Gorilla Watches was launched in 2017 by Octavio Garcia —former Chief Artistic Officer at Audemars Piguet for more than a decade— and his business partner Lukas Gopp —a former employee of brands like IWC, Sector, Ralph Lauren Watches and Audemars Piguet.The first time we reviewed one of their watches, it was also the first time that we had posted a review of a watch under $1,000 USD. You can check out the review of the Gorilla Fastback here.
Now that the brand is more established, they have released several new collections including the Thunderbolt —Swiss Made Chronograph— and the Drift with Swiss Made watches featuring the mesmerizing ‘Wandering Hours’ complication. These new collections also sit at a much higher price point considering their Swiss Made nature, opposed to the Fastback collection which is not Swiss Made and is powered by a Miyota 8215 automatic movement. The Gorilla Outlaw Drift is available in a limited edition of only 250 pieces individually numbered and priced right just under $4K USD.
Things to Know About the Watch
The Gorilla Outlaw Drift features a curved pebble-shaped case in grade 5 titanium measuring 42 mm in diameter and 13.8 mm in thickness. Full of curves and extremely well finished for the price point, the watch is equipped with a concave bezel that is secured by four hex bolts. The crown follows the design and shape of the crown on the rest of their watches with a futuristic shape that combines a round base with three prongs that allow for excellent grip. Just like the case, the crown is made of titanium. The Outlaw Drift comes with a blue rubber strap that mixes rubber and Cordura fabric — a synthetic fiber-based fabric technology.
The dial of the Outlaw Drift is a real treat for the eyes combining a blue anodized aluminum flange with 0-60 minute scale and seconds track in white and blue aluminum star satellites with hand-laid superluminova —as bright and long lasting as it gets— numerals and subdivisions, that create a subtle contrast against the NAC plated elements. The NAC baseplate is snail milled and the carousel cage that holds the satellite hour discs together is also NAC finished, hand-chamfered and satin brushed. A glossy red seconds hand with NAC treated counterweight completes the very sporty look of this watch. As far as the finishes, we have no complains here and the snailing on the baseplate is simply exquisite, especially considering the price point.
Now, since many of you might be wondering how does the wandering hours complication works, we will explain it here. There are three satellite discs that include four different hour indications each. With every full revolution of the whole star wheel module, the independent satellite discs will rotate in a clockwise direction when passing by 6 o’clock at the bottom of the dial. That way, the three discs altogether prepare to indicate the next set of three hours. The time is read by looking at the large hour numeral and its arrow pointing at the arch minute scale situated on the flange between what would be 10 and 2 o’clock on a traditional watch. The time indicated in the picture below is 8 o’clock with 17 seconds marked by the red hand —which makes a full revolution every 60-seconds like on any regular watch.
The Movement
Turning the watch over reveals an engraved display case back with the limited edition individual numbers. The sapphire crystal allows for full views of a base Swiss Made ETA 2824-2 automatic movement with a proprietary G-5238 Swiss Made wandering hours complication module on top.
This wandering hours module was engineered and manufactured for Gorilla by renowned movement manufacturer Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier SA. Vaucher is known to supply movements and modules to the most prestigious watchmakers including automatic, manual wound and extra-thin calibres, as well as movements with large power-reserves and complications.
This hacking seconds automatic movement beats at a frequency of 28,800 vph and provides a power reserve of 38 hours when fully wound. The movement features a snailed PVD coated oscillating weight.
On the Wrist & Price
On the wrist, the Gorilla Outlaw Drift limited edition wears slightly smaller than its actual size —on a 7.5” wrist— but extremely comfortable. Thanks to its curved-shaped case, the watch wraps nicely around the wrist, almost embracing it. As far as finishing goes, we love the case, dial and the wandering hours module, but we feel that a little bit of extra finishing would’ve been nice to have on the movement. Regardless, this watch is extremely well made and very nice if you want to stay around the under $4K USD price range.
For the level of quality, the complication and the design pedigree behind it —with Octavio Garcia having worked before at AP—, you are getting a lot of watch for the money. The mesmerizing star-wheel complication first presented by Audemars Piguet decades ago, makes a great comeback in a watch that is Swiss Made but that won’t break the bank.
If you asked us, would you get this watch over a TAG Heuer or another entry level luxury watch in this price point? The answer is absolutely yes.
Sticker Price $3,950 USD. For more info on Gorilla Watches click here.
