The Vario Solar Quartz A-11S Raven Black. A watch which takes the lessons of the past in hope of a better future. Now many of you will be having Deja Vu right now. Didn’t Vincent just write about this fantastic little Field watch? Yes dear reader he did, but as this watch is such a great proposition for any sized wrist, we thought it would be fun to have a female perspective on this small but mighty piece too.

Now that’s out of the way I want to jump right in by saying how happy I am to see such a

thoughtful approach to making a smaller 35mm little brother to Vario’s 40mm of the same design by offering the vintage watch and small wrist community a seat at the table in the Field Watch genre. It wears like a dream. But before I delve right into all the great attributes of this little beauty I want to talk a little about the history of the Field watch as it is fundamental to truly appreciating the 1945 A-11S.

Never Forget

The Field Watch was born out of necessity and survival during a new type of warfare during the First World War. Trench warfare meant the need for synchronised manoeuvres between trenches, which meant a reliable, legible and robust timepiece was essential. But the first field watches were literally pocket watches strapped on the wrist and nothing was standardised and they were HUGE. Fast forward to the Second World War where field watches were official military uniform and were strictly standardised including the A-11 which was issued by the US Army.

The original A-11 field watch featured a matte black dial with Arabic numerals and a ‘railroad’ minute track, syringe style hands and a teeny 32mm case made of brass or plated base metal to save on steel. It had a decent 15- jewel mechanical movement with hacking seconds, acrylic crystal and drilled lugs for a canvas strap. Every aspect of the watch had a purpose. Be legible and reliable in all light and weather conditions. The original Gada watch.

Fast forward to today and its legacy still lives on with many watch brands making their version of the ‘dirty dozen’ field watch, but rather than glorify the act of war Vario decided to focus on peace, with a couple of beautifully done design choices. Let’s get into it.

The Little White Dot

Vario made a conscious decision to do away with the hacking seconds opting to replace it for a little black disc with a little white dot all in the name of peace. The simple act of the mini white dot acts as a reminder of a shift away from the tools of war. This paired with the origami paper crane embossed on the case back. A nod to Sadako Sasaki, a little girl who tried to fold 1,000 paper cranes to grant one wish before her tragic death as a result of the atomic bomb exposure in Hiroshima. This thoughtful addition really touched me and is really a testament to Judy and Ivan (the couple behind Vario) and their kind and caring spirit.

What You Get for $198

As touched on before, the 1945 A-11S comes in both 35mm and 40mm, which makes it super for any wrist size and it seems Vario has packed in some great specs for a very affordable $198. (I can see why the 40mm has already sold out in the Raven Black variant.) Anti-reflective anti-scratch sapphire crystal, a marine grade stainless steel case, 50m water resistance, non-fading BGW9 lume and an eco-friendly Miyota 2070 solar quartz movement that doesn't require battery change which is such a bonus and a new experience for me. 

It’s also my first watch with the crown at 4 o’clock, which was designed to be easy to grip while not digging into user's wrist for more comfort, which I must say looks very pleasing and another standout feature, which steers away from a bog standard design. The watch is a slim 9mm thick with a lug to lug of 41mm, which sits perfectly on my 13.5cm wrist. The lugs curve beautifully and the mix of brushing and high polish around the lugs and bezel add yet another level of interest.

The dial is beautifully textured and has many of the traditional elements of a field watch like the super syringe hands and the no nonsense numerals. I enjoy the little red arrow at 12 o’clock, which is both super practical and a much needed splash of colour. The watch comes with a recycled black cordura strap, which I find to be comfy. Please note that the lug width is 18mm, but Vario makes some great options as this watch IS a strap monster.

Styling the Watch

I absolutely love vintage glamour and the mix of traditional masculine and feminine aesthetic so it’s been so fun to style this for you all. I recreated ‘Rosie The Riveter’ as I found these pioneering women to be so inspiring and paving the way for future generations. Mirroring the all black with a dash of red, which would look fantastic in a day-to-day look.

Continuing the 1940s pin up aesthetic I have styled the watch in a monochromatic look, which would be just as effective with black jeans and white t-shirt combo if you’re feeling casual.

What a Difference a Strap Makes

Once I switched up the strap to a deep red, it instantly became the perfect autumn wrist companion. Worn with a tartan wool dress, which highlights the texture of the dial and brings a softness to the otherwise very masculine tool watch. This watch slips beautifully under a shirt or blazer so you really can dress this one up or down!

Final Thoughts

Field watches are not something I had really resonated with before. I am definitely a peace loving free spirit and although I greatly admire my ancestors and the freedom they fought for I will always hope for a better world without the need for war. This watch is a little symbol which embodies that sentiment perfectly. It has enough personality in its design that it stands out in its own right and is very much a treat for the wearer, with its little Easter eggs like the little white dot. This is my third Vario now and with each one I am more impressed. 

This is a brand that doesn’t settle and always strives to make a better watch at brilliant value. The solar quartz mechanism worked straight out of the box and the 35mm is such a perfect size for the small-wristed and vintage watch lover. I also love how they blended the Vario logo to match the dial. It just elevates the watch somehow. Sorry to tell you dear reader, but I don’t have anything negative to say about this watch. It’s just such a solid choice for the price. I’m really going to enjoy wearing this one as a gentle symbol of optimism and peace. Time will tell. I highly recommend it!