As you might be aware by now, the core strength of micro houses of horology is their capacity to innovate by making bold jumps in technical and design directions. Supported by manufacturers that now feel comfortable to take many leaps of faith, and better, more affordable horological tech, microbrands’ creativity and outside-the-box thinking is boundless. In some instances, they integrate a brand new technology into their existing models, for example 3D printed blocks of lume. In other instances, they rethink what a classical genre of timekeeping device should look like, for example mixing together field and dive watches, GMT and dress timepieces, in ways the bigger players of the industry didn’t think of. But while they are doing all of this, and with the exception of AliExpress-backed microbrands, the prices of their innovative watches increase as better technology, more singular dial and case designs, and improved manufacturing and finishing equal higher production costs. And we are accepting this. 

However, not all microbrands routinely increase their prices. Those that do either must want to double their profit for the sake of it or to grow the brand (by hiring more staff,  producing more watches, sealing new deals with distributors) which is all fair game. And brands that do not raise their prices either believe that what they are charging is fair for everyone (themselves and us the consumers) or because they are set to make their unique vision of horology accessible to as many enthusiasts and collectors as possible. This leads us to taking a first look at Hong Kong-based Aision, a relatively new brand whose horological philosophy mostly relies upon reinventing the integrated bracelet sports watch category which has become popular again since Tissot re-released the PRX in 2021. Instead of making their own versions of the PRX, Aision created its own visual language through which it has explored dressier and sportiers versions of this genre, now dabbling into the ever popular dive watch category. 

Up for review today is the Hang Abyssus Blue Sunburst Dial which retails for $664 USD. 

Specifications 

The way we are going to look at specifications today is going to be a little different than usual. Once in a while, we dissect watches whose technical attributes spill over their design ones (and vice versa) blurring the line between what is more or less subjective—dimensions, water resistance, etc.—and what isn’t—design. One is an integral part of the other and the other makes the watch, so to speak. And analyzing these kinds of watches is interesting because it shows that their creators came up with a rather different way to look at horology (which is in itself a feat in 2026) we might not be familiar with or see too often on the market nowadays. And the icing on the proverbial cake is when this unusual way of seeing watches is paired with a great price tag and showcases very fine manufacturing and finishing work. Evidently, I wouldn’t be saying any of this should the Aision Hang Abyssus not offer such a type of horological experience. For a first encounter with the brand there is a lot of good stuff we need to go over. 

First and foremost, the Hang Abyssus is an integrated bracelet-style diver, a kind of design and technical combination I do not recall having seen before from our favorite side of the watch market. Typically, integrated bracelet watches lean more towards the everyday elegance and sometimes, but more rarely, towards the utilitarian one. Tissot’s PRX is, at its core, an everyday sports watch designed to be versatile and agile in many situations. Rolex’s 2025 Land Dweller follows the same philosophy, albeit for a much higher price tag. And this watchmaking design philosophy, which first appeared in the 1970s with the uber popular Audemars Piguet Royal Oak in 1972, Patek Phillipe Nautilus in 1976, and Tissot PRX in 1978, thus became popular again at the beginning of the 2020s and has spread through the global watch market like wildfire—many brands, like many of them, have dabbled into this style of watches for the first time or were bold enough to dust off old models I assume they wouldn’t have otherwise resurrected. A thought. 

In any case, the Hang Abyssus is endowed with an ultra modern silhouette due to the nature of its construction and design: a 316L stainless steel case which measures 40mm in diameter, 46mm lug-to-lug (although the effective L2L measurement at the edges of the end links is 51mm,) a thickness of 11.3mm, a 27-18mm taper for the bracelet and an actual lug width of 17mm. Indeed, in design and spirit, the Abyssus is an integrated bracelet diver, however the bracelet can easily be removed by way of quick-release spring-bars. (Hence the “style.”) Thus, Aision designed the Abyssus to look like such a watch but offers the possibility to swap the excellent bracelet (why on earth would you do that?) for an optional fitted rubber strap, or any other one you happen to have in a rare 17mm lug width. The fact that the bracelet can be removed is one detail that often demarcates microbrands from well-established houses of horology that make integrated bracelet sports watches: they understand that we watch enthusiasts like to have options. 

And the rest of the package is really good. As we will see later on, the case and bracelet showcase a high-end-style juxtaposition of fine brushed and polished surfaces which are symbiotically integrated within the Abyssus’s design. To indeed ensure a modern wearing experience, Aision equipped the bracelet with screwed links and double-pusher deployant clasp complimented by a tool-less micro-adjustment mechanism. The movement inside this handsome case is the popular and reliable Miyota 9039 caliber (4Hz/42 hours of power reserve,) which is nestled inside the 300m water resistant case, an impressive depth rating insured by way of the 7.3mm screw-down crown and sapphire-equipped see-through case-back. The top crystal is made of the same material and is complemented by several layers of inner anti-reflective coating so that we can easily drool over the deep sea-like blue sunburst dial and the 3D printed blocks of BGW9 for the hour markers as well as the printed lume on all three hands. Yes, $664 USD is more than a fair price. 

