Nodus is what some would call an “enthusiasts’ brand”–not yet a household name, but one making waves among aficionados. Certainly the arrival of their original Avalon diver in 2018 helped cement their growing reputation among collectors as a builder of solid tool watches. Now we have not only a new generation of Avalon, in the Avalon II, but a novel iteration in bronze to consider. It’s an embarrassment of riches.

Followers of the brand will recognize the case. It remains true to the original references in both shape and size, coming in at 43.5mm in diameter and 48mm lug to lug. However, if that sounds large, fear not, there is a little magic in the way this watch wears. To begin, the profile is relatively slim for a diver at 12.75mm, and the cushion case construction with its sloped edges really sits well on wrist. The smaller bezel diameter (41.5mm) also helps to visually shrink the watch. Of course, the main difference here is the CuAI5 aluminum bronze construction. Aluminium bronzes are desirable for their strength and corrosion resistance when compared to other bronze alloys, such as tin or brass. This is the first time Nodus have plied the bronze watch waters, and the result is sharp. The review model featured here had already begun to patina before its arrival, which is the enchanting part of a bronze watch–its final colour will be a result not only of the metal, but of your lifestyle as it reacts with the environment. The crown is screw-down, slightly recessed, and signed.

The Avalon II bezel is 120-click and unidirectional. It responds with a tight snap and has no back play. The edge is a finely textured mix of intermittent knurling and is easy to grip. The insert is scratch-resistant ceramic and fully lumed. It looks great with the gently domed sapphire crystal.

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The dial of the Avalon II is bold and nicely balanced in a field of sunburst blue (a green variant is also available). The trapezoidal indices are applied and interspersed with sharpened markers at 3, 9, and 12 to mirror the tell-tale sword hands drawn from the watch’s mythical name. The seconds hand is a particularly thoughtful design, as its tail reflects the shape of the sword hands themselves, while the head is pipped with a splash of yellow to match the line of “Avalon” text. I also like the colour-matched date wheel, which is tastefully integrated at 6. The result is a highly-legible dial, even in the dark–treated, as it is, with TC-1 X-1 Super-LumiNova.

Nodus have kept the stainless steel caseback to save your wrist from any bronze residue. It is decorated with an attractive embossing of King Arthur’s Excalibur. Like the crown, the caseback is screw-down, contributing to the 300m water resistance rating.

The watch is powered by the Japanese Miyota 9015 from Citizen. It is a 4Hz go-to for many microbrands brands, vibrating at 28 800bph. It offers hacking and hand-winding, as well as a power reserve of 42 hours.

It comes on an interesting 20mm TecTuff hybrid rubber strap that has the texture of nylon sailcloth, but the pliability of silicone. Like all Nodus watches, the Avalon II Bronze is designed and assembled in Los Angeles.

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Specs

Case	Aluminum Bronze CuAl5 43.5mm Diameter 48mm Lug to Lug 12.75mm Thick 20mm Lug Width Screw Down Crown & Caseback 120 Click Uni-directional Bezel /w Lumed Ceramic Insert 300m Water Resistance
Dial & Crystal	Domed Sapphire Crystal /w AR Sunburst Dial Applied Indices Polished Sword Hands Date @ 6 TC-1 X-1 Super-LumiNova
Movement	Miyota 9015 28 800bph 24 Jewels 42-Hour Power Reserve Regulated in 4 Positions
Strap	Hybrid TecTuff Rubber Strap /w Quick Release & Bronze Hardware

Nodus Avalon II Bronze

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Of Interest

The strength of the Avalon II Bronze, as with the other Avalon iterations that preceded it, has to be case construction. Looked at in profile from the perspective of the lugs, the watch appears very much like the hull of a flat-bottomed ship. You could imagine it cutting a wake through the sea. It is not unlike the Seiko Turtle–another classic example of the cushion case–in its overall design, but the Avalon II is much more complex. A side-by-side comparison shows the Seiko to be an almost clumsy version of the crisper Avalon. Where the Turtle is a single polished swoop, the Avalon is rendered in four separate planes–a broad, brushed swath on the bottom, followed by a slim polished chamfer along the midcase, and then another wider polished band expanding toward the lugs, terminating with the circularly brushed case top. It’s details like these that make you realize how much more you get for your money in a watch like the Avalon II Bronze.

This also contributes to the overall strength of the brand–thoughtful designs, standard movement regulation, and US assembly in their LA workshop. Little extras along the way that add up.

Quibbles

The Avalon II Bronze is a great watch, and I like the TecTuff strap, but I wish it were a navy blue to match the dial. It would also look great on a thicker Isofrane.

Final Thoughts

The Avalon II and the Avalon II Bronze do not constitute design overhauls, which suggests a “don’t fix it if it ain’t broke” approach from the brand. Instead what you get is a refinement of what was already an excellent timepiece. While the use of CuAI5 is a departure for Nodus, the watch remains largely true to its predecessors in design language. In the Avalon II Bronze you get a robust build with an handsome, well-balanced dial; a regulated, hi-beat movement, and quality materials. But most importantly, as is the case with bronze, you will eventually have a distinctive timepiece reflective of your environment and your daily activities–a watch that is unique to, and of, you.

The Nodus Avalon II Bronze retails for $749USD. For more information, please visit the brand website.

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About the author

Brent Robillard is a writer, educator, craftsman, and watch enthusiast. He is the author of four novels. You can follow him on Instagram.

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