Nordgreen Infinity review

It seems like there is an avalanche of minimalist, quartz watches on the market. Is the Nordgreen Infinity any better than all the others?

A Week on the Wrist – Nordgreen Infinity

The Nordgreen Infinity arrives in a tasteful oblong presentation box. It won’t take up too much room in the cupboard but will keep the watch safe when you are not using it. There are no added extras – not even an instruction manual or cleaning cloth – which I guess speaks to the brand’s minimalist “no-nonsense” aesthetic.

Case

One of my biggest criticism of the myriad “minimalist dress watches on a NATO” is that they all seem to share the same case design. Not so the Nordgreen Infinity. It has an inverted bowl-shaped case which is very unusual, along with hidden lugs. This has the effect of making it wear far smaller than its 40mm diameter would suggest. The case back is lightly etched with the model number and some key information. At the other side is a flat slab of mineral glass. I think this watch would look far better with a curved, AR coated crystal.

The case is well made with no rough edges. I was not so convinced by the crown, which is a little on the large and thin side, but as the watch is powered by a Japanese Quartz movement you’ll only set the time for daylight saving and after a battery change so it’s not the end of the world. I really liked the case design. It takes some getting used to on the wrist as the short, hidden lugs expose more of the watch strap than I am used to, and it felt like I was wearing a very small watch despite it being so large in diameter. This would comfortably fit a very small wrist without looking or feeling odd.

Dial and Hands

The dial of the Nordgreen Infinity is the inverse of the case: a deep dish with steeply curved sides. The applied hour markers are also curved and fit in nicely around the edges. The hands are a very basic stick shape with no lume. There’s no date function or anything else on the dial to distract you apart from the printed word “Nordgreen” and their leaf logo.

Like with the case, although at first glance it’s easy to think the dial is identical to all the other is has enough subtle elements to make it stand out as something slightly different to the rest. I liked the curved dial, which made the watch a lot more interesting to wear and look at.

Strap and Buckle

A functional leather strap is supplied. You can also choose other straps including a mesh option. It is made of leather, with a relatively soft feel and the thickness you would expect for the price. It’s not bad at all, although I found that it marked easily. Luckily you can swap it easily enough with quick-change strap pins. I found the strap a little short – it only just fitted my 7.5″ (19cm) wrist and there was not as much overlap as I would have liked.

Nothing exciting at the other end of the strap. The Nordgreen Infinity has a standard tang signed buckle. The strap is… “fine”. For the money, it’s not bad, but I would personally change it immediately for something a little more interesting.

Video Review

What I Liked

  • The watch is reasonable for the price and sufficiently different from the standard “minimalist watch” template to make it worth a second look
  • The watch is versatile thanks to its innocuous looks and quick change straps. It will blend in with almost any outfit
  • Nordgreen have a solid Corporate Social Responsibility policy (see our feature for more details)

What I Didn’t Like

  • The quartz movement is not going to inspire many serious watch collectors to buy a Nordgreen watch
  • It would be far better if the flat mineral crystal were replaced with a slightly domed sapphire instead
  • The watch strap is a touch short and coupled with the design means the watch might not suit larger wrists well

Nordgreen Infinity – The WRUK Verdict

So, is the Nordgreen Infinity just another minimalist dress watch the same as all the others? Well, yes and no. On the face of it, there is no reason why you could not get a similar look by searching on eBay for “minimalist dress watch” and buying a sub-£25 watch from China. Dig a little deeper and Nordgreen watches offer more for your money, with a unique case profile and lovely curved dial. Are Nordgreen watches any good? Well, whether it is worth the £150 asking price is in the eye of the beholder – but it certainly competes well with similarly-priced high street brands.

Buy a Nordgreen Watch

Nordgreen watches are sold exclusively online from the Nordgreen UK website (use code WWREVIEW for 15% off). You can also get Nordgreen watches from Amazon.co.uk, often at a slight discount.

By Mike Richmond

Mike spends what little spare time he has writing for WRUK; and what little money he makes building up his collection of timepieces.

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