Disclaimer: This watch was sent to me to review, and I do not need to return it after my review is complete. This watch was given to me without restriction and is not contingent upon a particular outcome for my review. All opinions here are my own, and Revelot had no influence over the opinions stated here.
Revelot Terra Bronze w/ Forged Carbon Lumed Dial: https://www.revelot.com/collections/terra/products/terra-forged-carbon-luminova-bronze
Video
Review
A few months ago, I reviewed my first Revelot watch, the Admiral R10 GMT, and came away thoroughly impressed. For under $350, it delivered exceptional build quality, finishing, and quality control, making it an easy recommendation for anyone looking for an automatic GMT in that price range. Since then, Revelot has released a few more models, but the Terra immediately caught my attention with its WWII “Dirty Dozen” design inspiration and its generous use of 3D ceramic lume blocks for the numerals.
Given my love for watches with strong lume execution, I reached out to Revelot to review this piece, and they sent me the forged carbon dial variant, which takes things even further by infusing luminous material into the carbon dial itself. This particular model comes in a bronze case, though a steel case version is also available, along with a variety of dial colors and textures. With a retail price of just over $375, the Terra sits in the highly competitive microbrand space, but based on what I’ve seen from Revelot so far, I had high expectations going into this review and they delivered in almost every regard.
Let’s check it out!
Case
The Terra has a well-proportioned and thoughtfully executed case that blends vintage inspiration with a rugged, modern twist. I measured the case at 38mm in diameter, 43.75mm lug-to-lug, and 11.65mm in height, with about 1.75mm of that height coming from the boxed sapphire crystal – a nod to classic mid-century designs.
The CuSn8 bronze case is beautifully finished, with a mix of brushed and polished surfaces that elevate the overall look. The design immediately reminds me of watches from the 1940s and 1950s, featuring welded lugs and oversized crystals, but unlike those primarily dressy timepieces, the Terra takes those elements and infuses them with a sportier, more rugged character.
The case is predominantly brushed, with vertically brushed case sides and matching brushed lugs, while subtle polished accents between the lugs and along the stepped bezel add just the right amount of refinement.
One of my favorite details is the large, pocket-watch-inspired 7.5mm screw-down crown at 3 o’clock, which features deep knurling for easy grip and operation. The crown and tube are well-machined, offering smooth winding and setting, and as a bonus, the crown is lumed, which looks absolutely fantastic.
Flipping the watch over, you’ll find a solid stainless steel screw-down case back with simple etched text – nothing overly decorative, but functional and fitting for the watch’s tool-watch nature. With 100m of water resistance, the Terra is more than capable of handling daily wear and adventure, making it a versatile, well-built micro-brand piece that stands out in its price range.
Dial
What I love about the Revelot Terra’s dial is how faithfully it follows the WWII “Dirty Dozen” design language, while simultaneously introducing modern materials that give it a contemporary and unique character. The forged carbon dial is left somewhat exposed, allowing you to see the randomly scattered carbon fiber chunks, which creates a dial that is incredibly dynamic – it shimmers like an H. Moser & Cie mosaic dial in certain lighting and even resembles a meteorite dial from certain angles.
Surrounding the dial is a railroad-style minute track printed in white, featuring lume plots at every five-minute increment. The print quality is solid, and while these lume plots are a nice touch, they are completely overshadowed by the large, 3D ceramic lume hour markers. These bold, fully luminescent numerals are exceptionally well-finished, and I’m honestly impressed that Revelot was able to produce such high-quality lume blocks at this price point—this alone makes the Terra a bargain, in my opinion.
The brand’s name and logo are printed in white below the 12 o’clock marker, while a recessed small seconds subdial sits above the 6 o’clock position. The subdial features a concentric circle texture, a nice vintage-inspired detail, along with printed text in black. The minute hand is painted with lume and has reasonable finishing, though some jagged edges are noticeable upon close inspection.
The hour and minute hands, finished in matching bronze tones, feature both brushed and polished surfaces and are filled with generous amounts of lume. The attention to detail across the dial is surprisingly high, and when compared to Seiko watches at twice the price, the Terra’s dial finishing and quality control are leagues ahead. Overall, I’m a huge fan of what Revelot has accomplished here, and the design and execution of the dial are among the best I’ve seen in this price range.
