Imperial Watch Co. Rangefinder

Imperial Watch Company entered the microbrand arena in 2022 with the release of the Royal Guard 200. In my review, I praised its retro charm and declared it to be an excellent value. I still own that watch, and over the past four years, it has become one of my favorites for daily wear. The proportions, color scheme, and throwback details have clicked with me in a way that few others have. So, I’ve been keen to watch the Imperial line grow, first with new Royal Guard colors and collaborations, then with the Ocean Guard GMTs, and now with the Rangefinder limited editions that launch on July 28, 2026, for $439.

Like the Royal Guard, the Rangefinder uses a perfectly proportioned 38mm-wide, 47mm-long case, topped with a gloriously tall, AR-coated sapphire dome that raises the thickness to 14mm. A polished bezel edge and crown brighten the otherwise brushed surfaces. The signed crown screws-down to help ensure 200m of water resistance. At 7.5mm, it’s a big one, but Imperial wisely chose to make it wide rather than long, allowing easy operation without ruining the case’s compact lines.

A bidirectional friction bezel with a countdown timer on its aluminum insert frames the Rangefinder’s all-new dial, which has rectangular hour markers, a paddle second hand, and a hard-edged, arrow-and-post handset, all illuminated with bright white Swiss Super-LumiNova BGW9. As with other Imperials, the dial text is rendered in a suitably vintage typeface. It’s a 1960s look that fits the brand’s aesthetic perfectly.

The most intriguing part of the watch is the color selection. Imperial collaborated with five talented photographers from the online #watchfam community to select various bezel inserts and gradient dials, and the results are beautiful.

“Heritage Cherry” by @talkingabouttime is a rich, dark red inspired by Gibson and Fender guitars, paired with a black bezel. “Pacific Swell” by @mostlyseiko is an ocean blue with a blue bezel and subtle orange accents. “Carbon Mist” by @enthuseddad is a sober gray-on-gray with a pop of orange on the second hand. “Iron Tide” by @calibre321 features a cool blue dial, a gray bezel, and an orange minute hand. Finally, “Prairie Fire” by @ckstime presents a striking and sophisticated combination of a green dial, gray bezel, and an orange second hand.

All variants come with a brushed 20/16mm Jubilee-style bracelet, secured with a toolless microadjustment clasp.

Imperial has just 25 units of each model, and when they are gone, they’re gone. Orders open on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at 8:00 am Pacific, 11:00 am Eastern. The initially discounted price of $439, with free US shipping, is available for only 48 hours. In the unlikely event that any remain after the 48-hour discount period expires, the price will increase to $539. Watches will ship in a unique case styled after a vintage camera bag.

If you are serious about getting yours, I suggest you sign up for the Imperial newsletter, as subscribers will get one hour of early access. For more information and registration, head over to imperialwatchco.com.