In Review: VAER R1 Oceanracer II Chronograph Watch

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VAER R1 Oceanracer V2 – $549 – $669*

*NOTE: Looks like VAER may have just restocked? These sold out after initial release, but as of post time they’re now showing 45 units left for the black dial. Price depends on what strap or bracelet you choose. Each watch comes with a “free” rubber strap. Base price of $549 includes an additional olive single pass recon style strap or a khaki quick release fabric strap. 3-link stainless steel bracelet version costs $639. There are also various leather strap options too.

• model: R1 Oceanracer Chronograph 42mm USA
• size: 42mm case diameter, 11mm thick without crystal, 48.5mm lug to lug, 20mm lug width
• movement: Seiko VK63 MecaQuartz Chronograph
• water resistance: 100m
• crystal: Sapphire
• etc: Assembled in the USA. Comes with two straps (stock/standard rubber + additional fabric strap, leather strap, or stainless bracelet). Quick release spring bars (even on the bracelet!!) make for easy strap swap outs.
• TL;DR Grade: A+. Big fan. Would love to see a smaller size option, as well as adding an on-the-fly adjustment to the bracelet.

The following will be regarded as blasphemy by much of the wristwatch loving community:

VAER’s new Oceanracer Meca-Quartz Chronograph has so many advantages over Omega’s iconic Speedmaster Moonwatch, that many may actually find the VAER preferable.

Left: $639 on Steel bracelet | Right: $7,800

As a former owner* of a Speedmaster (*purchased pre-pandemic inflation spike. long since sold off to solidify things much farther down Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs)… that re-entry level hot take is not coming from an uninformed opinion. Despite its history of being worn by astronauts, I was always afraid I was gonna somehow break the Omega. It just didn’t feel super robust. But the VAER does. It feels tough, looks awesome, and costs less than 10% of the Omega.

100m water resistance is plenty for the beach

Powered by Seiko’s popular VK63 meca-quartz movement, it delivers the cost-savings and accuracy of a battery powered quartz, but still gives the tactile feel of an automatic chronograph at the pushers. And the design/machining of the case feels like a mechanical/automatic watch. Some quartz watches feel flimsy and cheap. The VAER feels solid and substantial on the wrist. I can’t remember the last time I put on a quartz watch and it felt this good.

Two dial colors.
Watch comes with 2 straps:
FKM Rubber (center), & another of your choice (price varies)

Another advantage the VAER has over the Omega is the quick release straps and/or bracelet. If you’re the type that loves to swap out a strap for another, then VAER is one of those brands with standard quick release spring-bars. They sell all of their watches with a “free” rubber strap (pictured in the review you’re reading now), as well as an additional fabric strap, leather strap, or bracelet (some of which come with upcharges to the final purchase price).

Rectangular pushers. Sapphire crystal.
11mm case thickness is nicely wearable.

Just two critiques of the Oceanracer:

1. There’s only one case size: 42mm. That’s on par with the OG Moonwatch, but those who prefer smaller diameters are out of luck for now. (Even Omega makes a 38mm version.)
2. The bracelet doesn’t have an on-the-fly adjustment. That might seem really hyper-critical, but for a while there VAER was selling an extra-premium bracelet with the Nodus designed NEM adjuster. Once you’ve experienced a bracelet with that capability, you may have a hard time going back to anything less.

Assembled in the USA.
Multi layered dial.
Rounded rectangular sub dials to match the pushers.

Factor in the feel-good USA assembled status from a brand on the rise, and the Oceanracer II has enough going for it that even luxury watch nerds may question forking over many thousands of dollars for Omega’s lunar legend.

Ceramic tachymeter bezel. Screw down crown.

I mean, those types will still fork over almost eight grand(!) for their Moonwatch buzz, but for the rest of us who don’t have Space Tourism money, the VAER is a more than smart substitute. One which outperforms the Omega in many ways… not least of which is being far superior at keeping accurate time.