Disclaimer: this article/video were not sponsored by Nodus, or any other entity.

Video

Review

It’s been a while since I had the chance to photograph and review a Nodus watch, so when I saw this watch being sold at a discount, I jumped at the opportunity. I haven’t been intentionally avoiding Nodus, but circumstances have kept me from reviewing one sooner. For example, I recently purchased their collaboration piece with Raven, the Trailtrekker, but my brother promptly “borrowed” it (indefinitely) before I could even film or photograph it. (Side note: that watch was fantastic!)

For those unfamiliar with Nodus, they’ve established themselves as a key player in the micro-brand space. They manage their entire supply chain and offer services to other micro-brands, including their own trademarked adjustable clasp system. Nodus also manages operations and supply chain logistics for several other brands. Based in the United States, Nodus oversees design and assembly domestically, with manufacturing handled overseas.

Today, we’re taking a look at the Nodus Avalon II in Bronze with a blue dial. While this isn’t a new release, it’s been in their catalog for a couple of years, originally retailing at $750.

Let’s check it out!

Case

I measured the case of the Avalon II at 43.15mm in diameter, 39.75mm across its bezel, 47.20mm lug-to-lug, and 12.65mm thick. The case is crafted from a copper-aluminum (CuAl5) alloy, rather than the more common copper-tin alloy used in some bronze watches. This copper-aluminum alloy is said to be stronger and more corrosion-resistant. Notably, I believe that Tudor also uses an aluminum-based copper alloy for some of its bronze models, although I suspect Tudor’s alloy has a slightly different composition, as their bronze watches tend to exhibit a more brownish-red hue compared to the Avalon’s bronze.

The case design has a familiar tonneau shape, reminiscent of iconic divers like the Doxa Sub and Seiko Turtle, but the details here are distinct. The case is primarily brushed, with broad bevels running along the mid-case and down to the lugs, giving the watch a more refined silhouette. The lug width is 22mm, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of straps.

One of the standout design features is the scalloped mid-case. The lower portion of the mid-case is carved out, creating the appearance of a much slimmer profile than the actual dimensions suggest. This clever design not only enhances the aesthetics but also contributes significantly to the comfort of the watch on the wrist.

The bezel is a 120-click unidirectional dive bezel made of bronze, with a ceramic blue insert featuring fully lumed markings. It’s easy to grip and operate, and the action is precise, with minimal to no back play, which is always a plus on a dive watch.

At 4 o’clock, there is a 5.85mm screw-down crown. The crown is recessed into the case, adding to the overall sleekness of the design while remaining easy to grip and operate. This placement also contributes to the compact and balanced silhouette of the watch.

Flipping the watch over reveals a solid stainless steel screw-down case back, engraved with Nodus branding and rated for 300m of water resistance, ensuring robust durability for diving or everyday use.

Overall, the case design of the Avalon is an excellent interpretation of classic tonneau-style dive watches. The contours are well-executed, providing both aesthetic appeal and comfort. My only minor critique is that the transitions between brushed and polished surfaces could be sharper and more even. However, this is a minor issue, especially with a bronze watch that will develop a patina over time, covering up any inconsistencies in the finish.

Dial

The dial design of the Nodus Avalon II Bronze is relatively simple and follows a fairly generic layout, but despite this simplicity, Nodus has incorporated subtle yet appealing details that elevate the overall aesthetic. There is an outer minute or seconds track formed by a color-matched chapter ring with white ticks. The chapter ring, though narrow and heavily sloped, maintains good legibility. The track features bolder markers at the cardinal points, longer ticks for every five-minute increment, and shorter ticks in between, contributing to both functionality and a clean, organized appearance.

The base of the dial has a strong sunburst finish in a vibrant blue tone, which catches light beautifully and adds a dynamic element to the watch. The brand’s name and logo are printed just below the 12 o’clock marker, while the water resistance rating is printed above the date window at 6 o’clock.

The hour markers feature applied indices with large lume-filled plots. The gold-colored indices have sharp edges and high-quality finishing, giving the dial a refined and engaging look. These indices provide both contrast and visual interest, complementing the blue dial nicely.

