I know what you’re thinking.
“23 watches? I hope you’re at least punctual.”
Yeah, maybe I went down the rabbit-hole a little too deep.
But there’s one I keep coming back to over and over again. My wife teases me. She says I can wear a different watch every day of the month (last time I counted, there were 30 days in a month, but she makes a good point).
It’s a Nordgreen.
So why do I choose this timepiece almost every day when I have so many options?
Well, I sat down for a good think and figured these five reasons I keep going with the Copenhagen-based minimalist brand over all the others in my collection.
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1. The minimalist design makes them super versatile
Nordgreen has four designs: the Native, Pioneer, Infinity, and Philosopher.
And with all models crafted by the legendary Danish designer Jakob Wagner (Bang & Olufsen, Alessi), any watch lover can spot the innovative twists.
The Pioneer recently won a Red Dot design award and I’m a fan of the depth and continuity in the chronograph subdials. While many watch makers will stack layers upon each other for a chronograph movement, the Pioneer dial is manufactured as one solid piece.
The more I look at it, the more I’m impressed—and it’s fun to photograph, too.
The Philosopher is the only watch I’ve seen that has a shorter lug-to-lug than diameter. I’m still wondering how Wagner pulled that off and still kept it comfortable to wear. But that’s why he’s the designer and I’m not.
But my favorite design is Nordgreen’s simplest: the Native.
The Nordgreen Native is a beautiful minimalist watch. Even with 10+ watches in my collection, I find myself reaching for this timepiece many times a week. It’s subtle and slim but looks rich and elegant.
This little timepiece has been growing on me, and it’s my favorite watch in my collection. The “invisible” indices, boldly barren dial, and domed sapphire crystal look understated and sophisticated.
The slim case makes the Native a solid choice for formal occasions, but I prefer to wear it casually in my day-to-day.
For a full detailed look at the Native and the Pioneer, head over to our Nordgreen review. We also broke down our thoughts on the Philosopher in a separate review.
2. They use quality materials but they’re relatively inexpensive
Considering materials like the domed sapphire crystal, Nordgreen packs solid value.
I’ve picked up six different Nordgreen watches over the past ten months or so, and I’m happy to say that I haven’t needed to change a single battery.
The genuine Italian leather straps are soft and comfortable, but their mesh bracelet impressed me the most. While I’ve steered away from mesh bracelets in the past because they typically pull at the hairs on my wrist (it’s not a good look to scream while going for a handshake).
But I took a chance with my second Nordgreen Native and got the 20mm gunmetal mesh strap, which fits my five other Nordgreen watches, too.
At the last count, I still have all my wrist hairs (is it a joke? I’ll never tell).
3. They genuinely give back
When you get your watch from Nordgreen, you can choose one of three amazing giving programs. One watch can provide:
- Two months of clean water for one person in the Central African Republic through Water for Good.
- One month of education for a child in India through Pratham UK.
- The preservation of 50 sqm of Latin American rainforest through Cool Earth.
And right now (mid-July 2020, and ongoing until the crisis abates) Nordgreen is helping out Los Angeles Medical and Emergency Response Front Line workers by donating meals through FUEL THEM LA.
Beyond that, Nordgreen buys carbon offsets so their HQ is carbon-neutral. The brand sets an example for what’s possible in sustainability and community engagement, and that’s a huge bonus for us.
4. They ship for free worldwide
Whether you’re in the States, Canada, Europe, Korea, Japan, Australia—anywhere—Nordgreen ships free.
While the Philosopher might look like any other minimalist watch at first glance, a closer glance reveals subtle design elements that lift this Nordgreen staple above and beyond the competition.
Even better, they’ll pay any duties or import taxes.
There isn’t much more to say here—you get what you pay for, and in this case, that’s a great thing.
5. You can save money by bundling
As I mentioned, my favorite thing about Nordgreen watches is their versatility—especially the Native.
I usually rock it as part of a casual outfit, but with the right strap, it makes for a solid dress watch.
Save a few bucks by picking up one or two extra straps at checkout. If I could only choose one strap to go with my Native, I’d pick the brown leather, because that’s my jam.
But I don’t have to choose one—I can choose as many as I darn well please, thank you very much.
I also picked up a black leather strap for more formal occasions. And eventually I got the gunmetal and navy Native with a gunmetal link bracelet, which is my dress watch of choice at the moment.
Don’t be like me and get one strap at a time, though. Save 20% by picking up two with your new watch, or 10% with just one extra strap.
Give Nordgreen a Shot
Ok, so maybe you’re not a watch-fiend like me.
Maybe you’re not the kind of person who goes deep with a brand and picks up six watches in a year.
Honestly, I’m glad Nordgreen hasn’t released any new watches in that time frame because I wouldn’t be able to keep up.
But if you’re looking for a high-quality versatile timepiece from a brand that supports and gives back to the global community, it’s worth taking a closer look at Nordgreen.
Created by the famous Nordic designer behind Bang & Olufson, Nordgreen’s minimalist watches are as stunning as they are simple. While we struggled with minor issues like glare, these timepieces are classic wardrobe staples.
FAQs
Is there a Nordgreen discount code?
Yes, get 20% off with the code THEADULTMAN or follow our link.
