Lorier isn’t your typical watch brand. They’re all about blending the charm of the past with the practicality of today. Forget flashy luxury watches; Lorier is all about crafting steadfast, versatile, and stylish watches for your everyday adventures. Let’s take a look at their latest piece – Lorier Hydra SIII! Stay tuned to find out more! 

The Lorier Hydra SIII isn’t just a budget GMT watch, but a full package. You can even have the case back engraved for simply $35. Despite minor nitpicks, this watch impresses with its solid build, nice design, and shocking value for the price. Priced at just $599, the Lorier Hydra SIII offers a great blend of style and practicality.

Affordable Luxury for Your Daily Journey

In recent years, GMT watches have been changing, and it’s pretty exciting. Some new watch movements have arrived on the scene, and one of the coolest ones for travelers is the Miyota 9075. It’s an automatic movement with a local jumping GMT feature.

What’s really neat is that it’s making this fancy travel complication more affordable. The Lorier Hydra SIII is one of the watches using this Miyota movement, and it’s got a classic look and an unbelievable price tag.

Meet Lorier: A Watch Brand with a Personal Touch

Lorier isn’t a big watch company. It’s a small operation run by a couple in New York City, Lorenzo and Lauren Ortega. They’ve made other watches before, but the Hydra SIII is their first go at using the Miyota 9075 movement.

The cool thing about this watch is that it’s built like a dive watch but with a GMT twist. Instead of a 24-hour GMT bezel, you get a rotating dive bezel and can dive up to 200 meters deep. It’s more versatile than you’d think!

Design and Features of the Lorier Hydra SIII

The watch is 41mm wide and 14.6mm thick (some of that thickness comes from the crystal; the case itself is 12.2mm). It’s got a domed Hesalite crystal, which is old-school and a bit scratch-prone, but it’s got character. The lugs are drilled, the case back is plain, and it’s good for diving down to 200 meters.

The Lorier Hydra SIII looks pretty snazzy. It’s got a dark blue, white, and red color scheme, giving it a vintage Omega vibe. The crown fits snugly into the case, and the bezel, 24-hour scale, and inner dial form nice circles. The watch is easy to read, with a bright red GMT hand and a 24-hour ring around the time display. There’s even a date down at six o’clock. The best part is the lume – it’s in two colors: green for the second time zone and blue for the dive bezel and local time. The lume is bright and long-lasting, especially the 24-hour ring.

Crystal Choice: Hesalite for the Nostalgia

The watch’s domed Hesalite crystal might seem quirky, but Lorier did it on purpose. They wanted it to feel like a vintage watch, and it does. Hesalite can scratch more easily, but you can polish those scratches away with a bit of Polywatch and the included cloth.

The Hesalite crystal gives the watch that vintage look without as many reflections as sapphire. Plus, it looks clear and sharp, even in photos.

Is Lorier Hydra SIII Comfortable on the Wrist? 

Wearing this watch is a breeze. The flat-link steel bracelet tapers from 20mm at the lugs to 15.8mm at the clasp. The case has some curves that make it comfortable, even with the crystal. It’s not super slim at just under 15mm with the crystal, but it’s not bulky either. The finishing is simple and good for the price. The bracelet is brushed on the links’ faces and sides, and the case has polished sides.

The bezel action is decent, with 120 clicks and minimal wobble. The crown works well, too, with smooth threading and precise control.

Lorier Hydra SIII Craftsmanship and Movement

What is there to know about the Miyota 9075 movement? The special sauce of the Lorier Hydra SIII is its Miyota 9075 automatic GMT movement. It’s a mouthful, but here’s what’s cool about it: it gives you full flyer GMT functionality.

That means you can change the local time without stopping the seconds hand, and the date adjusts backward and forward when you jump the hour hand past midnight. It’s a step up from the more common caller GMT, which needs you to adjust a 24-hour hand manually. Keep that in mind! 

How It Compares

What’s special about the 9075 is that it’s a solid movement that doesn’t break the bank for smaller brands like Lorier. It’s not the only one out there, but it’s one of the few available to the little guys.

ETA makes a similar movement used in watches like the Mido Ocean Star GMT LE. But, even though that Mido is great, it’s also more expensive than the Lorier – like, more than twice the price!

Affordable Luxury

Here’s the kicker: Lorier is selling the Hydra SIII for just $599, and that includes the bracelet, Polywatch for crystal scratches, a travel pouch, and a screwdriver for resizing the bracelet. It’s a steal, really.

Don’t worry about the movement either. Brands like Bulova and Citizen (Miyota’s parent company) have used versions of it, and smaller brands like Vaer, Traska, Boldr, Zelos, and more have slapped it in their watches. We checked one of these Lorier watches on my fancy timing machine, and it was doing a solid job, averaging +8.5 seconds a day over six positions. It’s not COSC-certified or anything, but it’s more than good enough for a mid-priced watch.

Competition and Value Proposition

The thing is, there are other watches with this same movement. Still, most either cost more or follow the usual GMT format with a 24-hour bezel.

For us, a dive-GMT layout is just right for an everyday sports watch. We might not need three time zones, but we do love an elapsed-time bezel. 

Lorier vs. Seiko: The Micro vs. Macro Watch Battle

Let’s delve into a comparison between Lorier and Seiko. These are two watch-worlds that may seem light-years apart but share distinct qualities that cater to different tastes.

• Lorier Hydra SIII: Lorier, a micro watch brand based in New York City, has gained a reputation for its vintage-inspired timepieces. The Hydra SIII, in particular, stands out as a dive-GMT watch, a versatile companion for those who love exploring both the depths of the ocean and different time zones. Its domed Hesalite crystal and dual-color lume provide a unique aesthetic, while the option to engrave the case back adds a personal touch. All of this comes at an affordable $599 price point, making it an attractive choice for style-conscious adventurers.
• Seiko: Seiko, on the other hand, is a watchmaking giant with a global presence. Known for its rich heritage and innovation, Seiko offers a vast range of watches to suit every preference and budget. From the iconic Seiko 5 series to the high-end craftsmanship of Grand Seiko, Seiko’s diverse lineup caters to watch enthusiasts worldwide. The brand’s enduring popularity is a testament to its quality and variety, making it a reliable choice for both newcomers and seasoned watch aficionados.

In this cosmic watch comparison, Lorier and Seiko represent the micro and macro aspects of the watch universe. While Lorier excels in offering unique microbrand charm with affordability, Seiko’s extensive catalog covers the entire spectrum of horology. No matter what you prefer, both brands offer cool pathways to explore the world of timekeeping.

Conclusion: Is Lorier Hydra SIII Your Next Travel Buddy?

The Lorier Hydra SIII isn’t just a budget GMT watch; it’s a complete package. You can even get the case back engraved for just $35. Sure, there are tiny things to nitpick, like the slightly dim lume on the bezel and the need for a tool to tweak the bracelet. But when you look at the big picture, this watch is solid, stylish, and offers more than you’d expect for the price. 

Lorier Hydra SIII is a fantastic watch that marries style with practicality. It’s got a vintage feel, modern features, and an unbeatable price. At just $599, it’s hard to find anything that can match its value. If you’re on the hunt for a versatile GMT watch that won’t break the bank, the Lorier Hydra SIII deserves your attention. Just keep in mind that it might take a bit of time to get one, as Lorier is a small brand making big waves with this impressive offering. With more brands adopting the Miyota 9075 movement, it’s going to be tough to beat the Hydra SIII’s combination of price and features.

To discover more interesting blog posts about micro watches like this one here, make sure to read our blog. You will find many things, from elegant Maen watches to classy Rolex prestige!