In Review: The Skagen Holst Multi Function Dress Watch

Skagen “Holst” SKW60605 Multi-Function – $84.99 ($145)

Note: That $84 price is available through Jomashop at post time. Currently full price on Amazon and Nordstrom, but know that Jomashop prices & stock can move around a bit.

Quartz. To some, it holds none of the romance as a mechanical or automatic watch. But to many of us, Quartz is more than just fine. It’s a technological marvel that keeps precise time, for cheap. And while you might be able to get your hands on a similar simple looking automatic from Orient for not much more (black dial for even less here), Skagen’s quartz “Holst” has a lot going for it.

It is sleek. It is sharp. Those sub-dials are something. And you won’t have to concern yourself with keeping it wound in order to keep it going.

40mm diameter should look great on most wrists.

Skagen is very modern, in terms of their overall design philosophy, but this model leans more towards classic. The sub-dials at noon and six are well balanced on the dial. Shades of an IWC Portuguese chrono. But this is no chronograph. Instead, the sub-dial at noon is a day indicator, with the date being told by the sub-dial at 6 o’clock. That eliminates the rectangular cut-out day/date windows seen on most watches, and instead, keeps the curves going.

Quick date change is possible by turning the crown counter-clockwise at position #2 (one click out). There’s no quick day-set function though. You’ll have to wind the hands 24 hours at a time until you get to the correct day of the week upon first setting.

Subtle textures & tipped sub dial hands = a nice attention to detail. 

The nicely grained 20mm leather band cuts straight across with the lugs, instead of butting snugly up against the case. That bit of a gap, between watch band and case, looks less hyper-aerodynamic, and thus, less sci-fi/smart watch-ish.

The sub-dials and logo are recessed compared to the outer-ring indices. Adds a bit of depth to the overall look. It’s not some flat, printed on job. Extra concentric texture on those sub-dials, plus a slate-like vertical texture to the main face is a nice touch too.

Comfortable, lightweight, and slim.

At 10mm thick, it’s not their thinnest watch in production, but it is quite slim, and slips easily under a shirt cuff. Completely suit worthy. A bit slick for t-shirt and jeans work, but does well with smart-casual stuff.

Water resistance is 50m (so, you can get it wet, but try not to submerge it for extended periods of time) and the crystal is a hardened mineral. For the guts, it’s a Japaenese Quartz movement keeping the time.

Sure, this thing’s components might not be the most expensive, but the design looks much more expensive than the asking price. For the guys who don’t mind (or even prefer) quartz, while at the same time won’t spend an arm and a leg to put something on their wrist, the Skagen Holst ticks a lot of boxes… all while continuing to tick without a wind.