Defakto is part of the German group Limes based in Pforzheim, the same that makes Archimede watches. While most brands are happy to have different designs cohabiting under the same brand name, Limes prefers to separate the brands at least in terms of communications. So Defakto Watches have their own website. The Vektor Radial is undoubtedly very different from Archimede and its pilot’s watches, and Limes and its more classical timepieces. It is a unisex, 39-millimetre watch, inspired by 1950s science fiction looks, with a convex Plexiglas watchglass above a black minimalist dial, also slightly domed, with slender white markings and orange hands that are manually-shaped to follow the curve of the dial. The Miyota movement provides the date function, but the designers of the watch decided not to use it. To their credit.
Slim-looking case
The stainless steel case is beautiful, with a narrow caseband that makes it look slimmer than its actual thickness of 9.8 millimetres. Its finish is sandblasted graphite-black PVD-coated. Water resistance is the standard 3 atm, 30 metres, no swimming. The Plexiglas watchglass adds to its “modern vintage” looks but will require a bit of care. It scratches more easily than sapphire crystal. The strap is in German leather with a folding clasp.
Self-winding movement
Inside, the self-winding Miyota 9015 movement – Miyota is part of the Citizen group, and its movements are made in Japan – provides a power reserve of 42 hours. It can be viewed through the sapphire caseback, and its thickness of just 3.9 mm makes it possible to make slim watches such as this piece. It runs at 4 Hertz, 28,800 vibrations per hour, and its accuracy is analogous to Swiss-made ETA movements, with the manufacturer publishing a precision of 10-30 seconds maximum deviation per day, while users report about 10 seconds deviation per day or even better. It provides the stop seconds function. The Miyota 9015 is progressively changing the mechanical watch industry. Introduced in 2009, it costs about $55, and so it is nicely positioned between the much cheaper Seagull 2551, made in China, costing about $17 but of lower quality, and the ETA 2824-2, made in Switzerland and costing $150 upwards.
Price and reference
The Defakto Vektor Radial is reference 4.V.R-0101-R-SW, and it costs €760 inclusive of VAT, €638 excluding VAT. It is available for purchase online at the Defakto Watches website.