Is the Axia Time Diasimos the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup of watches? Maybe. Hear me out.
You see, according to the television advertisements of my youth, the genius of that candy was its apparently groundbreaking combination of chocolate and peanut butter. “Two great tastes that taste great together,” they said, and the slogan promptly burned itself into my brain, monopolizing precious neurons that might otherwise have cured cancer or retained the name of a person who literally just introduced themselves.
Like Reese’s, Axia Time has combined two complementary elements, titanium and bronze, into a design that is equal parts formal and rugged, to create a pleasantly balanced whole.
As my watch collection has grown, I have accumulated an assortment of titanium and bronze watches. I love the lightness and strength of titanium as much as the earthy warmth of bronze. Titanium cases have become even more intriguing as brands have branched out from traditional grey matte tool watches and started using the material for dressier watches with brushed and highly polished finishes, like the excellent Axia Time Sophia II and now, the Diasimos ($2,995).
The watch measures 40.5mm wide, 47.8mm long, and 10.8mm thick. These proportions are right in the sweet spot for a contemporary man’s watch, and Axia has employed a few tricks to further minimize its size. Those broad, polished bevels along the case sides blur the outside edge while a fixed bezel and matching index ring help make the multi-level dial appear smaller. I found it to be quite appropriate on my 6.75″ wrist, tucking neatly under my buttoned shirt cuff.
Cuff compatibility is important, as Daisimos looks more at home paired with an Oxford and blazer than with a Metallica t-shirt. And before anyone gets on me for being a fashion snob, I’ll admit that you can wear a dress watch with casual clothes, but in that case, glaring contrast is the point.
To my eye, the Diasimos falls into the same kind of “durable dress watch” category as the Sofia II. The case is rated for 100m water resistance, topped with an AR-coated sapphire crystal, and, of course, protected by a grade 5 titanium case. The chunky crown definitely has a tool-watch vibe, even though it’s push-pull. In fact, it is the one element that struck me as slightly out of place. I’d have preferred a coin-edge to match the bezel.
I’d rate the watch as maybe 60% dress and 40% tool because, while it has rugged specs, it lacks any lume, and its polished, diamond-cut hands can occasionally disappear against the dark dial. Also, it has Roman numerals, and in Time Bum math, that automatically makes it at least 5% fancier. I also added another 5% for the bronze PVD coating. Unlike a true bronze case, the finish gives you a rich golden color without patina, ensuring that the shine will remain for the life of the watch. It makes sense for a dress watch, and I prefer this darker tone to a yellow or rose gold coating.
Axia Time offers the Diasimos in Ionian Blue, Obsidian, Ivory, and the Cognac Brown of the review sample. All makers, logos, and text are applied. I particularly like the basket-weave texture on the sunken central dial, as the contrast between its choppy lines and the radial brushing on the hour index lends visual interest while further drawing your focus to the handset.
Plenty of watches have exhibition case backs, but few give you anything to look at. Axia does. You’ll first see the Swiss ETA 2892 movement, a slim and reliable automatic with 21 jewels, a 28.8k beat rate, and a 42-hour power reserve. In this guise, it is also nicely decorated and adorned with a fully custom rotor – not just a standard one that has been laser-etched with the brand name.
Next, you’ll likely notice the thick, black ring. This is for the custom engraving, an option that has become an Axia hallmark.
Axia has never skimped on straps. My review sample arrived on a 22mm charcoal alligator quick-release strap with contrasting stitching that complemented the bronze/gold color of the case and markers. It is equipped with a matching signed deployant clasp that conceals the tail end. Axia offers short and long strap options, and I chose the short, which ensured I did not have too much tail to stuff under the clasp. Real gator leather takes time to break in properly, but it is well worth it. After a couple of weeks, it will comfortably conform to your wrist and look fabulous for years to come.
Now, what you don’t see on the sample is a five-link titanium bracelet in a matching Bronze finish. Axia did not have one handy when I got the sample, but they will when it comes time to ship the watch. The image below shows it on a Heisman Diasimos.
Titanium bracelets are still not quite as common as I might like, and given that a true bronze bracelet would be wildly impractical, bracelets for bronze-colored watches are virtually nonexistent. So getting one with your Diasimos is, shall we say, a pretty big deal. I can’t evaluate what I don’t have, but knowing Axia’s standards and the outstanding quality of their cases, I have no doubt that the bracelet will be a winner.
This watch won’t be for everyone. Bronze and titanium purists may balk at its PVD coating. Tool watch fans will decry its lack of lume. Dress watch nerds may turn up their noses at the case size and burly crown. But the Diasimos buyer will ignore them all. They will see a deft balance between earthy substance and decorative confection and appreciate its unique charm.
The Axia Time Diasimos is not yet available; however, you can register for alerts on axiatime.com.
