One of my favorite aspects of this case design, is the downward slope design of the side of the case. The majority of the case is done up in a nice tool watch styled brushed finish, with some polished accents along the side of the case to add some nice flair. While the larger diameter might seem like a non-starter for some, the short lug to lug length, and design of the bezel, makes this watch wear much smaller than its dimensions might suggest.

Measuring in at a diameter of 43.2mm, a lug to lug of 48mm, and a thickness of 12.9mm, the Avalon wears quite comfortably on my 6.5” wrist. With that being said, the Avalon is in no way a homage to either. I have often seen the Avalon compared to a Seiko Turtle, due to its cushion/tonneau shaped case, however I would more likely draw the comparison to a Doxa Sub case. Let’s dive into the Avalon and what makes it tick.Īs I mentioned in the intro, one of the immediate standout components of the Avalon is its case, both in design and in quality. Uniquely designed and finely machined cases, color matched matte ceramic bezel inserts, a comfortable bracelet, hell, the Avalon even has freaking Excalibur on the caseback (cliche divers helmets or fish be damned).

The Avalon on the surface seems like just another microbrand diver, in the under $750 range, however it’s once you see it in person that the fanfare starts to make sense. Wes & Cullen, the co-founders of Nodus, assemble all their watches in LA, regulate the watches to four positions, and have been pushing the brand further with each release. As with many microbrands, the team behind Nodus is extremely passionate, and it shines through in the quality of their watches. Nodus is based out of Los Angeles, and was founded in May of 2017. The sheer volume of people in love with this brand’s watches intrigued me, and after a couple months with one of their latest releases, the Avalon, I understand why Nodus quickly built up a cult following. However, it seemed that seemingly out of the blue, everyone I follow on Instagram had ended up with a Nodus watch, and couldn’t stop singing the praises of it. Brands such as Halios, Oak & Oscar, Monta, and Unimatic come to mind as brands who have staked a claim as a fixture within the microbrand universe for one reason or another. The Avalon II watch also has an easily adjustable bracelet clasp thanks to its proprietary NodeX extension system which features five locking positions - an impressive and welcome presence on any watch, let alone a micro.While it can be difficult to keep up with the constantly growing pool of microbrands popping up left and right, usually only a few float up to the top due to their standout quality, marketing, or unique designs. While we’re particularly fond of the Coral Yellow dial, each dial is immensely stylish, featuring a waffle-textured pattern, bold applied indices that are filled with blue-glowing T-C1 X1 Grade Super-LumiNova, and a color-matched date window at six o’clock. Style-wise, the Avalon II comes in four gorgeous styles: Coral Yellow, Trench Black, Seaspray White, and Pelagic Blue. A ball-bearing loaded bezel - with a fully-lumed polished ceramic insert - allows for precise clicks, while Viton gaskets augment the watch’s resistance to water, chemicals, and heat. Nodus also ensured to construct the Avalon II in a manner that retains the utility and durability that put the original Avalon on the map. While the Avalon II has a classic design, its case was crafted through CNC machining and is incredibly sleek and thin, establishing the sequel diver as a thoroughly modern watch. Its 316L surgical-grade stainless steel cushion case and old-school design evoke the timeless style of some mid-century dive watches. The Avalon II is a faithful and dapper sequel to its predecessor. Now, the SoCal standout looks to build on the Avalon’s popularity with its sophomore collection: the Avalon II. One name that’s adding to the dive watch’s popularity is Nodus, a Los Angeles-based microbrand that previously made waves with its stunningly attractive flagship, the Avalon. While most people who wear dive watches never really dive to the icy depths they’re built to handle, their durability, versatility, and style make them a must-have for any collector. Since their advent in the 1950s, dive watches have been a staple in both the horological and fashion realms.

Nodus avalon