White divers are different – The Houtman Pilbara

Our brain is structured to think that black (and potentially orange) dials are the standard for diving watches. Probably the main reason is that the mighty Rolex Submariner or Doxa Sub 300 come in these configurations but, there is always third option: white.

We enjoy the fresh approach of a white dial and if is done right, well, the results speak from themselves. Legibility and elegance will be assured but also ready for summer while feeling less serious than its black counterpart.

Houtman as a brand has pushed the envelope in terms of specs and pricing. This is not the first watch that I review from them, and I am always surprised by the quality of their pieces. It does remind me of Sinn watches in terms quality, and sure, they might not have the innovation that the German brand oozes, but the quality of their cases, dials and robustness is not far off.

Today we have a great example of e crisp white dial diver; the Houtman Pilbara in its White Salt variant. The monochromatic scheme is an exercise of restrain when it comes to add splashes of colours or extravagant design cues, it is a functional well-made watch. If you imagine everything that you want on a diver, I believe that the Pilbara delivers, from the robust case to the solid bracelet, that is not to even mention the price. The whole package makes you think of what can be achieved at this price bracket, and it is outstanding.

Let’s begin to uncover one of the coolest divers from the microbrand scene.

The specifications

The Pilbara is a great example of modernity with vintage cues without overdoing it. The stainless-steel case is 41mm with a bezel at 41.5mm for better grip, you can safely say that is a forward-looking diver. That said, I quite enjoy that it has no crown guards giving a bit mix in styles, and just like the rhombus at the top of the bezel and the no date configuration, the nostalgia dials up just enough to make it feel vintage looking.

The white dial is what really got me. it is bright and well thought out, the black hands match to perfection with the bezel, applied markers and text, it is all coherent and well executed. The symmetry is also something that I quite enjoy, there is nothing distracting you from telling the time at a glance.

Lume is everywhere in the Pilbara. The BGW9 makes an appearance in the bezel, hands, markers and the crown, yes you read that right. They are interesting touches that attest that this is not a watch that was put together on an excel sheet to maximise profits, it’s an enthusiast project done well.

Turn the watch over and you will be greeted with a solid caseback (thank you Houtman) with a relief engrave of a red dog, something we do not see every day, but it suits the Australian nature of the watch. Going inside the watch we have a reliable Miyota 9039 automatic movement, it’s a good companion to a watch that can be put to the test in difficult situations. The luminous screw down crown also helps to keep the watch safe up to 200 meters of water resistance.

On the wrist

The Houtman Pilbara is made for everyday wear but also to perform. The larger and flat bezel makes its griping easy while the precision of the click is something that I’ve only experience on watches at least 10 times the price, there is no back play whatsoever, a though cookie.

The Pilbara comes with a solid bracelet and an FMK rubber strap. The marine grade bracelet has a 5-link construction, and it feels robust and at the same time flexible. A small niggle would be that the clasp doesn’t have on the fly micro adjustment, that said, the links can be removed with a small screw to a precise fit.

The FMK rubber strap feels great, it’s a tad large for my 6.25-inch wrist but again the quality is there, and it does match the style of the Pilbara well. I will stay with the factory option bracelet, but the watch looks also great on a nato style strap and because of the 11.8mm thickness, it won’t affect the wearing experience.

I wore the Houtman for hiking and biking mostly, it was a great companion for outdoor activities, and while it would still be good for more formal and casual situations, active wearing is where it would excel.

Legibility is also a high point, no surprises with a white dial here, but it is also the matte finish with the blacked hands. It all works well on the Pilbara side and while the watch can feel a bit heavy with the bracelet, the options are unlimited in terms of straps with its colour scheme, so do not be afraid to switch the looks.

Concluding thoughts

As you can imagine, this watch is something that I quite enjoyed. The size is perfect for me, and the dial is versatile to use it in many situations. What won me over was the quality, at the price of 338 GBP, I honestly cannot think of a better watch to own and enjoy.

The only issue that you might face is that this is a limited series of 75 pieces per watch, and on the Sea Salt variant, there are only 4 left in stock. Hopefully by the time you read this you will have the chance to own one, if not there are 2 different configurations available: the Wild Violet (which I can stop thinking about) and the Rock which leans towards a nice salmon shade.

Whatever Houtman comes next, I am sure the quality will remain on top of their agenda. This is why I am keen to see what the Australian brand has to offer in the future, perhaps a chronograph? A GMT? The platform is there just like the fan base, I am eager to see what happens.

For more information please visit https://houtmanwatch.com/pages/the-pilbara-series

Technical Specifications

·         Solid Marine Grade Stainless Steel Case

·         Miyota 9039 Automatic Movement (no batteries)

·         200m / 20ATM / 660ft Water Resistance

·         Screw-down crown with custom engraved luminous logo

·         Swiss Super LumiNova BGW9 luminous markers and hands

·         Sapphire Crystal, double domed, with anti-reflective treatment

·         Solid Marine Grade Stainless Steel Bracelet with quick release spring bars

·         Screw-down solid stainless-steel case back with embossed likeness of Red Dog

·         Included extras: FKM Rubber strap, maroon 4-watch travel roll