The date window at 6 o’clock is frame-less, with a color-matched date wheel and white numerals. The execution of the date window is excellent, integrating seamlessly into the overall dial design without disrupting its symmetry.

The hour and minute hands are designed in a broad sword style, with large lume plots that are generously filled for maximum visibility. The seconds hand features a Seiko-inspired tip with a small lume plot, ensuring it is both functional and aesthetically consistent with the rest of the dial. All the hands are finished in gold, matching the indices and further enhancing the blue-and-gold color scheme.

Overall, the dial execution is very good and aligns with the quality found in many of the better micro-brand offerings in this price range. The large lume-filled hands and indices ensure excellent legibility, while the blue and gold combination creates a striking visual effect.

Lume

The Avalon uses Swiss Super-LumiNova® T-C1 in the X1 Grade, known for its superior brightness and longevity, in a white pigment that glows green. The lume application on this watch is impressive, with wide, deeply filled indices and hands that are densely packed with luminous material. The ceramic bezel insert is also generously lumed to keep up with the dial.

In a time-lapse comparison with watches featuring the latest ceramic luminous compounds, like Globolight XP (used on the Christopher Ward C60 Trident Lumiere) and Lumicast (seen on the Zelos Thresher WT GMT), the Nodus Avalon II performs admirably. It holds up well against these modern technologies and remains one of the better performers throughout the comparison.

While the hands and bezel do fade slightly quicker than the indices, this is expected given the substantial amount of lume packed into the indices. Despite this, the overall lume performance is exceptional, placing the Avalon II among the best lumed watches I’ve come across in the sub-$1000 range. It comfortably ranks in the top 1% for lume brightness and longevity in this price segment, making it a standout option for those who prioritize lume in a watch.

Movement

The Nodus Avalon II Bronze is powered by the Miyota 9015 movement, which I consider to be the best choice for a movement in the sub-$1000 category. It offers solid timekeeping and is notably slimmer than comparable Seiko, ETA, and Sellita movements. From my experience, the Miyota 9015 has proven to be more reliable over the long term compared to the ETA 2824 or Sellita SW200, making it a dependable choice for a watch in this price range.

I believe that Nodus regulates these movements during assembly in Los Angeles, and the unit I reviewed arrived with accurate timekeeping, showing daily deviations within single digits. The slimness of the movement also contributes to the excellent case profile of the Avalon II, further enhancing its overall wear-ability. In terms of movement performance and reliability, I have no complaints – it’s a great fit for this watch.

On The Wrist

Despite measuring just over 43mm in diameter, the Nodus Avalon is a surprisingly compact watch that wears comfortably on my 6.75″ wrist. While it has noticeable wrist presence, it feels much smaller in terms of comfort and wear-ability. This is largely due to the 39.75mm bezel width and the compact 47.20mm lug-to-lug distance, which help to balance its proportions. At 12.65mm thick, the watch maintains an excellent profile that doesn’t feel overly bulky on the wrist.

The semi-scalloped mid-case flanks further enhance comfort, giving the watch the appearance of being slimmer than it actually is when worn. While it may not be the ideal choice for wrists smaller than 6 inches, anyone with a wrist size larger than that should find a comfortable fit.

Nodus ships the Avalon II on their TecTuff rubber hybrid straps, which are among the best quality hybrid straps I’ve encountered. I’ve owned several of these since Nodus first introduced them, and they continue to impress with their comfort, durability, and overall aesthetic. These are not your standard AliExpress hybrid straps – they offer exceptional quality at a great price point, making them a fantastic complement to the watch.

Wrapping Up

It’s hard not to like the Avalon. The materials are engaging, the colors are vibrant, and the case design is both practical and visually appealing. The dial layout is clear and legible, the bezel action is satisfying, the lume is outstanding, and the included TecTuff hybrid strap is of exceptional quality. This watch gives me the same sense of satisfaction as the Halios Seaforth in Bronze, which is high praise, as the Seaforth remains one of my favorite micro-brand watches.

At $750, I believe the Avalon II offers solid value. In a market where brands like Seiko are charging similar prices for relatively mediocre offerings, and where even micro brands sometimes miss the mark, this watch stands out. If the design appeals to you, it’s definitely worth considering at $750. And if you find it priced below that, I’d say it’s an easy purchase.