hot on the heels of my Feynman One review, I bring you the $1,488 SG ($1114 US) Feynman Fjorde, a watch that takes the brand’s distinctively offbeat style in a very different direction.
Where the Feynman One is a dress watch with some sporting styling cues, the Fjorde is a sports watch, through and through, a position telegraphed by its leather Zulu and FKM rubber straps (see my review of the excellent Feynman rubber straps here). Refreshingly, it is not a dive watch. Not that I have anything against divers, but boy, we review a lot of them. The internal compass bezel tells us the Fjorde is intended for land-based adventures. Still, if you happen to fall into the ocean on your travels, you’ll be grateful for the Fjorde’s screw-down crown and 200m water resistance rating. There are four different Fjordes in the collection: Founders (green/green lume), Khor (dark green), Magma (orange), and Tempest (blue). All are in stock. I tested the last two.
The Fjorde is 40mm wide, 46mm long, and 12.8mm thick. I have often said that the published measurements are a rough guideline at best for any watch. Three-dimensional design is a complex thing, and our perception of an object’s size can vary greatly depending on its shape, curvature, surface finish, and no doubt several other factors that I don’t recognize or fully understand because I made the mistake of going to law school instead of art school. However, in fairness to my younger self, I had no idea I’d ever be reviewing watches. But that is neither here nor there. The point is that while the Fjorde fits nicely on my 6.75″ wrist, it looks and feels larger than its mid-sized dimensions would suggest. I chalk that up to the way the curvature of the case sides follows right through to the tips of the lugs, making the case appear more barrel-shaped than round.
Viewed from the side, you can appreciate the inward curve of the lugs and the way the thick, beveled edge contrasts with the circular brushing on the topside. You also get to enjoy that massive sapphire crystal. Indeed, as you can see in the photo below, the domed crystal, plump polished bezel, and aggressive chamfers appear stacked, emphasizing the watch’s thickness.
You also get a look at the signed crowns, which are just tall enough to afford good grip — a function often compromised by 2 and 4 o’clock crowns as their position can be awkwardly close to the lugs. The Fjord gave me no such challenge.
Around the back, you’ll find a solid case back, simply decorated with… waves? Vines? I have no idea, but the engraving is nice and sharp. Behind that lid is a Swiss ETA 2895, a 27-jewel, 28.8k bph automatic with a 42-hour power reserve.
Now, let’s talk about that dial. If you are looking for tool watch utility, I’d suggest you move on. This is not that kind of watch. On the other hand, if you want something fun, detailed, and positively lume-tacular, you are in the right place. The Fjorde employs a sun-brushed sandwich dial with cutaways delineating two rings of markers (hour and minute) linked in quadrants as well as Feynman’s trademark offset small seconds. The only numeral is the Roman 12, also cut away. Sword hands correspond in length to the two sets of rings. It seems intricate at first glance but is perfectly legible, mostly. The brown and white compass bezel is almost impossible to see. It’s simply too small and suffers from being located under the single most distorted position under that massively domed crystal. It’s cool, but I would not want to rely on it for orienteering.
The second layer is awash with Chrono.AMR, a lume material developed in Singapore that I had not previously encountered. It is white on the blue Tempest and orange on the black Magma. At night, everything pops to life, even the compass, and it is pretty spectacular.
As mentioned above, you get a pair of 22mm straps with the Fjorde. The Palmellato leather pass-through has heavy, rounded hardware that pairs well with the curvy case. It is nicely made and brings a kind of upscale rustic look. Like all pass-throughs, it makes the watch feel much larger on your wrist.
I’m already on the record as a Feynman FKM rubber strap fan. It’s soft, relatively lint-free, has quick-release spring bars, and displays that snazzy Feynman mystery pattern molded into its center stripe. I liked the look of the leather Zulu on the watch but preferred the feel of the FKM on my wrist.
I found the Feynman Fjorde to be a lovely piece all around. It is a handsome watch with an inventive, eye-catching design. The compass function is a tad compromised, but this isn’t a watch I’d want to beat up in the woods anyway. It’s too pretty for that, even though it would be more than capable.
For more information or to order your own, visit Feynman Timekeepers at feynman.watch.
