In Review

The Sacred Crafts: Dark Seas

“Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean, roll!”
Lord Byron, Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage

For the second installation of our review series, I’ve been hands-on with another wild wonder from the good people over at The Sacred Crafts, and I am not exaggerating in the slightest when I say that this watch is unlike anything I’ve had on the wrist before. While my initial review of a TSC limited edition was for a thoroughly bronzed-out hunk, the latest piece here, the “Dark Seas,” is essentially akin to the Twilight Princess in the Legend of Zelda series; dark, brooding, and emotionally charged, but without changing or compromising the core narrative or intended direction of the franchise. While the other La Grande Mer divers make use of bronze or steel to add a flicker and a shine, there is absolutely none of that going on here…and I love it. While the words “stealth” and “tactical” are, in my opinion, a bit overdone these days, especially as most brands go over the top to make the consumer “feel” something, it took less than a day on the wrist with this piece to conclude that the look is absolutely true to those two words. At 44mm, as is the case with the other TSC divers, I put it on thinking that this would feel pretty large and potentially like a small dumbbell on the wrist; I couldn’t have been more wrong.

What we have here for materials is an original combination of practical and recycled mediums: carbon fiber for the bezel and some of the links, and an in-house blend made from reclaimed ocean waste, such as fishing nets, comprising the dial and center links. The result is a watch that weighs hardly anything in comparison to its size, as well as each dial having its own individual look and intricacies. This is something that appealed to me instantly, similarly to how I’m drawn to vintage watches that have developed patina or other markings over time; so many watches, especially with the innovations of modern watchmaking, look exactly the same as the others in their reference and will continue to hold that same appearance for their lifetime. While this is perfect for the typical day-to-day piece, and more in line with brand philosophies that now focus on consistency within reference points – such as Rolex with the Submariner – it doesn’t inspire those same feelings of individuality and “one-offness” that I get from pieces like the Dark Seas. This is no fault of either philosophy, but rather a difference of scale and production. With so few La Grande Mer divers produced, that room for individualization is not only allowed to exist, but indeed celebrated and put on full display. Just a little something different, if that calls your name.

As a dive watch, the nearly all-black layout is quite the statement of understatement, sort of a “lurking in plain sight” type of look, if you will. The contrast of the dial serves it well and brightens things up, but not in a way that overpowers the look. There’s a wonderful bit of complementing going on here with the dial’s hues and the subtle color changes in the bracelet, all creating a look that, at the risk of being redundant, is something I’d yet to experience before seeing this watch.

Recently, we took a drive up to the small town of Ogunquit, Maine, for a quick change of pace and a chance to exhale from the activity of Boston. For anyone else who has ventured up the Northeastern Coast before, you’ll know the look of the land when the sun’s not out: boulders and rock outcroppings forming a slightly formidable layout, dark sand and grumpy seas reminding us that beaches aren’t always a snapshot of Margaritaville. The Dark Seas was an accompaniment for the trip, and the grey, gloomy lighting of an overcast New England Saturday proved to bring the best colorways and tones out of this piece.

As I’ve noted earlier on in writing this blog, I am not – nor could I ever be – a one watch guy. There are some days where I want that little bit of flash, or to hide something under my sleeve (sorry, magicians of the world…okay I mean come on did anyone reading really think there wouldn’t be some dad humor on tap this time around??), but for a road trip up the coast filled with clouds and cliffs, this watch was just spot on to complete the picture. Not that everything has to be about creating the perfect moody aesthetic of a sweater-clad Northern writer, but hey, it sure is nice. And for anyone noting the oddly specific descriptors in that last sentence, yes, my dream is to retire in a coastal maritime town, wearing overly-knit sweaters and speaking almost exclusively about tidal patterns and why increased coffee prices make me sad.

When it comes to specs, we’re looking at the same dimensions and measurements as the previously reviewed La Grande Mer sibling, the Bronze Legend:

Case diameter – 44mm

Case thickness – 13mm

Crystal – Sapphire

Lug width – 22mm

Movement – ETA 2824 (automatic, hacking)

Water resistance – 300m

We’re also looking at the same Castaway-like box and packaging – for how that unboxing experience comes through, have a look back at my first review here a few articles ago – but the similarities really make their end at the arrival materials and numbers. Kudos to the creative thinkers over at The Sacred Crafts for finding a way to make the Dark Seas make sense, both as a part of the broader La Grande Mer collective, as well as with its own merits of originality. Fitting in without blending in…definitely something to be said for striking that balance.

The Dark Seas can be found below, as well as the rest of the offerings from The Sacred Crafts:

https://thesacredcrafts.com/products/dark-seas

As always, wherever you are, and wherever you’re going, many thanks for stopping by.