Nixon Regulus of practice
MSRP $150.00
“A simple, super-rugged watch that doesn’t connect to your phone, but takes over when the smartwatch shakes its head in fear.”
Average
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super solid construction
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minimalist style
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Competitive prices
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Easy to read day and night display
Against
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There is no option to replace the belt without ruining the look.
Smartwatches can be extremely useful companions, but apart from a few examples (Casio’s Pro-Trek and Nixon’s The Mission come to mind), very few are suitable for use in harsh, dirty and really harsh environments. You definitely wouldn’t want to subject your Apple Watch to some rough treatment, for example, since the screen is pretty easy to break. This is where watches like the Nixon Regulus come into play. It’s a traditional watch in that it doesn’t connect to your phone via Bluetooth, but that doesn’t mean it’s without technical prowess – the strength that’s built into its construction, and the ability to abuse it without consequence.
Special operations designed, special operations approved
Lifestyle brand Nixon already has a wide range of watches, from your standard watch to rugged adventure watches. Their latest square-faced model, the Regulus, though, we claim is the most beautiful version yet. Nixon wants to appeal to skaters, surfers and fans of streetwear with a California twist. However, while clearly modern, their watches also have an edge.
For Regulus, Nixon enlisted the help of people who needed a watch that wouldn’t break, such as special operations soldiers. It is very difficult. This partnership resulted in a watch built to withstand impact with its injection molded stainless steel case and bezel, screws and caseback. It’s water resistant to 100 meters, and the TPU strap is incredibly thick and has no chance of breaking if it gets snagged multiple times.
built to last
The 46mm body is also quite large, but it fits well under the sleeve of a hoodie or sweater. However, we’re not sure the style is right for anything smarter than the sand color seen in the picture. Nixon offers a stealthy black version that is arguably much more versatile, style-wise.
For Regulus, Nixon asked people who need a watch that won’t break for help.
The strap is attached to the lugs with screws, and unlike Casio G Shock watches, this gives it flexibility like a hinge. At the bottom of the strap there are channels to reduce heat and allow water to run off when used in the sea or in the pool. However, due to the way it is attached and the color matching the body, swapping out the band for another, such as NATO, is not really possible. This reduces longevity and is one of the joys of owning a watch.
On the other hand, we particularly liked Nixon’s clever “lock” that prevents the strap from overrunning, giving us a very powerful reason not to change the strap at all. This, combined with the correct case size and strap width, makes the Regulus a great looking and extremely durable watch.
Did we just become best friends?
Details that we really like? Look at the riveted Nixon nameplate on the case and the slight curvature around the buttons under the face. Put it next to Casio’s popular GW-5600 series, an obvious competitor to the Regulus, and it’s bigger, boxier, and (for us) much more modern. Whether it will become as classic as the coveted G Shock shape remains to be seen. The watch is very comfortable to wear and even at the gym it never got excessively sweaty or itchy on the wrist.
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Four buttons control all of its features – our favorite is the adjustable backlight. This is an unusual feature and makes the negative display (white figures on a black background) easier to read in low light. There are three levels, easily set with the brightness knob, with the highest setting actually lighting up the screen.
We also enjoyed the look of Regulus’s face, with large, well-designed numbers and letters. Another feature that stands out is the dual chronograph, together with the expected stopwatch and alarm. Finally, since pressing the mode button makes the watch go off, as does the alarm, of course, pressing both face buttons silences the watch. Best of all, it’s immediately apparent that silent mode is on with the text on the screen.
The Regulus is available in three colours: sand, metallic and black, and our review model in sand is quite the eye-catcher here. It differs from the usual black color we see on basic solid watches and emphasizes its fresh shape and sharp angles. Nixon also put it at a reasonable price of just $150, so he could keep it alongside other watches and wear it when conditions and activities called for it. However, if you fall in love with it like we did, you’ll find yourself using it more often.
editor’s recommendations
Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn