It’s hard to believe that Hager Watches has been around for 10 years already, but that is indeed the case. Serendipitously enough, that means that they started making watches at the same time I started writing about them. While I’m not releasing any 10-year watches, that’s what they’ve done, with the Hager Commando 10th Anniversary Edition.
Now, on one hand, if you’re familiar with the version of the Commando we reviewed five years ago (seen here), the Hager Commando 10th Anniversary Edition is going to look rather familiar (and a lot of our remarks from back then still stand). Still, upgrades await you. The case has been shrunk a bit and the movement has been upgraded from a Miyota to a Swiss. The overall look of the watch felt a bit shinier than what I remembered as well, due to that sapphire crystal and the polished ceramic bezel insert that is on the watch (you’ve got your choice of blue or black). The edges of the bezel are polished as well, for a nice little bit of bling. As befits a tool watch, though, the case itself is brushed (with polished edges), and the bracelet also has a matte finish.
Then again, even if you weren’t aware of the history of this particular brand and design, you’re probably thinking that it looks a bit like a Sub. In fact, it is based on a very specific reference, the 5517 aka “MilSub”. This is not something the brand hides, and in fact they wrote about it on their site. For me, it gives you some of those recognizable features – and great functionality – without feeling like it’s just-another-replica-watch.
While I may not have spent as much time wearing the Hager Commando 10th Anniversary Edition as I did the Interceptor, it was a great watch that saw decent wrist time. Casual hanging around the house? It fit the bill. Time to pop on a suit and tie? Guess what, the watch fit that bill also. While a steel tool watch may not be for everyone – especially in a dressier situation – it’s something I’ve gotten very used to and have zero problem putting onto my wrist.
Frankly, if you’re looking for a solid watch that will cover variety of scenarios, and you’re of the sort that only wants to have one watch (or just a few), a watch like the Hager Commando 10th Anniversary Edition will cover off on a lot of bases. Factor in that it’s coming in at just $965, and you’ve got a lot of bang for your buck going on here. Now, myself, I might opt for the version that has the GMT movement in it (and we’ll have a review coming up on that soon), but that’s just me. There’s a lot to like about this three-hander, and owners will not be disappointed. hagerwatches.com
Tech Specs from Hager
- Case
- Case Height: 40mm
- Case Thickness: 13mm
- Case Length: 47mm
- AISI 316L polished steel
- SuperLuminova Ceramic Bezel Insert
- Scratch resistant domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating (AR)
- Dial
- 3-6-9 Sandwich Dial.
- A sandwich dial includes two separate disks where the bottom layer holds the luminescent material in recessed indexes while the top layer has index cut-outs to allow the luminescence to shine through.
- Movement: Swiss Made Automatic movement with 40 hour power reserve
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
- Bracelet: Stainless steel with two-button clasp and two-button slidelock extension system. Band Width: 20mm
- Water Resistance: 30 ATM = 990ft
