Revelot R12 Hexmariner 39 Radium Storm Steel - Looks Great and Affordable, A Review (plus Video)

I recently bought the R11 Hemariner 42 Artic White Steel. I was made to understand from the dealer that the R12 was about to be launched which is smaller at 39.0 mm wide. I was intrigued and a few months later I visited the same shop (Timekeeper, NU Sentral) where the R12 was available. Although there are a number of models under the R12 series, there were only a few models available at the store (Revelot encourages internet purchases from their website).

 

After reviewing the models available, I set my sight on the Radium Storm Steel model. This model has a nice dark blue colour on the bezel and dial. From the photo, the watch looks more black than blue. However, in person, the dark blue really pops out.

This watch is great homage to the Rolex Submariner. The quality and materials used belies the price point that Revelot sells the watch at. For this watch, I only need to pay RM1,299. This factor alone makes it a very compelling watch to get. 

The Series

On Revelot's website there are 12 models under the R12 Hexmariner 39 series. It is a pity that none of the twelve models, are in green (the Army is nice but its either a bi-color model or have a gold gilt which I don't like). Meanwhile, the Aqualuminova model is a full lumed dial model which is too bright for my taste as well.

Radium Storm Steel RM1,499.00	Aqualuminova Steel RM1,539.00	Metallic White Steel RM1,499.00
Greystorm Meteorite Steel RM1,999.00	Azure Meteorite Steel RM1,999.00	Stormrose Bicolor Steel RM1,539.00
Darkrose Bicolor Steel RM1,539.00	Stormrose Steel RM1,499.00	Darkrose Steel RM1,499.00
Army Gilt Bicolor Steel RM1,539.00	Army Gilt Steel RM1,499.00	Darkrose Meteorite (LE) RM2,199.00

The models listed above are sold via Revelot's website first. When I spoke to an authorised dealer, he mentioned that shops will only be allocated models once Revelot's online marketing strategy has gone through its course. Officially, the models will be available on the website from January 2023 onwards. It is expected that shops will start getting available models by March 2023. 

The Watch

Made out of stainless steel, the R12 Hexmariner is effectively a homage to the Rolex Submariner. At 39.0 mm wide and a length of 44.0 mm, the Hexmariner is just slightly smaller than the Rolex Submariner (41.0 mm wide and a length of 47.6 mm) but wears similarly.

 

 

Visually, like the R11, the R12 surface areas have more angular edges by introducing chamfers and bevels. Both brushed and polished metal surfaces are done elegantly to give a new re-interpretation of the classic Submariner icon.

 

The dark blue dial of the Radium Storm Steel has a crystal star pattern on the surface. There is a brushed sloped chapter ring with the brand and model type etched a number of times around the ring. The etching is very subtle and to view it properly requires one to angle the surface of the chapter ring square to the line-of-sight of the viewer. This particular design feature was created it in a similar vein like how Rolex does it with its logo etched on the crystal using lasers (also known at the Rolex LEC).   

 

 

The dial surface has a diameter of approximately 28.0 mm. There are two timing markers. The first is at the end of the dial; applied minute line markers that is polished and connected to an applied polished ring at the edge of the dial. The second is the 11 applied hour markers in the shape of a six sided polygon except for 12:00, 3:00 and 9:00 where the polygons are elongated. For 6:00, there is no hour marker as the position has been taken over by the date aperture. The hour markers are all painted with Old Radium Swiss Super-LumiNova Lume® luminous paint. I like the fact all the hour markers are framed in metal which gives it a nice cool effect. 

The placement of the date aperture at 6:00 is symmetrically pleasing. To ensure visibility, the date wheel has a negative background.

 

There are five lines of texts and a logo. The logo and the brand are located at the upper quadrant while the words 'HEXMARINER', 'AUTOMATIC' and '660ft = 200m' are located at the bottom quadrant. The texts and logo are applied directly on the dial. For contrast, the word 'HEXMARINER' is painted red while the rest have polished metal surfaces.

The handset uses a broadsword design for the hours and minutes hands and a lollipop design for the seconds hand. Parts on all the three hands are painted with luminous paint. The hands have polished surfaces while the seconds hand has a red tip.  

Protecting the dial is a flat sapphire crystal with anti-reflective protection. The edge of the crystal is beveled. 

 

 

The unidirectional ceramic bezel has its markers painted with Old Radium Swiss Super-LumiNova Lume® luminous paint. The bezel moves in 120-click increments for a complete rotation.

 

The signed screw-down crown is located at 3:00 and protected by two shoulder tabs that extend from the casing. 

 

Above is the photo of the watch in the dark which gives a greenish tinge. 

 

The Hexmariner comes with a very nice decorated exhibition sapphire glass case-back. The case-back is a screw-down and has information about the watch at the peripheral. Surprisingly, no unique serial are given for the watch (I can't find it anywhere on the surface of the watch casing). Underneath the sapphire glass window is a perforated metal plate painted in a golden tone with the same crystal star pattern found on the dial. On this metal plate, the brand name and the series name are added. 

 

 

Underneath the perforated metal plate is an decorated Seiko NH35A automatic with date function. This generic 24 jewel workhorse from the Seiko Group is sold to other watchmakers. Operating at 21,600 BPH, it has a power reserve of 41 hours. Manual winding will take about 55 turns of the crown to be fully wound.

 

 

The bracelet on this watch is heavily engineered with multi-faceted surfaces with brush and polish finishes. Moreover, the solid end-links and milled clasp are CNC finished for that high-end value feeling. Note from the photo above that the bracelet is equipped with quick release spring-bars for easy switching. The 20.0 mm wide lugs do not have pass-through lug holes. With the quick release spring-bars system coming standard with the watch, not having pass-through lug holes is not an issue. 

 

 

The clasp has the logo etched on the surface and the bridge that connects the two parts of the bracelet is machined. The clasp also comes with five micro-adjustment points to help in resizing. Unfortunately, there is no diver's extension provided.

 

Despite being touted as a dive watch with 200 meters of water rating, I would not used it for diving. Swimming perhaps. 

Overall, the total package has a weight of approximately 150 gm.

 

The Wearing Experience

 

When compared to the R11, the R12 is more manageable due to its smaller dimensions. It looks great and its affordability makes it a good choice as a beater watch. Below is a video of the watch on my wrist.

 

Specifications

Watch Model: R12-16D10A1B1

Case Material: 316L stainless steel

Crystal: Sapphire with anti-reflective protection

Band: 316L stainless steel bracelet with quick release mechanism

Band Model: S20-1B1BB3

Bezel: Uni-directional with dark blue ceramic insert

Dial: Dark blue with pyramid pattern texture

Illumination: BGW9 Swiss Super-LumiNova® Lume

Case Diameter: 39.0 mm

Overall Length: 44.0 mm

Height: 13.0 mm
Lug Width: 20.0 mm

Weight: 150 grams 

Water Resistant: 200 meters
Movement: Seiko NH35A automatic with date function

Jewels: 24

Frequency: 21,600 BPH

Power Reserve: 41 hours

Winding: 55 turns of the crown to be fully wound  

Complication: Date

MSRP: RM1,499.00

Launch Date: January 2023

Purchase Date: 13 March 2023

Purchase Price: RM1,299.00

Warranty: Two (2) years
Serial Number: Not provided

Vendor: Timekeeper, NU Sentral

 

Photo Gallery

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