With new watch brands popping up every other day screaming their value prop at every conceivable chance they get it can be tough to stand out from the crowd…Today I get hands on with a brand doing things a little differently in York & Front, with their first release in the Burrard.
York & Front is driven by enthusiasts who believe the watches should speak for themselves, which is rather refreshing if you ask me!
The aim of York & Front’s first watch, the Burrard is simple – to design watches inspired by the past, that are engineered for the future. While this might sound straightforward, it is most definitely not. Let’s see how they did!
We are looking at 5 criteria that should provide a comprehensive overview of the watch and aid anyone who is considering adding it to their collection. Use our quick links below to help navigate;
History of the York & Front Burrard
The Burrard is the first release from Canada’s newest micro-brand York & Front Watch Co. The brand and watch are the brainchild of two watch enthusiasts hailing from opposite ends of the country and aim to pay tribute to their hometowns. First the name, York & Front, a bustling intersection deep in the heart of Toronto’s downtown core and Burrard being the pulse of the action in downtown Vancouver.
The idea is that the Burrard should serve the wearer well, regardless of the environment – whether you’re all suited up for a meeting in downtown Toronto or gearing up for a hike in British Columbia’s Rocky Mountains.
Being the brands first release everything it would pretty astounding if everything went according to plan, however, York & Front experienced a couple of bumps along the way, as the brand and watch were actually slated for a late 2019 – early 2020 release date.
However, they delayed launch for a full year due to problems securing movements from the likes of ETA & Sellita and…oh yeah…the disaster that was 2020! In a way this is actually fitting for York & Front and the Burrard, since under its professional exterior, the Burrard is a watch with a surprising amount resiliency.
Case & Bracelet
York & Front walks the delicate line between the current trend of larger watches and vintage proportions. The Burrard comes in at a diameter of 38mm, lug-to-lug of 44mm and a thickness of 12mm, including its domed sapphire crystal. The case utilizes simple clean lines, which adds to the watch’s minimalist aesthetic. A big win in my books is the compact lugs (that are drilled by the way, watch nerds rejoice!) allow the watch to accommodate many different wrist sizes.
For the true watch fans out there, the Burrard feels very similar to the beloved Seiko SARB in its shape and size…in a good way of course!
The Burrard comes standard with two 20mm minimally stitched calfskin leather straps in black and brown. The straps are extremely soft and comfortable on the wrist and are available in different colours for purchase on York & Front’s online store.
Dial
There are 2 dial variants to choose from in the Burrard, bright white and the matte black. Both options manage to offer the same clean minimalist style without being boring.
Surrounding the dial there are applied Arabic numerals that have a brushed finish, which is a refreshing touch. The numerals do an excellent job at catching light, improving the legibility and adding an element of depth to the dial that would otherwise be missing. The watch utilizes lume filled hour and minutes hands for low light visibility and a seconds hand accented with a red tip to provide some nice contrast on the dial.
Full disclosure I have a thing for black dials…but this bright white really is a treat to look at, gone are the days where white dial watches are reserved old men!
Movement
Powered by the Swiss made STP 1-11 automatic movement, the Burrard has a respectable 44 hour power reserve when fully wound. STP is a manufacturer owned by the Fossil group and has typically not been the first choice as a third party movements by micro brands with the likes of ETA and Sellita cornering the market. However, lately the Swatch group has taken a stranglehold on ETA movements rendering them as unattainable as a Rolex Sports watch at MSRP. The shortage of ETA compounded by the now increased demand for Sellita movements has led many brands to turn to STP as of late.
Finally, York & Front being true watch enthusiasts, the brand made sure the STP 1-11 had the calendar complication removed along with the phantom date position when pulling out the crown to adjust the time. This might not seem like that big of a deal but those who know, know.
Wearability
The Burrard is a lot like a crisp white-T. A classic design that will accommodate almost every shape and size… its versatile while never looking out of place and really what is more comfortable than a crisp white-T? The fact is that it’s a watch that you just don’t have to worry about, just throw it on the wrist and go. The watch can really hold up in boardroom, at the beach or on a camping trip in the Rocky Mountains. After having the Burrard for a couple of weeks I found that there were no situations where I needed to reach for any other watch, it just worked.
For reference the photos are taken on a 6.25 inch wrist.
Verdict
The York & Front Burrard is a compelling offering that can appeal to two different people. On one hand the watch offers a great opportunity for those looking to dip their toes in the water of mechanical watches, while on the other hand the Burrard can act as an affordable option to add some versatility to any collection. By balancing tool watch ruggedness with a minimalist design all for a price under $500 USD, the Burrard has the ability to appeal to the masses. There is a lot to like here and for the reason the watch earns a rating of 7 out of 7 on the Versatility Index.
Full disclosure the Versatility Index is subjective and not actually a real thing…However, the Burrard is an extremely versatile watch.
Case: 38mm
Love your versatility index. Great review. I have the STP 1-11 in my Super Seawolf. No complaints. Looks like a solid watch.