Praesidus A-11

Microbrand watches are everywhere, and most of them are derivative, frankly. But then there are those that smartly tap into the horological past and create a gem of a reinterpretation. The A-11 from Praesidus out of New York pays homage to the WWII Allied Forces original version by Bulova but with two new case sizes that are both bigger than the small 32mm diameter of the first version. The two sizes (38mm and 42mm) have a vintage-style dial that evoke the original A-11, a tough bead-blasted case, a doubled-domed and anti-reflective mineral crystal glass, lumed hands and markers, and the ever-reliable Seiko NH35 automatic movement. You can choose your size, dial color, and strap, but the price remains an easy $195 no matter what version you pick.