Built for Punishment
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The solid stainless steel Reactor is a watch for all occasions by Dean JobbNickel Magazine, March 2007 -- Crafted from solid S31603 stainless steel, the sleek and rugged Reactor would be the perfect wristwatch for a budget-minded James Bond. 007 could spend the day grappling with the bad guys underwater, change into a tuxedo for dinner, and not have to bother changing his watch . . . and he’d have money left over to gamble at the casino. “We build the best water-sport watch, period,” says Jimmy Olmes, founder of California-based Reactor Watches, the only watchmaker to use solid S31603 in the cases, case backs and bands of every timepiece it produces. “We pride ourselves on producing a high-quality watch that people can put on in the morning, do whatever activity they enjoy most, be it diving, surfing, snow skiing or snowboarding, then go out in the evening without ever having to take the watch off their wrist.” Solid-stainless steel construction is a major selling point for Reactor’s fashionable, durable watches. “They're virtually indestructible,” says Olmes, who created the Reactor line in 2003 after more than two decades in the business. “We chose S31603 for its wear and corrosion resistance, durability and ruggedness and because it’s reasonably easy to machine. It’s now the standard in the industry for sports performance watches.” And like most stainless steels, its corrosion resistant quality means that it is appropriate for use by those who may be allergic to nickel. Reactor watches can withstand daily immersion in salt water. The stainless bands are attached with Allen-head screws, rather than traditional spring bars, to ensure they won't separate, and some models have been depth-tested to 200 metres. The hardened mineral glass used to protect the face is stronger than the sapphire crystal used in most sports watches. Reactor’s web site features testimonials from surfers, divers, firefighters and a martial arts instructor, all of whom praise the watch’s ability to withstand punishment on the job or at play. Olmes says customers should be able to wear their Reactor every day for 10 years, and, other than a few surface scratches, “it should look just like it looked the day you bought it.” Olmes’ goal is to offer the look and quality of high-performance Swiss-made watches at affordable prices. The company produces more than 40 styles for men and women, starting at US$200. Most models sell in the range of $200-500 range. A diamond-studded version sells for $3,500. Why “Reactor”? Olmes chose the name because he planned to use tritium, a byproduct of nuclear reactors, to illuminate the dial. He opted instead for Superluminova, a non-radioactive material that glows brighter than tritium when underwater. But the name stuck, and is reflected in models with names like Fallout, Meltdown, Critical Mass and Heavy Water. Reactor builds its watches in China but relies on a Japanese supplier for its S31603 stainless. The company expects to produce close to 100,000 watches in 2007 and Olmes is now thinking about using a stainless steel alloy that can out-perform S31603 and further distinguish Reactor from its competitors. “We're evaluating stainless steel grades that are harder and more durable than S31603,” he says. “The alloy should also be more resistant to corrosion, especially in saltwater environments.” Dean Jobb is a Halifax, N.S.-based freelance writer. PHOTOS: Reactor Watches
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