There aren’t enough Scandinavian brands engaged in the art of watch design. I say this because when I do come across a Scandinavian watch brand their watches are always stylish and well executed. Such is the case with the Finnish microbrand J&Berg, who design watches in the city of Oulu on the west coast. Their latest timepiece is the B2, which I have here to review.
Taking it out of its case and buckling it on with the canvas strap, this is corker of a little watch. And it is little, measuring just 38.5mm in diameter and 10.4mm thick including the sapphire crystal. It also has a weight to match at an incredible 53g thanks to its grade 5 titanium construction. All told, it barely feels like you’re wearing a watch, which I know can be off putting for some collectors but makes sense for an everyday beater where comfort is everything – and it is supremely comfortable.
The design of the case itself is relatively understated with a sand-blasted satin finish and circular shape. Where the watch really comes into its own and that Finnish design can be felt is the dial. It’s simultaneously very detailed while being quite minimalist, which I suppose is how you could describe a lot of Scandinavian design.
It features a central copper-colour disc with circular brushing surrounded by a raised layer in matte black with cutout hour markers. The application of lume between the two layers and visible through the hour markers make it a sandwich dial, which has a cool retro appeal most often found on the watches of Panerai.
Completing the B2’s display are thick pencil hands with lumed strips down the centre and a peripheral minute track. The sweeping seconds hand also has a white tip for added legibility. The overall impression of the dial is a very confident, mature one with a great mix of practicality and style. There are a lot of bold elements that in theory shouldn’t work together – perhaps the raised section could be a bit thinner for example as the black is quite dominating – but it just about manages to pull together to create a cohesive design.
In classic microbrand fashion, J&Berg B2 is a testament to the strength of the global watchmaking industry. Designed in Finland, assembled in Hong Kong by a company with Swiss connections and housing a Japanese movement. Specifically it’s powered by the Miyota 9039 with a 42-hour power reserve and operating a 4 Hz frequency. The time is adjusted through the screwdown crown, which is easy to use thanks to the good size and fluted grip while also helping to provide a 100m water resistance rating.
The J&Berg B2 is priced at £415, which is nice and accessible for a grade 5 titanium watch with an automatic movement. I think this watch expresses the concept of an everyday beater really well. It’s robust and tactile thanks to its case, so it can withstand being knocked around a bit, while the interesting dial also makes it suitable for more refined occasions. Plus, if need be, you can always tuck it under a cuff due to its size. It’s a watch you can really fall in love with without spending a fortune.
Price and Specs:
More details at J&Berg.
