Daniel Oliver 
Enjoy amassing must be entertaining. A lot of moments, it isn’t. In some cases we burn off out immediately after sinking in way too deep and occasionally waves of back-to-again overpriced buzz watches go away us jaded and cynical. Then there’s the social media FOMO. And hell, even attempting to make some variety of job out of your interest can depart you regrettably callous to the market … belief me. But there are nonetheless small moments here and there that can rejuvenate the excitement. For me it is witnessing group, meeting superior people guiding fantastic manufacturers, and observing someone attempt a little something for the enjoyable of it. I received that perception when I saw the launch of the Imperial Royalguard 200 from afar. Just one of the latest and extra charming very affordable dive watches obtainable now, it instantly pulled me in, and I understood I just had to commit some time with it.
Like so many great micro-brand name startups, Imperial Check out Co. emerged from the modding area. It is a authentic just one-guy clearly show and the operator Ben admits to obtaining his start out by making out mods with parts from Seiko, Invicta, and anything he could locate on eBay and AliExpress. Sooner or later the time came for him to put something out there and the goal transferring ahead was to build a thing motivated by basic pores and skin divers and of study course, watches like the Eberhard Scafograf 300. Just before even managing the observe, I imagined the stop end result seemed terrific. And all for underneath $500? I truly did need to discover out extra for myself, and it appears like the look at quickly drew out one particular heck of a crowd—considering these are all offered out at this issue.
Situation
Whilst the Imperial Royalguard 200 does not have the exact same twisted lug scenario form as the Scafograf 300, it does have a universally wearable, classic situation I assume quite a few will enjoy. It is 38mm in diameter, 47mm lug-to-lug, and 14mm thick if you rely the domed sapphire crystal with AR-coating. Two items instantly stand out when on the lookout down at the enjoy. A person is that massive 7.5mm screw-down crown that’ll offer equally fulfilling interaction with the check out and 200m of water resistance. Then comes the 120-click dive bezel and its insert, which is tough to describe and not like anything I have witnessed from many smaller sized models prior to. The shade shifts in between anything reminiscent of pale blue denim and people outdated bezel inserts you see on extremely collectible Maritime nationale Tudor divers.
It all would make for a pretty relaxed package deal and I like that the finishing on the circumstance itself isn’t extremely-accomplished. Truly, you just get some polished bevels together the leading edges of the situation+lugs with brushing everywhere you go else. The press sample I experienced also featured a very simple screw-down caseback with nothing extra than the Imperial Check out Co. symbol and “AUTOMATIC” printed on there. Which is all great with me. I have been liking display backs on divers fewer and a lot less these days.
Dial
If you inquire me, I consider this is the true star of the clearly show. I really don’t know why but it just appears like there haven’t been lots of small boutique makes interested in emulating this Eberhard-design dial. The blend of the gilt circles and triangles is incredibly legible and I like the way the particular person moment hashes converge so deeply into the heart of the dial. There’s also a bit of a twist when it will come to the handset. In contrast to the Scafograf 300, the big triangle was shifted from the hour hand to the minute hand. In the circumstance of the Imperial Royalguard 200, this effects in the oddly gratifying result of getting the moment hand triangle passing about and aligning with the triangle markers on the dial completely.
And even though I did not handle to get a lume shot, all of the markers and the hands are entirely-lumed with what Imperial calls “Swiss vintage lume.” Besides the moment markings … that would be a small nuts in the darkish. Dial textual content is also nicely-balanced with nothing far more than the Imperial Watch Co. wordmark up best and “Royalguard 200” just over 6 o’clock.
Bracelet
The reliable 316L stainless metal bracelet tapers from 20mm vast all the way down to 16mm in close proximity to the clasp. And even though bracelet polishing generally will get a difficult pass from me, I like the way it was accomplished in this article. Almost like what we got with some of the newer Omega bracelets, the polished surfaces are located on the outer one-way links, not the center. This just seems to be a lot more appealing to me and I imagine the sprucing finishes up currently being fewer visually intrusive. Items get a tiny broader at the clasp, which is a pretty essential flip-lock style with twin push buttons.
You even now get the sound milled steel while so that is wonderful. Also, although the bracelet is cozy, articulates nicely, and appears to be like fantastic, at 20mm you’ll have a ton of fun putting the Royalguard 200 on a bunch of distinctive straps. The drilled lugs make switching factors out simple and I’d bet you can get a interesting vintage search by pairing this with a vented rubber or Tropic strap. But over-all, it’s a good bracelet and absolutely more able than I was expecting, looking at the watch’s value.
Motion
Inside the Imperial Royalguard 200 is a generic Seiko (SII) NH35 automated movement. There is however a “ghost” day situation but that’s under no circumstances definitely bothered me and I think that’s honestly fine at this value. This a person was managing at about -25 seconds/working day but I assume I can forgive that taking into consideration this certain view was a prototype creating some very seriously large rounds with reviewers. Most NH35 actions I have had are commonly +/-15 seconds/day or better. And there is no way all over it. It’s a good, serviceable motion with hacking, hand-winding, and a electricity reserve of about 42 several hours. You can also tune these movements up to the stage exactly where they significantly exceed the functionality SII advertises.
Remaining Thoughts
So by the time my temporary period with the Imperial Royalguard 200 was wrapping up, it was a small tricky to set it in a box and ship it out. I imagine every single device was offered out by then, so that obtained me stoked on the idea that ample folks out there identified this view to be a neat collection addition, or just a fantastic everyday-don piece. It’s a enjoy that in a lot of means highlights the purity and fun of the pastime without using itself way too critically. Yeah, it’s some form of homage. Yep, it completely seems like a modder put it alongside one another. Guaranteed, the motion is low-priced, but very trusted. And it is all nevertheless wonderful and exciting, at a rate that I believe several individuals just could not resist. My hope is that this little procedure realizes its possible in 2023 and proceeds to tap into the spark of curiosity that introduced us the Royalguard 200. And while they are all marketed out (for now, maybe?), I’d fully propose this as a fantastic sub-$500 dive enjoy if you can get your palms on one.
You can learn more about the Royalguard 200 on the formal Imperial Watch Co. web-site and YouTube channel.
Michael Peñate is an American author, photographer, and podcaster dependent in Seattle, Washington. His operate usually focuses on the passage of time and the instruments we use to link with that quite journey. From aviation to audio and travel, his pursuits span a multitude of disciplines that generally intersect with the planet of watches – and the obsessive lifestyle powering collecting them.
