Spinnaker Boettgger LE SP-5083-33

Inspiration Behind Boettgger LE

Today’s review timepiece is the Spinnaker Boettgger LE (Limited Edition). Inspiration comes from a combination of watches released by Rolex and Tudor. Again, Spinnaker have their own twist on Boettgger LE which separates it from the watches that inspired it. Named after Brend Boettgger for his Cold War diving heroism the watch is a tribute to his achievements.

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Dial

What makes this watch so distinguishable from other watches is the dial layout. Spinnaker Boettgger LE has real depth to the watch dial. Mainly due to the chapter ring holding aloft the indices. It gives the impression they are suspended in the air or fixed to the sapphire crystal. 
 
In addition to this the outer minute ring is also raised and appears flush against the sapphire crystal. Silver lume filled indices are protruding away from the minute ring giving the appearance the they are applied to the sapphire crystal. During  natural daylight hours the shadows projected onto the dial are amazing adding to that feeling of depth. As the light changes so does the deep black dial that often appears burgundy in colour.
 
Clear and legible the dial it’s self is stunning and although not noticeable from a distance is very lightly but beautifully textured. A lightly sand grained texture reflects the light enhancing the colour of the dial. At times the dial actually looks burgundy / grey, strange for a watch dial called deep black.
 
Layout for the dial is standard. 3 o’clock position for the framed date window. Below 12 o’clock is the applied Spinnaker logo in silver. And above the 6 o’clock in print are Automatic (white) with the depth rating 1000FT / 300M (red) directly below. Stainless steel minute, hour and seconds hand filled with lume. Hands are substantial in size with the sword shaped minute hand, mercedes styled hour hand and a stainless seconds hand with square lume pip offer excellent legibility.
 
Entering low light conditions the Spinnaker Boettgger watch proves again to be extremely legible. Lume just glows making it extremely useful to those diver’s that opt to use it as a tool watch.

Movement

Underneath the dial lies the Miyota Cal 9015 self-winding movement. Another workhouse movement Spinnaker likes to use that offers;

  • 28,800 vph
  • Bi-directional winding
  • Hacking
  • Hand winding
  • Date calendar
  • 42 hour power reserve

Above all else this movement is easily serviced by any watch maker and is a good solid choice for a watch in this price range.

Case

Firstly the Spinnaker Boettgger LE is a very well built and sturdy diver watch indeed. Made completely from stainless steel the watch head has no lugs. Instead the watch head has an integrated centrepiece of the bracelet, but we’ll get to that later on!
 
Crown guards at 4 o’clock protect the signed screw-down crown. Both sides of the brushed case leads to highly polished edges along the top of the watch that leads to exposed part’s of the face of the watch not covered by the bezel.
 
Like all good dive watches it has a 120 click bezel. Which is brushed stainless steel with the usual diver’s watch layout. Minutes highlighted from 1-20 and at ten minute intervals from 10 – 50 topped at the 60 minutes point by triangle with centred lume pip. One of the problems I have with this watch is the bezel is fractionally out sync with the dial disappointing given that everything else screams premium.
 
Securing the stainless steel case back is six screws. Slightly raised at the centre is a lazer etched image of the underwater tool used by Brend Boettgger and two spinnaker logo’s. One from the dial and the other from the crown. Around the exterior of the image is a serial number (this being 209/300), water resistant 300M, model number 5083, sapphire, automatic movement and All stainless steel.

Bracelet

Integrated into the case is a solid 361L stainless steel bracelet with secure clasp  and buckle. This solid brushed bracelet taper’s down for 26mm to 20mm at the clasp which offers three usable micro adjustments, push button release and secure buckle. Improving on the previous bracelet provide by Spinnaker for the Tesei Titanium as the third micro adjustment was unusable because of the diver’s extension. However, there is no such problems this time around.
 
Brushed stainless steel will easily hide any knocks or scuffs that occur to the bracelet. Surprisingly, the bracelet feels extremely comfortable and smaller as the first link acts like a sort of a lug. Also note that the bracelet can be removed from the watch head using two 2.5mm flat head screwdrivers or by pin after the first link. Although, this would require a custom made strap and would almost certainly take away from the look of the watch. 
 
Spinnaker have designed the watch to hug the wrist. Additional the diver’s extension rounds this bracelet off perfectly to use as a tool watch.

Watch Gallery

Packaging Improvements

Something that has to be noted is the fact that Spinnaker has improved upon their watch packaging recently. Their is a new outer box and design is a massive improvement on previous packaging. And with this Spinnaker Boettgger LE comes a sturdy pelican case like the one delivered the Spinnaker Tesei Titanium.

SPECIFICATION

  • Miyota 9015 self-winding movement
  • 28,800 mph, bi-directional winding
  • Hacking
  • Hand winding
  • Date calendar
  • 42 Hour power reserve

MATERIAL : Stainless Steel Case 
DIAMETER (mm) : 42
THICKNESS (mm) : 13
SHAPE : Round
COLOUR : Stainless Steel 
BEZEL : Unidirectional Bezel with Ceramic Plate

DIAL COLOUR : Deep Black / Artic Blue / Vintage Black

Sapphire Crystal

TYPE : Stainless Steel
COLOUR : Stainless Steel
BUCKLE : Fold Over Buckle with Safety Lock and Push Button (Stainless Steel)
WIDTH (mm) : 26mm

WATER RESISTANCE : 30 ATM/ 300M

WATCH WEIGHT (g) : 220
WARRANTY : 2 Years International

  • Price deserves an additional star below to be fair
  • Spinnaker Boettgger LE is extremely well balanced and is a perfect size at 42mm
  • A diver watch fan and this watch really speaks to me.
  • Raised indices in the watches offers beautiful depth to the timepiece.
  • X-1 Swiss Super Luminova.
  • Heavy and I mean heavy, those with smaller wrist or joint problems will find this a difficult timepiece to wear as the watch is 220g
  • Note the need for a custom made strap if you choose to want a change.
  • A fraction out on the Bezel is a bit of a no, no, if your trying to compete at a higher level
  • I’ve see another one of these watches where the alignment of the indices is off due to the chapter wheel being distorted.

YouTube Review

Final Thoughts

Another achievement has been passed here by the Spinnaker Boettgger LE as it’s certainly there best diver watch they’ve ever made. Personally, I’d go as far as saying it’s their best watch yet! In current form, Spinnaker is trying to out do themselves on a monthly basis and there is steady progress through the rest of the their ranges as well. The Spinnaker Tesei Titanium was a great watch. However, this surpassed it in almost every way apart from the weight of the watch at 220g and you can certainly feel it on the wrist. As we know constant improvement in quality and materials leads to higher prices and at £500 this watch is competing at a higher level of expectation. And This watch delivers in spades. Given the fact that Spinnaker have reduced the prices for those that sign up to £389. I have said this already in an earlier review that Spinnaker risk losing its core base.

 

If you’d like to purchase this or any other Spinnaker watch use code: JUNKY20 for 20% off! 

 

Spinnaker Watches

 

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Price
5/5
Build
4.5/5
Finish
4.7/5
Mainternace
5/5
Strap / Bracelet
4.6/5

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