Lume
The Terra brings a fascinating take on lume, using carbon infused with luminous material, a concept that has been around but rarely seen in the mass market. It’s been used in watches like the $3,000 TAG Heuer Aquaracer Solargraph, the $16,000 Graham Chronofighter Superlight, and even the $220,000 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Split-Seconds, but despite not being an inherently expensive material, it remains uncommon in mainstream watches.
That said, microbrands and independents have embraced it for nearly a decade, with brands like Zelos, Dietrich, and Revelot incorporating it into dials and bezels. Surprisingly, this is my first real encounter with the material, and I find it absolutely enchanting – the layered carbon fiber creates a beautiful play of light, while the randomly illuminated sections of the dial and the towering lumed hour markers put on a stunning display in the dark.
I have a personal soft spot for watches with block lume indices, and this one delivers big time, with large lumed numerals reminiscent of the H. Moser & Cie Heritage series. The execution of these numerals is impressively sharp, especially considering the price point. The hands are also generously lumed, albeit in a more traditional manner, but they hold their own against the bold numerals. Expectedly, the trace lume elements in the forged carbon dial fade first, but overall, brightness and longevity are excellent.
In a side-by-side comparison with some of my other heavily lumed watches, the Terra holds up incredibly well against the HyCeram crystal lume of the MING 17.09, the block lume markers of the Zelos Thresher GMT, and even the Globolight XP lume on the Christopher Ward Lumiere. This is one of the most dynamic lume executions I’ve seen at this price point, making the Terra a real standout in the microbrand world.
Movement
The Terra is powered by the automatic Seagull ST17 movement, a caliber that isn’t commonly seen but comes from Seagull, one of the largest Chinese movement manufacturers known for producing a massive volume of movements each year, primarily for more affordable watches. The most direct comparison would be with the Seiko NH35 class of movements, as both are budget-friendly automatic calibers. The ST17 in this watch is the small seconds variant, offering a 38-hour power reserve, a 3Hz beat rate, and while it lacks hacking seconds, it does feature adequate shock protection with an Incabloc-style cloned design.
In terms of performance, this particular movement has been running well, averaging +6 seconds per day, which is solid for this price range. What surprised me the most was how premium it feels in operation – while the ST17 visually resembles something in the NH35 tier, the winding is noticeably smoother, and the overall interaction with the movement feels more refined and robust compared to Seiko’s counterpart. This is my first hands-on experience with the ST17, so I can’t yet speak to its long-term reliability, but after a month of use, it has been keeping time well and exceeding my expectations in overall feel and usability.
On The Wrist
The Terra wears well, striking a balance between compact dimensions and sporty versatility. With a 38mm diameter and a 43.75mm lug-to-lug measurement, it fits comfortably on my 6.75″ wrist and remains well within wearable limits for even smaller wrists. Its sleek case height allows it to sit low and comfortably, making it an easy recommendation for wrists well under 6″ inches”. The design leans into a hybrid aesthetic, blending dressy elements with a sporty twist, which helps the smaller size feel intentional rather than undersized.
The Terra is available on a variety of strap options, including leather, rubber, and textile, and my review unit came with the hybrid rubber and textile strap. It’s decent for the price, though I think the case design could benefit from a bit more taper – the strap narrows from 20mm at the lugs to 18mm at the buckle, which works, but a more aggressive taper might complement the compact case better. The buckle features the same well-built and well-finished CuSn8 bronze as the case, ensuring a cohesive look. Overall, the Terra is extremely wearable, and with its versatile size and thoughtful design, it should work well across a wide range of wrist sizes.
Wrapping Up
To wrap things up, I’ll just say this: if you find the design of the Revelot Terra appealing and are looking for a watch in this price category, just go ahead and buy one. At roughly $375, it’s incredibly difficult to find a watch that offers this level of build quality, finishing, and the use of unique materials in the case, dial, and lume. Everything about it – from the case construction to the lume execution – feels like it could belong to a much higher price bracket if it came from a more well-known brand.
The Seagull ST17 movement might be the only factor limiting the watch’s upward price mobility, as it would be tough to justify a significantly higher price without a Swiss movement like the Sellita SW200 to satisfy those who equate Swiss calibers with value. That said, if the ST17 proves to be reliable, and considering that many AliExpress brands and microbrands have used it successfully for years, then the Terra is an absolute no-brainer at its current price. It delivers a watch that feels far more premium than what you paid, making it one of the most compelling microbrand offerings in this range.
