Roue watches guiding principle is to bring the great designs of the past into the modern era. They look at designs from brands like Porsche and Braun in the ’60s and ’70s for inspiration and you can see that in their watches. The brand also focuses on making their watches affordable. For less than a used Apple Watch–$290 USD–you get a reliable chronograph that oozes 60’s racing coolness. Roue has 5 watch models all under $300 but the one I’m focusing on today is the TPS–named for its Tachymetere & Pulsations scale on the dial.
Made as a tribute to the Porsche 910, the car that won the Nürburgring 1000-kilometer race in 1967. The watch is a love letter to the car that provided Porsche with a pivotal win after almost a decade of trying. In case there is any confusion around this the Porsche 910 is embossed on the caseback. The TPS comes in three variants the TPS one with a black dial, TPS two with a vertically brushed panda dial, and the TPS 3 with a “grizzled blue” dial. Each version is numbered and limited to 1000 pieces.
The use of color on the TPS is what first caught my attention. I love watches that thoughtfully use funky colors and all three of these watches use color really well. The TPS one looks like a Braun calculator and a 60’s Heuer had a baby. A design combination that I didn’t realize would resonate with me so much. My favorite, however, is the TPS three. The combination of the “grizzled blue” and yellow hands and accents is a look I don’t think I’ve seen on a watch before. It’s still very much a 60’s stye racing watch but in a new and unique way. To drive home the racing vibe each watch comes with a racing-style leather strap. All models also come with a silicone strap and a watch roll pouch. This is a nice touch at any price point but at this price point, it’s insanely generous. It’s also something more up market watch brands should take note of. Can you imagine a Rolex Daytona 116519LN also coming with a racing leather strap!
Powering the watch is the Seiko VK63 Meca-Quartz movement. This is a reliable hybrid quartz watch with a mechanical chronograph. A hybrid movement gives you the accuracy and affordability of a quartz watch while still giving you the romance and feel of a mechanical chronograph. I obviously wish this was a purely mechanical watch but that would increase the price significantly. I wouldn’t be surprised if Roue releases a mechanical version in the future but part of the appeal of this watch is that it offers so much bang for your buck. You’re getting a well-designed unique looking chronograph, two beautiful easy to change straps, a watch roll, and a reliable movement you don’t have to worry about. This is one of the best looking chronographs released in the last couple of years the fact that it’s only $290 make it a no brainer.
Specs
Case: 316L steel
Crystal: Double Dome K1 mineral glass
Diameter: 40mm
Lug width: 20mm
Water-Resistant: 50m
Movement: Seiko caliber VK63 chronograph hybrid meca-quartz movement
Limited Edition: 1000 pieces per model
Mainplate & Bridge 