Design

Aision describes the Hang Abyssus as an “integrated bracelet” model and one which follows in the footsteps of several other similarly designed timepieces the brand released prior to this one. As we know, technically it isn’t an integrated bracelet sports watch since the bracelet can easily be removed. However, it was designed to look like one because such case + bracelet combo create a particular wrist wearing experience that integrated bracelet watches are known for, whether they cost $500 or $20,000 USD. The whole wraps around the wrist akin to a metal cuff, commanding a strong wrist presence—and in some cases that would be an euphemism—which certain enthusiasts and collectors are looking for. They are part blingy, part muscular and sportive, and definitely would not naturally fit within special forces’ black ops equipment. But, even though you might be someone who prefers to keep things on the down-low, once in a while you might enjoy a little more steel on your wrist as I do, and as I did with the Lüm-Tech Eclipse E2. 

So we must first speak about the case and the bracelet and how both couldn’t live without the other. Even though the effective lug-to-lug distance is 51mm, the Hang Abyssus contours my average 6.50”/16.5cm European wrist with delicacy and comfort, because the bracelet tapers dramatically and for it is well-engineered and finished: the underside of the links are perfectly flat and satin-brushed for a smooth skin contact, and the links, which are dramatically chamfered and beautifully faceted, are endowed with fabulous articulation. Visually, the bracelet does melt into the bracelet in the classic symbiotic-like manner of well-designed integrated bracelet watches, where the polished chamfers of the outer links naturally transition onto the lugs and traverse the case sides below the bezel. Moreover, the fine brushing of the upper link surfaces transitions into a coarser one on the upper size of the case, creating another visual point through which the bracelet perfectly flows into the case. The case and bracelet are lovely. 

Moreover, the ceramic bezel insert, from which emanate a subtle 1950s Bakelite charm, is sandwiched between a polished metal ring, which frames the crystal, and the outer edges of the bezel, polished as well, and fine yet intense coin-edge knurling making the bezel easy to turn, accompanied by a satisfying ball-bearing-like action. The mid-case itself shows off a fine horizontal brushing work which balances the mirror-like polishing of the wide chamfers which themselves command a great deal of the wearer’s attention—in a good way that is. With a mid-case that stretches horizontally at a perfect angle and short lugs which turn down towards the wrist, you can perhaps better picture how the Hang Abyssus, with its 40mm diameter and 51mm lug-to-lug, does wear nicely even on an objectively smaller wrist by modern standards. Since we now know that Aision thought everything through, we of course find a nicely knurled screw-down crown and see-through case-back which perfectly complete the outer portion of the Abyssus’ design. 

With such an intense case + bracelet ensemble, Aision might have wanted to tone down the dial layout and visual presence, as it can be seen on many iconic integrated bracelet sports watches which came with relatively simple dials. In a way it did, in another, it didn’t. At first glance, the Abyssus’ dial looks rather straightforward; a large handset as commonly found on dive watches, and equally large hour markers to make reading the time an easy operation. However, looking closer at the dial we discover something unique: first, a great impression of depth we are not sure from where it comes, as the hour markers seem to be sunken into the dial and concurrently rising from it. Thus upon closer inspection we discover Aision’s clever design language: 3D printed blocks of lume indeed recessed within the dial and framed by pill-shaped, rounded CNC-machined cut-outs complemented by polished borders which reflect the great quantities of luminescent pigments contained within the markers in the dimmest of lighting scenarios. 

Aision finished the whole with a set of broad and faceted hour and minute hands, made of polished bevels and brushed upper sections, and an ultra thin seconds and complemented by an arrow-shaped lumed element. When you add up the handset and semi-sandwich dial construction with a deep blue sunburst dial, you do get a fabulous horological spectacle which can be had for the relatively meager price of $664 USD. 

The Heart of the Matter

What we saw today does prove once again that microbrands excel at innovating and making bold leaps from technical and design perspectives. Evidently, Aision is not the first brand in the history of watchmaking to pair the functionality of a dive watch with the aesthetics of an integrated bracelet sports watch. However it is the first microbrand to do so as far as my knowledge of the industry goes. (Don’t get mad if you know of another example I don’t of—I’m not ChatGPT.) Technically, the Hang Abyssus is rather complete and makes for a compelling multi-scenario horological option—Miyota 9039, good lume, 300 meters of water resistance, sapphire sandwich construction, excellent bracelet equipped with on-the-fly adjustability—which are all excellent to have for that price. The innovative part of the argument here refers to the excellent manufacturing and finishing of the case and bracelet, which elevate the perceived value of the Abyssus multi-fold. 

So not innovative in the sense that the brand came up with a new technology, but rather in how it combined various technical and design elements with great attention to details for a relatively novel type of sports watch in this segment of the market. Visually therefore it innovated by symbiotically combining two genres of watches into one to make something that can stand on its own: a case and bracelet sculpted from stainless steel and complemented by fine brushed and polished surfaces; a bold handset answered by a bold semi-sandwich dial construction within which sit tall 3D blocks of lume; a delicate sunburst dial finish; and thus a legible, bold, and modern dial. The latter three adjectives can be attributed to the bezel as well and of course to the case, creating a contemporary, muscular diver the likes of which I had not seen before. In other words, Aision had a vision which it managed to translate through the Hang Abyssus, successfully so.

Conclusion 

If you like what you saw today and were serendipitously in the search for an integrated bracelet-style dive watch under $1,00 USD (I know, this is ultra specific,) then you ought to act quick as the Aision Hang Abyssus Blue Sunburst Dial won’t be around for ever. It is currently on sale for $664 USD ($781 USD regular price) and can also be had on a fitted color-matched FKM rubber strap for $553 USD ($651 USD.) Aision produced a black dial version that is unfortunately sold out. 

Thanks for reading.